Apparatus and method for determining the minimum zone for an array of features with a true position tolerance

An article of manufacture having a machine accessible medium having associated data wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

• defining a target function that describes a maximum deviation for an array of features between an actual position and a nominal position for the array of features, the target function having a rotation parameter, a horizontal translation parameter, and a vertical translation parameter;
• determining a final rotation parameter, a final vertical translation parameter and a final horizontal translation parameter that provide a minimum target function value as a minimum, maximum deviation for the array of features;
• comparing a minimum, maximum deviation value of at least one feature of the array of features to a corresponding maximum allowed offset of the at least one feature;
• and
• generating an inspection report for the array of features including at least one of acceptance and rejection for the at least one feature of the array of features according to the comparing of the minimum, maximum deviation value to the maximum allowed offset of the at least one feature.

A system comprising:

• a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) to capture actual position data including x-coordinates and y-coordinates for an array of features, each feature from the array of features having active position;
• a processor coupled to the CMM;
• and
• a machine-readable storage medium in electronic communication with the processor and including CMM software to cause the processor to transform the actual position data captured by the CMM to simulate manual repositioning of the array of features to account for translation and rotation of the array of features to minimize a size of a tolerance zone that contains a maximum deviation for the array of features between an actual position and a true position to provide a minimum, maximum deviation value for the array of features.