This article presents numerical methods in order to solve problems of tolerance analysis. A geometric specification, a contact specification and a functional requirement can be respectively characterized by a finite set of geometric constraints, a finite set of contact constraints and a finite set of functional constraints. Mathematically each constraint formalises a n-face (hyperplan of dimens...

The inclusion of uncertainty in design is of paramount practical importance because all real-life systems are affected by it. Designs that ignore uncertainty often lead to poor robustness, suboptimal performance, and higher build costs. Treatment of small geometric uncertainty in the context of manufacturing tolerances is a well studied topic. Traditional sequential design methodologies have re...

We present in this paper a new analysis of relative sensitivity/importance of camera calibra-tion/alignment parameters on the performance of stereoscopic depth reconstruction. For a given stereoscopic vision system, once stereo correspondence is successfully established, the accuracy of 3D measurements depends on the overall geometric structure of the model in relation to object distances. The ...

The allocation of design tolerances between the components of a mechanical assembly and manufacturing tolerances can significantly affect the functionality of products and related production costs. This paper introduces Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) approach to solve the machining tolerance allocation of an overrunning clutch assembly.  The objective is to obtain optimum tolerances of...

We present a general method for worst-case limlt kinematic tolerance analysis: computing the range of variation in the kinematic function of a mecnanism [rom its part tolerance specifications. The method covers fixed and changing contact mechanisms with parametric or geometric part tolerances. We develop a new model of kincmaLic variation, called kinematic tolerance space, that generalizes the ...

Increasingly, Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) processes are being considered for creating functional parts. In such applications, SFF can either be used for creating tooling (i.e., patterns for casting, low volume molds, etc.) or directly creating the functional part itself. In order to create defect free functional parts, it is extremely important to fabricate the parts within allowable dimen...

We present a new, provably robust method for continuous collision detection for moving triangle meshes. Our method augments the spatial coordinate system by one dimension, representing time. We can then apply numerically robust predicates from computational geometry to detect intersections in space-time. These predicates use only multiplication and addition, so we can determine the maximum nume...

The growing use of “augmented” virtual product models, which not only represent the geometric information, but also collect attributes, parameters, rules and procedures, can facilitate the digital simulation of many real processes. The control process of manufactured products can take relevant advantage of such technology. In this context, an approach for the automatic virtual inspection of geo...

In current tolerancng practice, designers have to manually specify tolerances: either on a drawing or in a CAD system. Different designers will possibly arrive at different tolerance specifications for the same nominal geometry. ,The paper demonstrates that this situation can be avoided in the case of functional tolerancing with a focus on the geometry relevant for functioning. Under this restr...