US 10,378,892 B2 · System and method for inspecting surface flushness

Abstract

A system includes one or more memory devices operable to store surface profile data and a processor operable to execute logic. The processor accesses the surface profile data for a first surface of a first component and a second surface of a second component, and determines, based at least in part on the surface profile data for the first and second surfaces, a best-fit between the first and second surfaces. The processor determines a first distance from a first edge-of-part point on the first surface to the best-fit, and a second distance from a second edge-of-part point on the second surface to the best-fit. The processor determines a flushness between the first surface and the second surface based at least in part on the first and second distances.

A method performed in a measurement device for determining surface flushness, comprising:

generating, by the measurement device using laser measurements, a plurality of first surface data points between a first point on a first surface of a first component of a vehicle and a second point on the first surface, the first point located a first predetermined distance from a first edge-of-part point on the first component, wherein:
the first component of the vehicle is assembled together with a second component of the vehicle;
and
the first component of the vehicle and the second component of the vehicle comprise mating parts configured to fit together with an intended surface flushness;
generating, by the measurement device using laser measurements, a plurality of second surface data points between a third point on a second surface of the second component and a fourth point on the second surface, the third point located a second predetermined distance from a second edge-of-part point on the second component;
determining, by the measurement device based at least in part on the plurality of first and second surface data points generated using laser measurements, a best-fit across the first and second surfaces, wherein the best-fit provides an approximation of a theoretical intended surface based on the first surface and the second surface, and the best-fit is one of:
a best-fit line calculated using a least squares method;
and
a best-fit quadratic curve;
determining, by the measurement device, a first distance from the first edge-of-part point on the first component to the best-fit;
determining, by the measurement device, a second distance from the second edge-of-part point on the second component to the best-fit;
calculating, by the measurement device, a correction factor based at least in part on:
a width of a gap between the first and second components;
the first distance from the first edge-of-part point on the first component to the best-fit;
the second distance from the second edge-of-part point on the second component to the best-fit;
and
an intersection component, the intersection component comprising a sum of a first intersection distance and a second intersection distance, wherein:
the first intersection distance is a distance along a first contour of the first surface from a first intersection of the best-fit with the first surface to the first edge-of-part point;
and
the second intersection distance is a distance along a second contour of the second surface from a second intersection of the best-fit with the second surface to the second edge-of-part point;
and
confirming, by the measurement device, that the assembled first component of the vehicle and the second component of the vehicle fit together with the intended surface flushness based on a flushness between the first surface and the second surface determined by summing the first distance from the first edge-of-part point to the best-fit, the second distance from the second edge-of-part point to the best-fit, and the correction factor.

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System and method for inspecting surface flushness

Life of this patent

System and method for inspecting surface flushness

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20