Measure to MCS

[John2025]

Hi Guys,
Does anyone know if there's a direct way to measure from the MCS in Machining to places on the model? The only way I've seen is to create some king of other geometry at the MCS and then measure to that. This is both a PITA and an occasional point of failure for us. You'd think measuring directly to the MCS would be easy. Are we missing something (I hope)?
Thanks,
John

 

[capnhook]

Put the WCS on top of the MCS, and measure away...

Proud Member of the Reality-Based Community..

[green]To the Toolmaker, your nice little cartoon drawing of your glass looks cool, but your solid model sucks. Do you want me to fix it, or are you going to take all week to get it back to me so I can get some work done?[/green]

 

[markrief]

MCS's are there for coordinate output.
If you want to measure to them you have 2 options.
1. Save MCS - this will create a CSYS that you can select.
2. Turn on preference to orient WCS to MCS. While in CMA, the WCS will move around to whatever MCS is active. Then you can measure to the WCS. This is a popular preference for users who only use one MCS - for example in axis milling.

Mark Rief
Product Manager
Siemens PLM

 

[joycejo]

I will sometims create a Datum CSYS at the MCS location. Then I have 3 planes and a point I can reference back to plus a saved CSYS that I can select to orient the WCS quickly.




John Joyce
N.C. Programming Supervisor
Barnes Aerospace, Windsor CT
NX6 & NX7.5

 

[John2025]

Thanks guys,
Still think it would be better to be able to measure directly, without any chance of things not being aligned the way we "assume", but obviously it's minor.
John