Measuring Coordinates

What the Teacher Will Do:

• Bring groups up to your Workcell for a whole-class demonstration.
  
• Lead a demonstration of how to measure the x-value on the Workcell.
  • Reinsert the mastering jig on the arm of your Workcell.
  • Show students that the (0, 0, 0) location is at the base of the turntable on the Workcell, also known as the origin.
  • Measure from the origin at the base of the turntable to the center of the tool plate along the x-axis. Callout the center of the tool plate for students.
  • Show students how to record their measurements, the x, y, z-values from the Brain's screen, and answer the questions on the Play Checklist.
  • Tell students that by measuring the distance, in inches, from the origin at the base of the turntable, to the center of the tool plate on the end of the arm, students can derive the (x, y, z) coordinate values. Explain to students that this is where the values on the Brain's screen come from.
• Tell students they will be following the steps from the demonstration and record the measurements and values for each x, y, and z-axis on their Play Checklist for the activity.
• Tell students that they can view the references on this page if they need assistance as they are measuring and recording values during the activity. Tell groups that they need to check in with you once they have completed the Play Checklist.
• Break students off to work within their groups for the activity. Walk around the room as groups are working to answer any questions if they arise.
• Once all groups have checked in, bring the class back together and lead a whole-class discussion about the measurements and values. Guidance for the discussion is provided in a Teacher Toolbox at the bottom of this page.

For additional information on how to facilitate this activity, go to the V5 Workcell Educator Certification.

• If groups are still struggling to visualize where the center of the tool plate is, screw a 0.5" standoff in the center of the tool plate. This can give students a physical reference of the center of the tool plate when they are moving the arm.
• If groups are having difficulty locating the center of the turntable, advise them to use the standoff on the side of the turntable as reference for where the center is located.
• If groups are noticing that their x-value and the measurement of the distance between the center of the tool plate to the center of the turntable are vastly different, the mastering values may need adjusted. Refer back to the 'Mastering Values' page in the Seek section of this Lab for further instructions on how to ensure the mastering values are accurate.

For more tips on how to support groups as they complete this activity, go to the V5 Workcell Educator Certification.

After students have measured the x, y and z values and answered the questions on their Play Checklists, bring the groups together for a discussion.

• Ask students to share their x-values along with the measured distances between the center of the tool plate and the center of the turntable. They should be approximately equal. Explain to students that this is because the x-values are measured in inches. One inch on the Workcell corresponds to an increase of one x-value on the Brain's screen.
• Ask students if they think that (0, 0, 0) can ever be displayed on the Brain's screen? Why or why not? After allowing students to think and discuss, explain that even though the (0, 0, 0) on the Workcell is in the center of the turntable, (0, 0, 0) will never display on the Brain's screen. This is because the values are being recorded from the center of the tool plate on the arm. To obtain a value of (0, 0, 0), the center of the tool plate would have to move to the center of the turntable. This cannot be done, as the arm cannot fold in on itself

Go to the V5 Workcell Educator Certification for more information on how to facilitate this discussion.