Surface Extend

The Extend tool creates a new surface by appending part of the previous frame's data to the current frame's data. The tool outputs the new surface data, which can be used as input by other tools. The tool is especially useful when scans are performed using fixed length surface generation, where parts might be split between two frames. (For more information on surface generation, see Surface Generation.)

The following shows how the tool combines data:

Data is only appended in one direction. Partial objects in the resulting surface output from the tool must be filtered out using downstream tools, for example, excluding them based on the expected area.

For information on adding, managing, and removing tools, as well as detailed descriptions of settings common to most tools, see Tool Configuration.

Inputs

You configure the tool's inputs in the expandable Inputs section.

To use a measurement as an anchor, it must be enabled and properly configured in the tool providing the anchor. For more information on anchoring, see Measurement Anchoring.

Inputs
Name	Description
Enable Batching	When Enable Batching is checked, the tool takes an array as input and processes each surface in the array individually. There is no limit to the size of the array, other than processing limitations of the sensor. For more information on arrays, batching, and aggregating, see Arrays, Batching, and Aggregation.
Surface Input	The data the tool applies measurements to or processes.

Parameters

You configure the tool's parameters in the expandable Parameters section.

Parameters
Parameter	Description
Direction	Determines whether the previous frame's data is appended above or below the current frame's data. One of the following. Note that these settings depend on whether the trigger source has been set to Encoder (see Triggers) and the orientation of the sensor. Auto: Choose this when Encoder is selected as the trigger source, in which case the tool will detect the direction of travel relative to encoder increase / decrease. Forward: Choose this option when the trigger source is not set to Encoder and the direction of motion matches the sensor's positive Y axis. Backward: Choose this option when the trigger source is not set to Encoder and the direction of motion is the opposite of the sensor's positive Y axis.
Overlap Length	The amount, in millimeters, of the previous frame's data to append to the current frame's data. The combination will be output as tool data. Choose the overlap length to accommodate the size of your scan targets.
Mode	Determines the mode of the tool. One of the following: Normal: The tool's output is unlocked and functions normally. Lock: Lets you lock the current processing and outputs of the tool. Useful when you need to add another tool that will use this tool's output (for example, a Surface Section tool). If you do not lock the tool, as soon as you add the other tool, the output is cleared, which means you must re-execute the combined output again to configure the additional tool. Be sure to unlock the tool after you have configured any other tools.
External ID	The external ID of the tool that appears in GoHMI Designer. For more information, see GoHMI and GoHMI Designer.

Outputs

All tools provide measurements, geometric features, or data as outputs.

Data
Type	Description
Extended Surface	Data containing an extended surface, available for use as input in the Stream drop-down in other tools.