CAD Geometric Tolerance Ranking for Early Cost Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating geometric tolerances in manufacturing are subjective and lack a systematic approach, leading to unnecessary costs due to tight tolerances that are challenging to manufacture, without providing early indicators for remedial actions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a Scoring and Ranking plugin in CAD applications to evaluate geometric tolerances by determining a Sources of Variation (SoV) score, tolerance rank, and relative cost, automatically notifying users of potential issues and suggesting adjustments to reduce manufacturing complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tighter geometric tolerances are applied to ensure manufacturing precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of geometric tolerances during the design phase by calculating Sources of Variation scores and assigning tolerance ranks before manufacturing occurs. This allows designers to identify and adjust problematic tolerances early, preventing costly rework and optimizing manufacturing feasibility before production begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automated feedback to designers by generating notifications that indicate when tolerances fall into problematic ranges based on calculated Scores of Variation. This feedback loop enables iterative refinement of tolerance specifications to balance precision requirements with manufacturing feasibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If tighter geometric tolerances are applied to ensure manufacturing precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system evaluates geometric tolerances and calculates Sources of Variation scores during the design phase, before manufacturing complexity arises. By assigning tolerance ranks and generating notifications early, the system enables preventive adjustments to simplify the manufacturing process while maintaining required precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated evaluation system provides continuous feedback on tolerance specifications, identifying when tighter tolerances would significantly increase manufacturing complexity. This feedback enables designers to optimize tolerance values that balance precision requirements with manufacturing simplicity.
3Loss of time
If geometric tolerances are evaluated subjectively by reviewers, then evaluation time is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of evaluation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service evaluation by automatically calculating Sources of Variation scores and assigning tolerance ranks based on objective criteria. This automated self-evaluation eliminates the need for subjective human review while providing consistent, reliable, and precise evaluation results without requiring specialized expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human expert review with an automated computational system that objectively evaluates geometric tolerances. The system uses algorithms to calculate Sources of Variation scores and determine tolerance ranks, substituting human judgment with consistent, repeatable computational logic that eliminates subjectivity.
4Productivity
If geometric tolerances are evaluated early in the design process, then productivity is improved by enabling early remedial actions, but device complexity increases due to additional evaluation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation system is integrated into the existing CAD environment, making the CAD application multi-functional by adding automated tolerance evaluation capabilities. The system leverages existing CAD data structures and workflows, so the evaluation functionality shares infrastructure with the host application, minimizing additional complexity while enabling early-stage productivity improvements.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method of designing an object in a Computer Aided Design (“CAD”) application using Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), includes drawing, by one or more processors, an object in the CAD application; applying, by one or more processors, a geometric tolerance to at least one of the features (502) having one or more of Form, Orientation, and Location constraints and a tolerance range according to a GD&T standard; determining, by the one or more processors, a relative cost of the geometric tolerance (508) using the tolerance range and a total number of the one or more constraints of Form, Orientation, and Location; and automatically generating a notification to the user (512) of a relative cost of the geometric tolerance relative to narrower and/or broader tolerance ranges than the tolerance range selected for the one or more features of the object.