METHOD AND SYSTEM TO TOLERANCE TEST A COMPONENT

• US 20150012236A1
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Petroskie, Robert Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,395,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/25 by projecting a pattern, e.g. one or more lines, moiré fringes on the object G01B11/255 takes precedence ; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2504 Calibration devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/00 Testing of machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/025 Test-benches with rotational drive means and loading means; Load or drive simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/263 Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences ; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers

Abstract

A method and system of tolerance testing a component using data measurements from a single test setup within a test apparatus are described. The method includes receiving the data measurements obtained with the single test setup. The method also includes separating, at the processor, the data measurements from a relative positioning of an element of the test apparatus and performing, at the processor, a virtual setup of the component to obtain additional data measurements related to one or more parts of the component. The method additionally includes determining, at the processor, whether a parameter associated with the one or more parts meets a specified tolerance based on the additional data measurements obtained from the virtual setup.

Claims

1. A method of tolerance testing a component using data measurements from a single test setup within a test apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor, the data measurements obtained with the single test setup;

separating, at the processor, the data measurements from a relative positioning of an element of the test apparatus;

performing, at the processor, a virtual setup of the component to obtain additional data measurements related to one or more parts of the component; and

determining, at the processor, whether a parameter associated with the one or more parts meets a specified tolerance based on the additional data measurements obtained from the virtual setup.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising plotting the data measurements on a three-dimensional coordinate system referenced to the element of the test apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plotting the data measurements includes plotting best-fit circles based on the data measurements along an axial length of the component.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plotting the data measurements includes plotting best-fit planes based on the data measurements on a set of planes perpendicular to an axial length of the component.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining an axis through the component based on the plotting the data measurements.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the performing the virtual setup includes shifting the axis through the component such that the one or more parts are located on an axis of the three-dimensional coordinate system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is circularity.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional data measurements are related to two or more parts and the parameter is eccentricity.

9. A system to tolerance test a component using data measurements from a single test setup within a test apparatus, the system comprising:

an input interface configured to receive the data measurements from the single test setup; and

a processor configured to separate the data measurements from a relative positioning of an element of the test apparatus, perform a virtual setup of the component to obtain additional data measurements related to one or more parts of the component, and determine whether a parameter associated with the one or more parts meets a specified tolerance based on the additional data measurements obtained from the virtual setup.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the component is a shaft and the element of the test apparatus is a lathe.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the parameter is circularity.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the additional data measurements are related to two or more parts of the component, and the parameter is eccentricity.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the processor separates the data measurements from the relative positioning of the element based on plotting the data measurements on a three-dimensional coordinate system referenced to the element of the test apparatus.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor determines an axis through the component based on the plotting the data measurements.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the processor performs the virtual setup relative to the one or more parts.

16. A method using a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when processed by a processor, cause the processor to implement tolerance testing of a component using data measurements from a single test setup within a test apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving the data measurements obtained with the single test setup;

separating the data measurements from a relative positioning of an element of the test apparatus;

performing a virtual setup of the component to obtain additional data measurements related to one or more parts of the component; and

determining whether a parameter associated with the one or more parts meets a specified tolerance based on the additional data measurements obtained from the virtual setup.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising plotting the data measurements on a three-dimensional coordinate system referenced to the element of the test apparatus.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining an axis through the component based on the plotting the data measurements.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the parameter is circularity.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the additional data measurements are related to two or more parts and the parameter is eccentricity.