Workpiece Measurement Correlation for Faster Quality Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for quality control of identical workpieces are inefficient, as they require measuring multiple points on each piece, leading to increased effort and potential inaccuracies due to changes in production processes or tool wear, without effectively utilizing correlations between measurement points.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a coordinate measuring machine and evaluation device to identify and measure correlations between specific points on workpieces, allowing for reduced measurement points by selecting additional points based on preliminary measurements, thereby optimizing quality control and reducing measurement effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple measurement points are measured on each workpiece, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality control accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurements on a subset of workpieces to establish correlation patterns before conducting full quality control measurements. This preliminary action creates a measurement model that predicts which additional points need to be measured based on correlations identified from the initial subset, thereby reducing the number of measurements needed for each workpiece while maintaining quality control accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a universal correlation model that can be applied across multiple workpieces of the same type. The measurement correlations established from preliminary measurements are universally applicable to predict measurement requirements for subsequent workpieces, allowing the system to reduce measurement effort consistently across the entire production batch while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If comprehensive measurements are performed on all workpieces, then reliability of quality control is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality control reliabilityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurements on a representative subset of workpieces to establish correlation patterns before implementing the reduced measurement strategy. This preliminary action ensures that the correlation model is reliably trained on actual production data, maintaining quality control reliability while enabling faster processing of subsequent workpieces through reduced measurement requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where measurement results from previously measured workpieces are used to inform and optimize the measurement strategy for subsequent workpieces. The correlation information derived from preliminary measurements continuously guides the selection of measurement points, allowing the system to maintain high reliability while improving productivity through intelligent measurement reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the number of measurement points is reduced, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement efficiencyVSAvoidquality assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurements on a subset of workpieces to identify and establish correlation patterns between different measurement points. This preliminary analysis creates a knowledge base that guides the selection of which measurement points to measure in subsequent workpieces, ensuring that precision is maintained even with reduced measurement counts by strategically selecting points based on established correlations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If traditional quality control methods are used without utilizing correlations, then simplicity is maintained, but measurement effort and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement process simplicityVSAvoidquality control time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs a one-time preliminary measurement campaign on a subset of workpieces to establish correlation patterns between measurement points. This preliminary action creates a reusable correlation model that automatically guides subsequent measurements, maintaining operational simplicity while dramatically reducing measurement time through intelligent point selection based on the established correlations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3913448B1Method and assembly for measuring workpieces of the same type
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIKE GMBH
  • EP3913448B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3913448B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3913448B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to the measurement of workpieces (26), wherein the workpieces (26) are of the same type and wherein, when measuring the plurality of workpieces (26) of the same type, a designated measuring point (27, 28) and at least one additional measuring point (29, 30) are measured according to a measurement procedure, so that, as a result, a measurement value for the designated measuring point and a measurement value for each additional measuring point are obtained for each measured workpiece. From a prior measurement of other workpieces (26) of the same type, in which the same designated measuring point (27, 28) and a plurality of further surface points were measured as additional measuring points for each of the other workpieces (26), information is available about an existing correlation between the measurement values ​​of the designated measuring point (27, 28) and the measurement values ​​of the additional measuring points.The additional measuring point lies within a surface area (shown with a dashed outline) where, according to the information from the previous survey, a correlation between the measured values ​​of the designated measuring point (27, 28) and the measured values ​​of the additional measuring point (29, 30) is expected. By evaluating the measured values ​​of the designated measuring point (27, 28) and the measured values ​​of the additional measuring point (29, 30) or additional measuring points, it is verified whether a correlation exists between the measured values ​​of the designated measuring point (27, 28) and the measured values ​​of the additional measuring point (29, 30) or additional measuring points, and/or what the magnitude of the correlation is, and a test result is output.