Sharif Digital Repository

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a novel Kriging meta-model assisted method for multi-objective optimal tolerance design of the mechanical assemblies based on the operating conditions under both systematic and random uncertainties. Design/methodology/approach: In the proposed method, the performance, the quality loss and the manufacturing cost issues are formulated as the main criteria in terms of systematic and random uncertainties. To investigate the mechanical assembly under the operating conditions, the behavior of the assembly can be simulated based on the finite element analysis (FEA). The objective functions in terms of uncertainties at the operating conditions can be... 

Tolerances naturally generate an uncertain environment for design and manufacturing. In this paper, a novel fuzzy based tolerance representation approach for modeling the variations of geometric features due to dimensional tolerances is presented. The two concepts of fuzzy theory and small degrees of freedom are combined to introduce the fuzzy-small degrees of freedom model (F-SDOF). This model is suitable for tolerance analysis of mechanical assemblies with linear and angular tolerances. The presented method is compatible with the current dimensioning and tolerancing standards. The application of the proposed methodology is illustrated through presenting an example problem  

The design process always has some known or unknown uncertainties in the design variables and parameters. The aim of robust design is minimization of performance sensitivity to uncertainties. Tolerance allocation process can significantly affect quality and robustness of the product. In this paper, a methodology to minimize a product's sensitivity to uncertainties by allocating manufacturing tolerances is presented. The robust tolerance design problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization based on the combined function-uncertainty-cost model. Genetic algorithm is utilized to solve the multi-objective optimization and a case study is presented to illustrate the methodology  

This paper presents modified relations for worst-case and root-sum-square (RSS) tolerance accumulation models for tolerance analysis of mechanical assemblies with asymmetric tolerances. The common models do not consider the sign of the sensitivity factors and thus are applicable to symmetric tolerances only. Using the new models, the accumulation of asymmetric tolerances results in asymmetric assembly tolerances. New relationships for estimation of percent contributions of individual tolerances are also introduced which yield percent contributions of upper and lower bounds of independent variables (manufacturing dimensions) on the upper and lower bounds of dependent variables (assembly... 

The process capability indices are widely used to measure the capability of the process to manufacture objects within the required tolerance. Fit quality is mainly dominated by the distribution of fit dimensions, i.e., a gap dimension. As the fit dimensions are very difficult to be measured in mass production, they are not to be considered as a direct inspection objective. The quality inspection and evaluation relative to fit quality are focused on whether the processes of assembly requirements are conformed with their specification limits respectively. Fit quality specification can be indicated by the process capability indices of mating parts. In this paper, the statistical-based process... 

The process capability indices are widely used to measure the capability of the process to manufacture objects within the required tolerance. Fit quality is mainly dominated by the distribution of fit dimensions, i.e., a gap dimension. As the fit dimensions are very difficult to be measured in mass production, they are not to be considered as a direct inspection objective. The quality inspection and evaluation relative to fit quality are focused on whether the processes of assembly requirements are conformed with their specification limits respectively. Fit quality specification can be indicated by the process capability indices of mating parts. In this paper, the statistical-based process... 

Tolerance analysis is an analytical tool for the estimation of accumulating effects of the individual part tolerances on the functional requirements of a mechanical assembly. This article presents a comprehensive feature-based method for tolerance analysis of mechanical assemblies with both dimensional and geometric tolerances. In this method, dimensional and geometric tolerance zones are described by the combination of fuzzy modelling and small degrees of freedom (SDOF) concept. In this model, the uncertainty in dimensions and geometric form of features is mathematically described using fuzzy modelling, and the kinematic effects of tolerances in assemblies are expressed by SDOF concept. In... 

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a new efficient method for the tolerance–reliability analysis and quality control of complex nonlinear assemblies where explicit assembly functions are difficult or impossible to extract based on Bayesian modeling. Design/methodology/approach: In the proposed method, first, tolerances are modelled as the random uncertain variables. Then, based on the assembly data, the explicit assembly function can be expressed by the Bayesian model in terms of manufacturing and assembly tolerances. According to the obtained assembly tolerance, reliability of the mechanical assembly to meet the assembly requirement can be estimated by a proper first-order... 

Process capability indices are useful tools for evaluating the ability of a process to produce products that meet certain specifications. The assembly quality is dependent on the distribution of variations of assembly dimensions, which is in turn dependent on mating conditions in the mechanical assembly. Since it is often difficult to measure the assembly dimensions in the production stages, they are not considered as a direct inspection objective. Rather, the inspection and evaluation of quality is carried out by specifying whether the assembly requirements satisfy the specified limits. Therefore, we can basethe process capability indices on the assembly dimensions. In most real life cases,... 

Tolerances naturally generate an uncertain environment for design and manufacturing. In this paper, a novel fuzzy based tolerance representation approach for modeling the variations of geometric features due to dimensional tolerances is presented. The two concepts of fuzzy theory and small degrees of freedom are combined to introduce the fuzzy-small degrees of freedom model (F-SDOF). This model is suitable for tolerance analysis of mechanical assemblies with linear and angular tolerances. Based on the fuzzy concept, a new index (called the assemblability index) is introduced which signifies the fitting quality of parts in the assembly. Graphical and numerical representations of tolerance... 

In mechanical assemblies, individual components are placed together to deliver a certain function. The performance, quality, and cost of the mechanical assembly are significantly affected by its tolerances. Toleranced dimensions inherently generate an uncertain environment in a mechanical assembly. This paper presents a proper method for tolerance analysis of mechanical assemblies with asymmetric tolerances based on an uncertainty model. This mathematical approach is based on fuzzy logic and tolerance accumulation models such as worst-case and root-sum-square methods. A fuzzy-based tolerance representation is developed to model uncertainty of tolerance components in the mechanical... 

In mechanical assemblies, the performance, quality, cost and assemblability of the product are significantly affected by the geometric errors of the parts. This paper develops the statistical error analysis approach for dimensional control in automotive body multi-station assembly process. In this method, the homogeneous transformation matrices are used to describe the location and orientation of part and assembly features and the small homogeneous transformation matrices are used to model the errors. In this approach, the effective errors in automotive body assembly process are classified in three categories: manufacturing errors (dimensional and geometric tolerances), locating errors... 

Tolerance analysis is a key analytical tool for estimation of accumulating effects of the individual part tolerances on the design specifications of a mechanical assembly. This paper presents a new feature-based approach to tolerance analysis for mechanical assemblies with geometrical and dimensional tolerances. In this approach, geometrical and dimensional tolerances are expressed by small degrees of freedom (SDOF) of geometric entities (faces, feature axes, edges, and features of size) that are described by tolerance zones. The uncertainty of dimensions and geometrical form of features due to tolerances is mathematically described using modal interval arithmetic. The two concepts of modal... 

Tolerance analysis is essential for estimation of final error of key product characteristic (KPC) in a mechanical assembly caused by errors in production and assembly of individual parts. Many mechanical assemblies, especially in automotive and aerospace industries, include sheet metal parts with a small ratio of thickness to width or length. Such parts are substantially flexible and thus, are prone to large errors due to elastic deformations during assembly production. Phenomena such as deformation due to fixture force, spring back, welding distortion and so on are common to such parts. Unlike tolerance analysis of rigid parts, here, the elastic deformation of the parts plays a significant...