Automatic Coordinate Measuring Machine Inspection

Author(s):  
V. A. Albuquerque ◽  
F. W. Liou ◽  
S. Agarwal ◽  
O. R. Mitchell

Abstract In many industrial applications, such as product prototype development, automation of inspection process can greatly improve product quality and product development cycle, time. This paper discusses a development of a vision aided automatic inspection using Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). We seek to integrate the flexibility afforded by computer vision systems with the precision of numerically controlled coordinate measuring machines to achieve a fully automatic and reliable inspection of the industrial parts. The 3-D design information and part specification from computer-aided design file is used for inspection point placement and CMM path planning. The proposed system demonstrates that optimal collision-free inspection paths can be efficiently generated for geometrically complex parts consisting of multiply intersecting features. This is made possible by using iterative subdivision of surfaces for point placement coupled with, efficient 3-D collision avoidance and path planning. The paper discusses different algorithms used, and presents experimental results.

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (07) ◽  
pp. 32-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Thilmany

This article demonstrates the use of model-based definition (MBD), which can lead to improve productivity and reduce time-to-market. MBD is a method of annotating 3D computer-aided design models with geometric and tolerancing information. With Boeing moving to model-based definition, members of industry have approached the team in Montreal about investigating MBD’s usefulness. Experts believe that the MBD format, if widely adopted, would have implications for inspection. The part would be inspected against the tolerances contained within the CAD model rather than against the 2D engineering drawings, and that would speed the process and potentially make it even more accurate. The cultural change that will have to take place at most engineering companies will be difficult to tackle, and engineering and manufacturing managers know this. A model-based inspection software is being developed to read geometric, dimension, and tolerance information attached to a solid model. This will minimize operator input during development of coordinate measuring machine programs and improve the accuracy and integrity of the inspection process.


Author(s):  
C. J. Rolls ◽  
W. ElMaraghy ◽  
H. ElMaraghy

Abstract Reverse engineering (RE), may be defined as the process of generating computer aided design models (CAD) from existing or prototype parts. The process has been used for many years in industry. It has markedly increased in implementation in the past few years, primarily due to the introduction of rapid part digitization technologies. Current industrial applications include CAD model construction from artisan geometry, such as in automotive body styling, the generation of custom fits to human surfaces, and quality control. This paper summarizes the principles of operation behind many commercially available part digitization technologies, and discusses techniques involved in part digitization using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and laser scanner. An overall error characterization of the laser scanning digitization process is presented for a particular scanner. This is followed by a discussion of the merits and considerations involved in generating combined data sets with characteristics indicative of the design intent of specific part features. Issues in facilitating the assembly, or registration, of the different types of data into a single point set are discussed.


Author(s):  
X J Wang ◽  
C Butler

The aim of this paper is to present a practical approach to the solution of problems associated with using an automated coordinate measuring machine (CMM) in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) environment. The approach described uses machine vision and image processing techniques to permit transformations of the coordinate systems. In order to achieve flexible inspection, the system can recognize different workpieces by a quick matching method. The actual measuring path for the workpiece is derived from the original measuring path templates to allow for a workpiece to be measured in an arbitrary orientation on the table of the CMM. The original measuring path can be generated off-line by self-teach programming or from a computer aided design (CAD) system. The generation of the actual measuring path of the CMM is not limited by the complexity of the original off-line measuring path.


Author(s):  
A J Medland ◽  
G Mullineux ◽  
C Butler ◽  
B E Jones

The role of the coordinate measuring machine within the inspection process has changed throughout its brief development. With its integration with industrial computer aided design (CAD) systems, its role is to change yet again. This paper presents the difficulties and limitations of current practice and identifies the inputs and decisions that need to be made within an integrated manufacturing environment. A research programme was undertaken to investigate an approach based upon intelligent communications between systems. This led to the creation of a demonstration system that was employed in the measurement of industrial components. A case study, using a standard test block, is included to illustrate the processes undertaken. This includes feature identification, probe calibration and selection strategies and automatic re-routing to minimize changes in probes and orientations. It is proposed that the approach demonstrated can be incorporated within a concurrent engineering environment to provide feedback and information about machine adjustments through a constraint modelling process.


Author(s):  
Zhi Yang ◽  
Richard A. Wysk ◽  
Sanjay Joshi

Visibility analysis is broadly used in milling and casting process planning and in coordinate measuring machine applications. However, standard visibility analysis (which involves determining visibility from a given viewpoint), cannot be applied directly to in-line cutting systems such as wire electrical discharge machines or hot wire foam cutters. The motivation of this paper is to accurately calculate the tangent visibility for objects represented by polygonal surfaces. In this paper we define a new type of visibility - tangent visibility. We develop an algorithm to calculate the global tangent visibility for in-line cutting systems, and several models are tested to verify its accuracy. Several polyhedral models are tested to verify the correctness of the tangent visibility algorithm; and the complexity of the algorithm is also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Del Guercio ◽  
Manuela Galati ◽  
Abdollah Saboori

Abstract Additive Manufacturing processes are considered advanced manufacturing methods. It would be possible to produce complex shape components from a Computer-Aided Design model in a layer-by-layer manner. Lattice structures as one of the complex geometries could attract lots of attention for both medical and industrial applications. In these structures, besides cell size and cell type, the microstructure of lattice structures can play a key role in these structures' mechanical performance. On the other hand, heat treatment has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of the material. Therefore, in this work, the effect of the heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures manufactured by EBM was analyzed. The main mechanical properties were compared with the Ashby and Gibson model. It is very interesting to notice that a more homogeneous failure mode was found for the heat-treated samples. The structures' relative density was the main factor influencing their mechanical performance of the heat-treated samples. It is also found that the heat treatments were able to preserve the stiffness and the compressive strength of the lattice structures. Besides, an increment of both the elongation at failure and the absorbed energy was obtained after the heat treatments. Microstructure analysis of the heat-treated samples confirms the increment of ductility of the heat-treated samples with respect to the as-built one.


2018 ◽  
Vol Vol.18 (No.1) ◽  
pp. 96-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lam NGUYEN ◽  
Johannes BUHL ◽  
Markus BAMBACH

Three-axis machines are limited in the production of geometrical features in powder-bed additive manufacturing processes. In case of overhangs, support material has to be added due to the nature of the process, which causes some disadvantages. Robot-based wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is able to fabricate overhangs without adding support material. Hence, build time, waste of material, and post-processing might be reduced considerably. In order to make full use of multi-axis advantages, slicing strategies are needed. To this end, the CAD (computer-aided design) model of the part to be built is first partitioned into sub-parts, and for each sub-part, an individual build direction is identified. Path planning for these sub-parts by slicing then enables to produce the parts. This study presents a heuristic method to deal with the decomposition of CAD models and build direction identification for sub-entities. The geometric data of two adjacent slices are analyzed to construct centroidal axes. These centroidal axes are used to navigate the slicing and building processes. A case study and experiments are presented to exemplify the algorithm.


2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (08) ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Thilmany

This article highlights the acoustical analysis changes made by manufacturers in design cycle. Acoustical simulation is being pushed from experts to designers, following the trend for the last 15 or so years that saw other types of engineering applications like finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics become integrated with computer-aided design packages used by mechanical engineers. With the advent of software packages that allow for design and for acoustical analysis in tandem, design engineers are increasingly running these analyses early in the development cycle and are making design changes to decrease noise and vibration issues they find. Experts suggest that with speaker sound quality and other pertinent information in hand, designers can actually design from the get-go with that information in mind, resulting in fewer design changes down the line. Though early acoustical simulation is still perhaps one of the consumer electronics’ industries best-kept secrets, that’s likely to change as word gets out about the many advantages of front-line simulation.


Author(s):  
Roydan Dsouza

3D Printing refers to a class of technology that can automatically construct 3-dimensional physical models from Computer Aided Design (CAD) data. Reduction of product development cycle time is a major concern in industries for achieving competitive advantage. Endodontic dentistry is the dental specialty concerned with the study and treatment of the dental pulp, and generally diagnose tooth pain and perform root canal treatment and other procedures relating to the interior of the tooth. This article, therefore, aims on being an assistive methodology in endodontics by applying 3D printing in order to reduce the strain involved in the tooth restoration process.


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