Automated inspection planning within the Rapid Design System

A methodology for automated inspection planning of machined parts within feature-based CIM in which part geometry and tolerances are represented as features is described. This representation of information as features is extended to inspection process planning where inspection plan fragments are inspection features containing specific information about how toleranced geometry is to be inspected. A rule base of methods and detailed procedures for evaluating tolerances based on industrial practices are used to generate the inspection plan fragments. A single tolerance can often be inspected in several ways, resulting in the generation of many inspection plan fragments. Inspection planing for computer-controlled coordinate measuring machines is emphasized. The inspection plan fragments for each tolerance in the design are combined into an overall time-efficient inspection plan. An algorithm for inspection process planning is described and applied to a sample part. >