To create a Probed Plane item

To create a Probed Plane item:

1. Open a Geometry group in the inspection sequence.
2. Click Home tab > Create panel > Geometry > Probed Plane to open the Plane Inspect dialog in the Features tab. The dialog displays information about an item. To view and change more information about the plane, double-click its entry in the inspection sequence to display the Probed Plane dialog.
3. If you are creating an inspection for a CNC or OMV machine:
   1. Double-click the model to specify the location of the points which will be used to measure the plane. A minimum of three points are required to measure a plane.
   2. When you have specified the probe points, click to add the item to the inspection sequence.

   If you are creating an inspection for a Manual CMM or a portable measuring device, take three or more points on the part to measure the plane. Take care to orientate the probe correctly when probing the plane. The direction from which the first point is probed determines the plane's normal vector. The plane's vector then determines the vector of items that use the plane as a reference item.

4. To view the full details of the plane, double-click its entry in the inspection sequence.

The Probed Plane dialog contains the following areas:

Name — Specifies the name of the item.

Coordinate system — Specifies the alignment relative to which the item measurements are reported.

Fitting algorithm — Specifies the method used to create the item.

Geometric tolerance — Specifies any tolerances used, in this case the Flatness value.

Coordinate nominal — Specifies the nominal value of the item properties. For a probed plane, you can enter nominal values for the plane's Normal vector.

Note: The Normal vector controls the orientation of the plane. When a plane is referenced by another item, this orientation affects the way in which the referencing item is created. For an example of this, see Bisector Plane.

Centroid — Specifies the position of the plane centre in the CAD view.

Orientation — Specifies the orientation of the plane around the normal vector.

Length — Specifies the length of the plane in the CAD view.

Width — Specifies the width of the plane in the CAD view.

Comments — Enables you to record notes about the item.

Auto-accept— Specifies whether PowerInspect automatically accepts the probed points as soon as you have taken the minimum number required.

Point sources — Enables you to use probed points from other items to measure this item.