GenDims

1) GenDims Overview *

a) The New Object Pane *

b) The Object Control Pane *

i) Save New GenDim Project Type *
ii) Locking and Unlocking *
iii) Deleting Objects *
  c) The Object Data Pane * 2) Using GenDims Example * a) Scale Feature *

b) Measuring Length *

c) Measuring an Angle *

d) Measuring a Radius *

e) Measuring Polygons and Areas *

f) Saving a GenDims Project *

i) Saving a Template into a NamesExt File *
ii) Save the Project as Usual *
 
 
 
 
  1. GenDims Overview


    2. GenDims ("Generic Dimensions") is a flexible NAMeS weld module created to measure lengths, perimeters, areas, and angles of any picture. A particular profile can be saved in order to measure many pictures with the same measurements.

    The control bar for GenDims contains three panes, listed from the top down: the New Object pane, the Object Control pane, and the Object Data pane.
     
     

    1. The New Object Pane

      2.  


      The New Object pane allows the user to insert new objects. Left to right the objects are: Line, Angle, Circle, Polygon, Closed Spline (Splinegon). Each time one of the buttons is clicked, a new object of that type will be inserted into the model.
       
       

    2. The Object Control Pane
The Object Control pane allows the user to select specific objects by name as well as control GenDims settings. The listbox contains the names of the currently existing objects. Selecting the object name will select (and highlight) the object. The three buttons are, left to right: Save New GenDim Project Type, Lock\Unlock editing, Delete Object (not yet implemented).

 
      1. Save New GenDim Project Type


        2. Save New GenDim Project Type takes the currently visible weld profile (objects, object names, object locations, locked status) and lets the user save it a name. New projects for measuring welds can then be created that will have the same objects, names, and positions.

      2. Locking and Unlocking


        3. A locked project type only allows measurement using existing objects. This button will appear to be pressed in if the project is locked. Unlocked mode allows object adding, modifying, deleting, (not yet implemented) and renaming. To lock an unlocked project, simply press this button. A password may be specified when locking. If a password is specified, the password is required to unlock. (N. A. Tech can recover forgotten passwords.) To unlock a locked project, press this button and specify a password if one is required.
         

      3. Deleting Objects

        4. This option is not yet implemented. Delete Object will delete the selected object.
         
    1. The Object Data Pane
The Object Data pane allows the user to modify the attributes of the currently selected object. The user can modify the name of the object by editing it in the edit box. If the selected object is either a Polygon or a Splinegon the user may add and delete points by selecting the proper button. The three buttons are, left to right: Add point before current point, Add point after current point, Delete point.

  1. Using GenDims Example
First create a project in NAMeS as discussed in the NAMeS User Manual. Select "GenDims" as your weld type, or select an existing GenDims project once one is set up.
 
    1. Scale Feature

      2. When GenDims first opens, there will be a single measurement located near the upper left corner of the NAMeS measurement window. This is the scale feature, and will be used to scale every image measured.


       
       
       
       

    2. Measuring Length

      3. A length will be measured on the weld sample, so click the left most button on the new object pane. Then the name of the line will be typed in the object data pane, "Lower Penetration". The line can then be moved around by dragging the end points.


       
       
       
       

    3. Measuring an Angle

      4. Now the angle of the right toe of the weld will be measured, so the angle button will be clicked on the new object pane. The name of the angle is typed into the object data pane "Toe Angle". Selecting dimensions in the Custom Dimensions window reveals that there is now both an angle in radians and degrees from the Toe Angle object. (See the NAMeS User Manual for more information on using the Custom Dimensions Control.) Also, the length of the lines used to define the angle are reported!


       
       
       
       

    4. Measuring a Radius

      5. The third icon allows a radius to be measured. This can be useful for estimating pore size, or the size of other imperfections.
       
       
    5. Measuring Polygons and Areas

      6. The fourth and fifth buttons add a polygon and a "splinegon" (a closed spline). Both of these shapes use the same controls, as described in section "Section 2.03 The Object Data pane". Both shapes also report the contained area, as well as the outer perimeter. In the first picture, the right plate has been outlined using the object "Right Wedge". In the second picture, the area of the weld bead is being measured. Note that numerous points were added in order to outline the weld bead.


       
       
       
       
       

    6. Saving a GenDims Project

      7. A GenDims project is just like any other NAMeS project, except that the template it is based on is dynamic. In order to restore the NAMeS project, the template must first be saved into a *.NamesExt file.
       
       
      1. Saving a Template into a NamesExt File

        2. Saving the template will save a list of all of the measurements that are being measured, as well as the current position of those measurements. In addition, if the template is locked when it is saved, it will not be able to be modified when it is reopened. (After locking a template, you must save the template in order for the locked state to be saved.)

        To save, first press the "Save New GenDim Project Type" button on the Object Control Pane. (See section "Section 2.02(a) Save New GenDim Project Type"). This will bring up the following dialog:

        This dialog is used to specify both the Weld Type, which is the name NAMeS will show when selecting a weld type, and the Unique Weld Type ID which is the name NAMeS will use to identify the template. What is typed for the Weld Type does not matter as long as it is meaningful in describing the current GenDims template. The Unique Weld Type ID, however, must be different for every template, and it also must be a valid file name. In fact, the ID is used to generate the file name for saving the GenDims template. The file will be "Weld_Area_Template.NamesExt".

        **WARNING** If a Weld Type ID is entered that is identical to a previously created GenDims template, then the older template will be destroyed.
         
         

        The Project ID is the internal number that represents this instance of the GenDims object. Every time the empty GenDims is started, this number is randomly generated. From that point every template saved will attempt to be compatible with other templates created from that same GenDims seed. For example, consider if the "Left Wedge" polygon was added into the above project, then saved as the "Weld_Area_Template_Version2.NamesExt". Then any of the old version 1 welds could be opened with the version 2 template, but they would have to use the default position for the "Left Wedge". Also, any welds saved with the "Weld_Area_Template_Version2" could be opened with the "Weld_Area_Template", but any added dimensions (the "Left Wedge" in this case) would be removed.
         
         

      2. Save the Project as Usual
Once the template has been saved, the project can be saved as usual in NAMeS. However, if the template is NOT saved, it will be impossible to open the project. (Hopefully this issue will be addressed in the future.)

**WARNING** If you do not save your template as described in the previous section, you will be unable to restore your project.