Method for processing manufactured parts

A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for instructing a computer system to process one or more manufactured parts, the computer instructions comprising:

• generating a plurality of tool paths corresponding to a feature to be added to the one or more manufactured parts, wherein each of the tool paths corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of representative manufactured parts, and wherein each of the tool paths has an effect on a respective one of the representative manufactured parts;
• clustering the tool paths into a plurality of clusters based on the respective effect and a tolerance of the feature being added to the representative manufactured part;
• and
• processing a manufactured part using one of the tool paths, which corresponds to a respective subpopulation in which the manufactured part lies.

A method for processing one or more manufactured parts, said method comprising;

• characterizing a variation of a plurality of representative manufactured parts;
• generating an orthogonal coordinate system using the variation, wherein the orthogonal coordinate system comprises a plurality of coordinates, each of the coordinates contributing a substantial portion of the variation;
• mapping the representative manufactured parts into the orthogonal coordinate system, wherein each of the manufactured parts is mapped as a respective point in the coordinate system;
• defining a region within the orthogonal coordinate system that encompasses an expected range of variation in the representative manufactured parts;
• populating the region with a plurality of expected coordinates, wherein the plurality of expected coordinates encompasses the expected range;
• creating a tool path for each of the expected coordinates, wherein each tool path has a respective effect on the manufactured part;
• clustering the tool paths into a plurality of clusters based on the respective effect and a tolerance of the feature being added to a manufactured part;
• and
• processing the manufactured part using one of the tool paths, which corresponds to a respective subpopulation in which the manufactured part lies.