Cylindricity modeling and tolerance analysis for cylindrical components

The circular and cylindrical features are fundamental geometric features in machines. Cylindricity error affects the fitting conditions of cylindrical components and impacts the performance of the precision products. In this paper, the cylindricity error was modeled using L-F functions and evaluated by particle swarm optimization algorithm. Then the contact method is developed to determine the position accuracy through the virtual assembling of the bore and shaft using Monte Carlo simulation. The effects of the cylindricity error and the number of lobes on the position error were analyzed in detail. The results indicate that the cylindricity error has more significant influence on the position accuracy between the cylindrical parts than the roundness error. Using the suggested method in the paper, the position accuracy can be rapidly predicted after the design tolerances are allocated or the geometrical errors are measured on manufactured parts.