A Feature is a collection of characteristics that relate to the data collection or sampling process. Features will typically have one or more characteristics that represent their nominal (designed) values and actual (measured) values. Features also have descriptive properties that represent their non-measured information such as appearance, ordering, and status. Features are identified with a label that is unique within a routine. A feature’s nominal characteristics represent its designed values, and its actual characteristics represent its measured values.
A Characteristic represents a measurable dimension or parameter of a feature such as a nominal X value, or an actual Y value.
A characteristic might be associated to many features. Having created feature and characteristic definitions, many different feature types can be defined to identify and extract data from a wide variety of file formats. A feature such as a point will generally have x, y, z, i, j, and k nominal data. A circle, however, will also have a diameter.
CM4D looks at the characteristics of a feature, and if it meets certain criteria, will assume it is one of the feature types in the table below.
Surface |
A Surface feature is a feature that fits the criteria specified in the table below for Surface. |
Hole |
A Hole feature is a feature that fits the criteria specified in the table below for Hole. |
Slot |
A Slot feature is a feature that fits the criteria specified in the table below for Slot. |
MidPoint |
A Mid Point feature is a feature that is designated as a Constructed MidPoint and fits the criteria specified in the table below for MidPoint. The MidPoint type is a Constructed feature created by CM4D that is the calculated midpoint between two Reference features. |
Reference |
A Reference Feature is a feature that is designated as a Constructed Reference and fits the criteria specified in the table below for Reference. The Reference type is a non-inspected feature point whose measurement values always have a deviation of zero. |
Distance |
A Distance feature is a feature that is designated as a Constructed Distance and fits the criteria specified in the table below for Distance. The Distance type is a Constructed feature created by CM4D that is the calculated distance between two Reference features. |
Range |
A Range feature is a feature that is designated as a Constructed Range and fits the criteria specified in the table below for Range. The Range type is a Constructed feature created by CM4D that is the calculated range of values for the selected Reference features. |
Plane |
A Plane feature is a feature that is designated as a Constructed Plane and fits the criteria specified in the table below for Plane. The Plane type is a Constructed feature created by CM4D that is a calculated plane through three Reference features. |
Polar |
A Polar Feature is a feature that is designated as a Constructed Polar and fits the criteria specified in the table below. The Polar type is a Constructed feature created by CM4D that has a Polar characteristic and represents the Miniball radius of the selected Reference features.
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Flush |
A Flush feature is a feature that fits the criteria specified in the table below for Flush.
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Gap |
A Gap feature is a feature that fits the criteria specified in the table below for Gap.
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XYZ |
An XYZ feature is a feature that does not satisfy the requirements of any of the above feature types and fits the criteria specified in the table below for XYZ (i.e., it has X, Y, and Z characteristics). |
User |
A User feature is a feature that does not satisfy the requirements of any of the above feature types and fits the criteria specified in the table below for User (i.e., it has one or more User characteristics). |
Non |
A Non feature is a feature that does not satisfy the requirements of any of the above feature types. |
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Must have |
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Can have |
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Must NOT have |
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Must have at least ONE |
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Constructed Feature |
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Surface |
Hole |
Slot |
MidPoint |
Reference |
Distance |
Range |
Plane |
Polar |
Flush |
Gap |
Non |
XYZ |
User |
Position |
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Normal |
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X |
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Y |
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Z |
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I |
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J |
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K |
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Diameter |
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Width |
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Length |
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Distance |
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Angle |
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Radius |
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Flush |
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Gap |
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Polar |
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Azimuth |
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Horizon |
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UserA-Z |
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See also, Constructed Features.