APM: an automated inspection programming system

Abstract Using electronic product definition stored in a computer-aided design (CAD) system and computer-resident rule bases for both inspection methods and numerically controlled (NC) programming techniques, a prototype system has been designed and implemented at the Oak Ridge Y-12 *Plant to automate the programming of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). This system, the automated programming module (APM), allows design engineers, inspection experts, and CMM programmers to work in an integrated and automated environment to produce quality CMM programs in a timely manner. The design engineer creates the electronic product model with existing CAD tools and specialized model enhancement software. The inspection expert determines which tolerances to verify and confirms APM's recommendations for inspection methods. The CMM programmer instructs APM on how the part is to be oriented and which probe configuration is to be used. After obtaining this information, APM then creates a CMM program, freeing the inspe...