The integration of dimensional variation management throughout design, manufacture and verification has the potential to improve quality while reducing cycle times and manufacturing cost. Jody Muelaner has developed a framework for this to take place.
Initially variation analysis is used to optimize tolerances during product and tooling design and also results in the creation of a simplified representation of product key characteristics. This simplified representation can then be used to carry out measurability analysis and process simulation. The link established between the variation analysis model and measurement processes can subsequently be used throughout the production process to automatically update the variation analysis model in real time with measurement data.
This ‘live’ simulation of variation during manufacture will allow early detection of quality issues and facilitate autonomous measurement assisted processes such as predictive shimming.
Publications
Integrated Approach
- Integrated Dimensional Variation Management in the Digital Factory - DET
- Early design verification of complex assembly variability
Instrument Selection and Measurability Analysis
- Large Volume Metrology Instrument Selection, IMechE
- Large Volume Metrology Instrument Selection, DET
