The Three Spheres alignment enables you to align the part to the CAD model using three tooling balls inserted into holes on the part.
Note: Three Spheres alignments are available only when creating inspections for CNC and Manual machines.
To create a three spheres alignment:
- Select the Definition level in the inspection sequence.
- Click Alignments & Datums tab > Alignments panel > Three Spheres. The Three Spheres Alignment dialog is displayed.
- Enter a
Name for the alignment.
- Enter the nominal coordinates of the tooling-ball centres in the Sphere 1, Sphere 2, and Sphere 3 areas.
- Choose a Method to specify how the alignment is calculated. Select:
- Hard Point to create an alignment in which Sphere 1 is positioned with zero error. Sphere 2 is fitted to the line connecting its nominal centre to the centre of Sphere 1, and Sphere 3 is fitted to the plane calculated from its nominal centre and the centres of Sphere 1 and Sphere 2.
- Best Fit to best fit the probed centres of all spheres to the nominal values.
- If the inspection sequence contains constructed features that use measurements taken by different measuring devices or from different device positions, select the Use transformed data check box. This converts the device coordinates to CAD coordinates so that all calculations use a common reference system.
The check box has no effect when all coordinates in the inspection are collected with one measuring device in one position, or when the inspection sequence contains no constructed features.
- To include the details of this item in the
report, select the
Output in report check box.
- Click OK to close the dialog and create the alignment item.
- Measure the alignment.