Automatic inspection planning within a feature-based CAD system

Abstract This paper describe a CIM system which incorporates automatic generation of inspection on plans for coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Design is done in terms of form features. Associated with each feature are inspection plan fragments (IPFs) which are instances of inspection procedures. There are three basic types of plan fragments for CMMs: (1) fragments for checking the internal dimensions of a feature, (2) fragments for checking the relationships between features, and (3) modified fragments for use when the feature to be inspected intersects another feature. Using this approach, a list of suitable inspection points and approach vectors is generated. A path planner then combines the elements of the list to produce a valid inspection path for the CMM. The system is consistent with the accepted ANSI Y14.5M standard for dimensioning and tolerancing as well as with observed industrial practice.