Creating Tags  

This procedure describes how to create tags.  Tags are created within previously created tag groups.  Individual tags or tag groups can then be assigned to robot sequences.  The distances between tags can also be measured.

The first three parts of this procedure correspond to the three ways of creating tags:

The final part of the procedure describes how to measure the distance between any two tags.
The steps in this procedure are illustrated using the file BodySide_1.CATProcess.

Creating Tags that are Snapped to the Geometry
 

  1. Click New Tag .

  2. Select a tag group (e.g., APWelds.1) from the PPR tree.

    The Define Plane dialog box appears.  For an explanation of the options available using Define Plane, see 3D Simulation for Manufacturing User's Guide : User Tasks: Controlling the Process Environment : Using Offset Planes and Advanced Offset Planes.

  3. From the dialog box, select the appropriate plane definition for the tag or tags you want to add.

    The possible plane orientation of the tag appears on the 3D geometry.  You may wish to zoom in to get a better view.

  4. Once you have correctly positioned the tag, click on the geometry.

  5. Select the OK button of the Define Plane dialog box.

    The new tag appears on the geometry:
    And under the selected tag group:
Once you have created a tag, you can change its name by right-clicking the tag on the PPR tree, selecting Properties, and then selecting the Tag tab from the Properties dialog box.
Enter the desired tag name, the tag type, and click OK.
The table below explains the tag types.
Tag type Purpose
Manufacturing Used to define a manufacturing target
Design Used, for example, to create joints between parts
Tool Used to define the tool action point of a device.  This is used when mounting the device. (See Mounting a Device on a Robot in Robot Task Definition User's Guide.)
Base Used to define the base of a device.  This definition of base is used when mounting the device.  (See Mounting a Device on a Robot in Robot Task Definition User's Guide.)
Custom For user-specific purposes.

Creating Tags at the 0,0,0 Coordinate
 

  1. ClickNew Tag .

  2. Select a tag group from the PPR tree.

  3. Click on a space in the 3D geometry where there is no data (e.g., no parts or resources).

    The new tag appears on the geometry at the 0,0,0 coordinate:
    And under the selected tag group:

Creating a Tag at the Local Origin of a Product
 

  1. Click New Tag .

  2. Select a tag group from the PPR tree.

  3. Select a product from the PPR tree.

    The new tag appears at the local origin of the product.
 

Measuring the Distance Between Two Tags
 

  1. Click Measure Between .

    The Measure Between dialog box appears.

  2. Click the Customize... button.

    The Measure Between Customization dialog box appears.

  3. Select Point 1 and Point 2 and click OK in the Measure Between Customization dialog box.

  4. On the PPR tree or the geometry, select the two tags.

    The measure appears in the dialog box and on the geometry.