Conformance gauge
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorNeil K. Hastilow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conformance gauge is used as an inspection tool to check that component features lie within tolerance limits. When the component has been designed using CAD tools the CAD data file defining external surfaces of the component is used as the basis to create a second CAD data file defining the surfaces of the inspection to conform to the corresponding surfaces of the component. Viewing apertures or slots are then defined in the data file to the tolerance limits of features to be checked. The second CAD data file is then provided to a rapid prototyping system, eg a stereolithography machine to produce the final inspection gauge.
Claims7
A method of design and manufacture of a conformance gauge for checking conformance of at least one selected feature of a manufactured component within tolerance limits of the nominal dimensions of the feature, the component having been designed using CAD tools, through use of which there has been created a first CAD data file containing the co-ordinates of the nominal dimensions of the component design and the said at least one selected feature, the method of designing the conformance gauge comprising creating a second CAD data file containing the co-ordinates of the nominal dimensions of the conformance gauge including an inspection feature corresponding to the at least one selected feature of the component design, wherein the co-ordinates of the inspection feature are derived from or are copied from the co-ordinates of the at least one selected feature contained in the first CAD data file.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.