Quotation System Tolerance Setting Automation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems require users to manually input tolerance information for machining locations, which is labor-intensive and prone to errors, especially in high-precision applications like mounting holes, leading to prolonged design processing times and potential errors in tolerance settings.

Innovation Solution

A quotation system that receives shape data from a client terminal, stores and associates multiple types of tolerance information, and provides assistance processing to help set tolerance information, reducing the need for manual input and minimizing errors by notifying or automatically setting the required tolerance values based on predetermined conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the user manually inputs tolerance information based on their own experience, then the system can handle various tolerance settings, but the processing time is prolonged and errors may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance setting flexibilityVSAvoiddesign processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores multiple types of tolerance information (positional tolerance, dimensional tolerance, shape tolerance) and their relationships in advance. When a user inputs one type of tolerance, the system automatically retrieves and sets the related tolerance information based on predetermined conditions, eliminating the need for manual input of all tolerance parameters and significantly reducing design processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by automatically notifying users of candidate tolerance values and relationships based on the input tolerance. This feedback mechanism guides users in making appropriate tolerance selections while reducing manual effort, as the system suggests suitable tolerance combinations based on stored knowledge of tolerance relationships.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user manually determines tolerance values from multiple candidates, then the system can handle complex tolerance requirements, but errors in tolerance input may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance selection capabilityVSAvoidtolerance input accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback by automatically notifying users of candidate tolerance values and their relationships. This feedback reduces errors by guiding users to select appropriate tolerance values from pre-evaluated options, rather than allowing arbitrary manual input. The system checks whether related tolerance information has been properly set and notifies users of any missing or inconsistent tolerance data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining and setting related tolerance information based on the input tolerance and predetermined conditions. Instead of relying on user expertise to manually coordinate multiple tolerance parameters, the system autonomously manages the tolerance setting process, reducing human error while maintaining adaptability to complex requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user performs manual tolerance input, then the system can accommodate diverse machining requirements, but the operation becomes labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachining requirement coverageVSAvoidtolerance input effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores multiple types of tolerance information (positional tolerance, dimensional tolerance, shape tolerance) and their relationships in advance. When a user inputs one type of tolerance, the system automatically retrieves and sets the related tolerance information based on predetermined conditions, eliminating the need for manual input of all tolerance parameters and significantly reducing design processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining and setting related tolerance information based on the input tolerance and predetermined conditions. Instead of relying on user expertise to manually coordinate multiple tolerance parameters, the system autonomously manages the tolerance setting process, reducing human error while maintaining adaptability to complex requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12026437B2Quotation system, quotation method, and quotation program

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 MISUMI

AI summary

A quotation system receives shape data of an article configured from a plurality of elements from a client terminal and provides quotation information of the article. The quotation system has: a memory storing the shape data and tolerance data in which multiple types of tolerance information relating to the elements are associated with each other; and a computer performing assistance processing to assist in setting of at least one type of the multiple types of tolerance information on the basis of the tolerance data.