Procedure:

1.Create a new GD&T Measure from the Measures dialog or the right-click menu.

2.Assign the new GD&T Measure a Name and Description (if desired).

3.Select [Add] and select any features from the graphics window or the Model Navigator that will be included in the Surface Profile Measure. When finished select [OK][Close] in the Pick FeatureSelect dialog.

4.Select Surface Profile (icon only) from the Measure type list.

5.Select the desired DRF from the DRF list. Note: if needed, define the DRF by selecting [Edit DRFs...]. Also Create Datums if needed.

6.Set the Upper Spec. Limit and Lower Spec. Limit to whatever values this measure is meant to check against (typically found on Assembly level drawing). Note: Can also turn off Upper Spec. Limit and Lower Spec. Limit if desired.

Single Point Analysis:

The Surface Profile Measure for a single point is identical to a Point Distance Measure between a Reference Point and a Measure Point. Using the DRF, 3DCS will calculate where the Reference Point is for each build. At Nominal, the Reference Point is at the same location as the Measure Point, however as there is variation of the Datums relative to the Measure Point or variation of the Measure Point relative to the Datums, there will be a distance between the Reference Point and the Measure Point. 3DCS performs a Point Distance Measure between the two points along the direction of the Reference Point. The example below shows a measure at nominal and at a single deviation.

Above: At Nominal. The measure direction 3DCS will use is the direction of the Reference Point

Above: At possible deviation. The Measure Point is measured from the Reference Point along the direction of the Reference Point

The Surface Profile Measure for a measure that only has one point in it will just be the results for the single Point Distance Measure that is used internally.

Multiple Point Analysis:

When using multiple points in the Features list of the GD&T Measure dialog, the Surface Profile Measure uses multiple internal Point Distance Measures, one for each of the points in the Features list.  Each point will have its own Reference Point and measure direction based on each Reference Point's direction. The example below shows a measure at nominal and at a single deviation.

Above: At Nominal. The measure directions 3DCS will use are the directions of the Reference Points

Above: At possible deviation. The Measure Points are measured from the Reference Points along the directions of the Reference Points

3DCS is not combining the three Point Distance Measures on a "per build" basis (like the Combination Measure does). Instead, 3DCS internally keeps these three measures and then only shows a single distribution at the end. The distribution shown is the one that returns the largest Recommended GD&T Value (see Recommended GD&T Value section for more details).

For an example case, we could have these three results:

In this case, Point 3 has the largest Recommended GD&T Value so for the Surface Profile Measure results 3DCS will only display the Monte Carlo Simulation, GeoFactor Equation-Based Analysis, and Contributor Analysis results for the Point 3 measure.

Note: Because 3DCS is only displaying Contributor Analysis results for one of the three points, it is possible that there is a Contributor that is affecting the variation in one or more of the other two points but is not displayed in the Contributor Analysis list for the measure because it is not adding variation to the point that had the greatest Recommended GD&T Value.

Single Feature Analysis:

A Feature such as a face or curved surface can also be selected in the Features list of the GD&T Measure dialog. If a Feature has no Feature Points on it, then the Surface Profile Measure will follow the same procedure as the Multiple Point Analysis described above, but it will check three extreme points on the surface.  The example below shows a planar surface with its three internally calculated measure points.

Above: At Nominal. The measure directions 3DCS will use are the directions of the Reference Points.  The Measure Points are internally calculated by 3DCS to be the extreme points on a surface

Above: At possible deviation. The Measure Points are measured from the Reference Points along the directions of the Reference Points

For an example case, we could have these three results:

In this case, Extreme Point 2 has the largest Recommended GD&T Value so for the Surface Profile Measure output 3DCS will use its results.

Note: 3DCS does not display what these three extreme points will be for the Surface Profile Measure. See Position Evaluating Points on Feature for information about how to find the exact measure directions of 3DCS.

If the Feature also contains Feature Point(s) on its surface, the Surface Profile Measure will also check the Feature Point(s) in addition to the three Extreme Points.

Above: At Nominal. The measure directions 3DCS will use are the directions of the Reference Points.  The Measure Points are internally calculated by 3DCS to be the extreme points on a surface and the single Feature Point that is on the Surface

Above: At possible deviation. The Measure Points are measured from the Reference Points along the directions of the Reference Points.  The Feature Point is also included in the results

For an example case, we could have these four results:

In this case, Feature Point 1 has the largest Recommended GD&T Value so for the Surface Profile Measure output 3DCS will use its results.  3DCS typically does a decent job internally finding the three extreme points to use in the Surface Profile Measure, however as the surface becomes more complex its ability to internally find the best three points diminishes.  If the surface is a bit more complex then it is a best practice to create a few Feature Points on the surface at locations where maximum variation is most likely.

The examples in this section used a nominally planar surface, but the Surface Profile Measure will also work for a non-planar surface.  Each Measure Point has its own measure direction (based on the Reference Point) so it is not mandatory that every Measure Point on a surface nominally has the same direction.

Multiple Feature Analysis:

It is also possible to add multiple Features in the Features list of the GD&T Measure dialog. If multiple Features are selected, then the Surface Profile Measure will follow the same procedure as the Single Feature Analysis but it will check Extreme Points on each of the Features selected (as well as any Feature Points any of the Features may have). Features and Points can also be combined in the Features list and 3DCS will simply follow the analysis for each of the Features or Points and return the one with the largest Recommended GD&T Value. Here are a few examples of features along with how many Point Distance Measures will be used internally for the Surface Profile Measure:

Example 1: 4 Features

Feature1: 1 Feature Point

Feature2: 2 Feature Points

Feature3: 0 Feature Points

Feature4: 0 Feature Points

Example 2: 3 Features, 2 Points

Feature1: 1 Feature Point

Feature2: 0 Feature Points

Feature3: 0 Feature Points

For an example case, where we have two Features selected in the Features list and neither Feature has a Feature Point, we could have these six results:

In this case, Extreme Point 2 for Feature 2 has the largest Recommended GD&T Value so for the Surface Profile Measure output 3DCS will use its results.