DCP - Diameter Cut Planes

Diameter Cut Planes or the "DCP" feature in VTube-LASER (starting in version 2.6 - release July 15th), solves a scanning issue where multiple objects are in the view of the laser scanner at one time - but you must scan only one straight.

In previous versions, the only easy solution was to switch to using the ball probe in those sections where many objects were close to the tube straight being measured.

Measure Across Several Diameters - VTube will find the correct straight

However, this new feature lets you scan across several diameters or objects of any kind - and still AUTOMATICALLY find only the diameter you want to keep.

The effect on the operator is to reduce stress and increase measuring speed drastically. See this image to understand the basic idea of the DCP feature and how it sorts detects the single diameter you intend to measure:

AIM Inc. - Wirebending Applications

The feature was developed to solve a need that we encountered at AIM Inc. when measuring wire bent parts. The orange part shown below is a sample test piece that is formed from 0.2 inch diameter wire. When measuring this part the FARO scanner stripe often crosses four straights at the same time.

Illustration of the Issue

Imagine the HD (blue) laser stripe measuring one of these four straights. In order to measure one, it is very hard to orient the beam in a way that avoids the three straights you don't intend to measure. This is the easy way to measure one of these four straights:


However, touching four straights at the same time will not allow VTube to calculate a centerline of any one of these straights - unless you use the DCP feature. The DCP feature follows some simple rules to allow VTube to sort out and select the one straight that you intend to measure - every time.

It works great on tube assemblies too - like headers and HVAC assemblies.