N Point Bars or Fixtures

Hidden points can also be computed from an array of point locations. Having 3 or more input points makes it possible to compute a hidden point location anywhere in 3D space with respect to the reference points.

To build a Hidden- Point Fixture do the following:

  1. First build a nominal bar. Use Construct>Points>Enter and build the measurable points defining the fixture in their exact nominal XYZ locations relative to the working frame, and also build the nominal design target point relative to these fixture points.

  2. Open the Use Options and press the Add N Point Frame button to build a new Fixture definition.

  3. In the Hidden-Point Fixture dialog press the Add Points button and select the constructed (measurable) points.

  4. In the Fixture hidden Measurement point section use the Pick button and choose the constructed Target point. In this case where a point probe is to be used, simply press OK and be done. However, if you are using fixture with a spherical probe tip be sure to also add the correct offsets so that they are automatically applied to the computed point.

To use new fixture definition, measured the fixture points using the hidden point name convention described in the next section. When measuring an N Point Hidden Point Bar the points are fit to the nominal definition. Therefore, as soon as 3 points are measured a computed point is built. The accuracy of the computed point increases with each additional measurement as error is distributed equally through a best fit process.