Navigating the Tolerance Analysis Maze

AbstractThis paper classifies and reviews geometric tolerance analysis methods and software. Two of the most popular methods, 1-D Min/Max Charts and Parametric Simulation, are reviewed in detail. The former is fully consistent with international tolerance standards but limited to decoupled analysis of variations in one direction at a time. It is also hard to automate. The latter can handle variations in all directions but is not fully compatible with the standards. The results are highly dependent on the expertise of the analyst. New methods are emerging to overcome these problems. One such method called T-maps is also reviewed. It maps geometric variations from physical space to 3, 4, or 5 dimensional virtual space and computes tolerance accumulations using Minkowski sums. The method so far has shown to be consistent with tolerance standards and can handle all tolerance classes applicable to planar and cylindrical features.

[1]  R. C. Hillyard,et al.  Analysis of dimensions and tolerances in computer-aided mechanical design , 1978 .

[2]  Daniel E. Whitney,et al.  Representation of geometric variations using matrix transforms for statistical tolerance analysis in assemblies , 1994 .

[3]  Lapo Governi,et al.  Tolerance Analysis with eM-TolMate , 2003, J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng..

[4]  Zhengshu Shen.  Tolerance Analysis with EDS/VisVSA , 2003, J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng..

[5]  M. Giordano,et al.  Mathematical representation of Tolerance Zones , 1999 .

[6]  R. Light,et al.  Modification of geometric models through variational geometry , 1982 .

[7]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  A New Mathematical Model for Geometric Tolerances as Applied to Axes , 2003, DAC 2003.

[8]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  Using Tolerance-Maps to Generate Frequency Distributions of Clearance for Pin-Hole Assemblies , 2006, DAC 2006.

[9]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  Automation of Linear Tolerance Charts and Extension to Statistical Tolerance Analysis , 2003 .

[10]  Aristides A. G. Requicha,et al.  Representation of Tolerances in Solid Modeling: Issues and Alternative Approaches , 1984 .

[11]  J. Shah,et al.  Tolerance-Maps Applied to the Straightness and Orientation of an Axis , 2007 .

[12]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  The Effects of Different Specifications on the Tolerance-Maps for an Angled Face , 2004, DAC 2004.

[13]  Utpal Roy,et al.  Representation and interpretation of geometric tolerances for polyhedral objects. II.: Size, orientation and position tolerances , 1999, Comput. Aided Des..

[14]  Spencer P. Magleby,et al.  Including Geometric Feature Variations in Tolerance Analysis of Mechanical Assemblies , 1996 .

[15]  Oliver R. Wade,et al.  Tolerance control in design and manufacturing , 1967 .

[16]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  Tolerance-Maps Applied to a Point-Line Cluster of Features , 2007, DAC 2005.

[17]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  A New Mathematical Model for Geometric Tolerances as Applied to Round Faces , 2002 .

[18]  Joseph K. Davidson,et al.  Simulation-Based Tolerance and Assemblability Analyses of Assemblies With Multiple Pin/Hole Floating Mating Conditions , 2005 .