I am building a Rhino model and inspection layout for an LPBF copper cold plate that will be finish-machined after printing. The sequence is to establish a sealing-face datum, flip the part, and then spot-face and drill/ream the ports while protecting the nominal wall to hidden internal channels. The geometric risk is shown in this tolerance stack-up guide for copper AM parts with printed channels and machined ports.
In Rhino 8, what is the most robust way to keep the design nominal, machining datums, and inspection references together without moving the primary solid between setups? My current idea is:
- keep the nominal finished solid locked on its own layer;
- create named points, planes, and section curves for the sealing face, port axes, and minimum wall checks;
- use two named CPlanes or block instances to represent operation 1 and operation 2 fixture coordinates;
- keep the scanned/as-built mesh as a separate reference object for alignment and stock allowance review.
Would blocks plus named CPlanes be safer than duplicating and transforming the part for each setup? I also need the port axes and inspection points to survive STEP/3DM handoff cleanly. Any practical layer, naming, or export pattern you use for this kind of two-sided manufacturing model would be helpful.