3D Surface Smoothness Evaluation for Contoured Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional measurement systems are limited to two-dimensional evaluations and fail to provide accurate, three-dimensional assessments of the smoothness of contoured surfaces, relying on subjective human judgment and lacking digital preservation of results.
Innovation Solution
A system that segments a contoured surface into regions, measures coordinates within each region, determines a reference surface, compares these coordinates to the reference, and calculates a smoothness parameter, digitally storing the results for informed manufacturing decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional two-dimensional measurement systems are used to evaluate surface smoothness, then the measurement process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision is insufficient for contoured surfaces and relies on subjective human judgment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional measurement systems to three-dimensional measurement systems. The measurement system captures 3D coordinates of multiple points on the contoured surface, processes these coordinates to determine a reference surface, and calculates deviations in three-dimensional space. This dimensional upgrade enables accurate assessment of surface smoothness on complex contoured surfaces while eliminating reliance on subjective human judgment.
2Measurement precision
If three-dimensional measurement systems are implemented to accurately assess contoured surfaces, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the contoured surface into multiple evaluation regions, each containing multiple measurement points. The 3D coordinates of these points are processed independently for each region to determine local reference surfaces and calculate smoothness deviations. This segmentation approach enables accurate 3D measurement of complex surfaces by breaking them into manageable sections, reducing the computational burden compared to processing the entire surface as a single unit.
3Reliability
If conventional measurement systems relying on human judgment are used, then the operation is simple, but reliability and objectivity of results deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/tactile measurement approach with human operators using template gages and feeler gages with an automated digital measurement system. The system uses 3D coordinates captured by measurement devices, processes these coordinates through computational algorithms to determine reference surfaces, and automatically calculates smoothness deviations. This substitution eliminates subjective human judgment while maintaining operational simplicity through automated data processing and objective numerical results.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to evaluate the smoothness of a surface are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises interface circuitry, machine-readable instructions, and at least one processor circuit to be programmed by the machine-readable instructions to access a computer-generated model of a surface of an object to be evaluated for smoothness, segment the surface into a plurality of regions, each of the regions adjacent to or overlapping at least another one of the regions, select one of the regions to be evaluated for smoothness, measure a plurality of coordinates on the surface of the object corresponding to respective locations within the selected region, determine a reference surface based on the measured coordinates, compare the coordinates to the reference surface, and determine a smoothness parameter of the selected region based on the comparisons.