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US 11,281,183 B2Granted
Unified control system and method for machining of parts
AssigneeCox Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorsWilliam T. Cox, Jr., Can Saygin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for monitoring and controlling a machining process of parts. Data as to dimensions of produced parts are gathered during a production process. The parts are produced based on part control plan. The data of the dimensions are plotted as to statistical information related to a distribution curve. Determination is made if a trend in the dimensional data approaches an upper control limit and a lower control limit. Corrective action is taken if the trend approaches either the upper control limit or the lower control limit.
Claims20
A computer implemented method for monitoring and controlling a machining process of parts comprising:
- gathering dimension data of a number samples of parts in a production lot, wherein the parts are produced based on a part control plan;
- plotting the dimension data of the samples as to statistical information related to a distribution curve;
- determining if a trend in the dimensional data approaches an upper control limit and a lower control limit;
- taking corrective action if the trend approaches either the upper control limit or the lower control limit;
- and
- showing, on a user interface, information that is provided by the part control plan and the information being a quality control and inspection document that shows what dimensions on a part are to be inspected by a particular tool, wherein particular tools are used to create a particular dimension of a part;
- showing, on the user interface, the part control plan further showing sample size and part count-based frequency;
- displaying, on the user interface, process behavior including flags including colored sample data indicating alerts as to potential quality issues and deviation from desired process behavior;
- indicating, by an alert, if an immediate corrective action is needed;
- and
- tracking, by the part control plan, life remaining on inspection tools in terms of part count so that when reached, the inspection tools must be calibrated.
8 more elements
A system comprising:
- a processor;
- a data bus coupled to the processor;
- and
- a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer-usable medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program code used for monitoring and controlling a machining process of parts and comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for:
- gathering dimension data of a number samples of parts in a production lot, wherein the parts are produced based on a part control plan;
- plotting the dimension data of the samples as to statistical information related to a distribution curve;
- determining if a trend in the dimensional data approaches an upper control limit and a lower control limit;
- taking corrective action if the trend approaches either the upper control limit or the lower control limit;
- and
- showing, on a user interface, information that is provided by the part control plan and the information being a quality control and inspection document that shows what dimensions on a part are to be inspected by a particular tool, wherein particular tools are used to create a particular dimension of a part;
- showing, on the user interface, the part control plan further showing sample size and part count-based frequency;
- displaying, on the user interface, process behavior including flags including colored sample data indicating alerts as to potential quality issues and deviation from desired process behavior;
- indicating, by an alert, if an immediate corrective action is needed;
- and
- tracking, by the part control plan, life remaining on inspection tools in terms of part count so that when reached, the inspection tools must be calibrated.
12 more elements
A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:
- gathering dimension data of a number samples of parts in a production lot, wherein the parts are produced based on a part control plan;
- plotting the dimension data of the samples as to statistical information related to a distribution curve;
- determining if a trend in the dimensional data approaches an upper control limit and a lower control limit;
- taking corrective action if the trend approaches either the upper control limit or the lower control limit;
- and
- showing, on a user interface, information that is provided by the part control plan and the information being a quality control and inspection document that shows what dimensions on a part are to be inspected by a particular tool, wherein particular tools are used to create a particular dimension of a part;
- showing, on the user interface, the part control plan further showing sample size and part count-based frequency;
- displaying, on the user interface, process behavior including flags including colored sample data indicating alerts as to potential quality issues and deviation from desired process behavior;
- indicating, by an alert, if an immediate corrective action is needed;
- and
- tracking, by the part control plan, life remaining on inspection tools in terms of part count so that when reached, the inspection tools must be calibrated.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.