Assembly process level tolerance analysis for electromechanical products

Dimensioning philosophy and choice of tolerances is a design function that affects not only the product's function and performance, but also its manufacture and assembly. Tolerances constrain feasible methods of manufacture, strongly influence the cost of manufacture, affect the ease and sequence of assembly, and determine the specifications of assembly technology such as jigs and fixtures, assembly machines, robots, and grippers. We discuss variation sources and classes and review the current 3D tolerance analysis technology for assembly process planning.