Accessibility analysis represents one of the most critical tasks in inspection planning. This analysis determines those probe orientations that can touch an inspection point without collision. This paper presents a methodology based on part discretization and the application of space partitioning techniques (kd-tree) in order to reduce the number of intersection tests between probe and part. A STL model has been used for discretizing the inspection part in a set of triangles, which permits the application of the developed system to any type of part, regardless of its shape and its complexity. Likewise, a recursive ray traversal algorithm has been used in order to speed up the traversal of the kd-tree hierarchical structure and to calculate exclusively the intersection of each probe orientation with those part triangles that can potentially interfere with it. In a further step of the analysis, the real geometry of the probe has been considered. Hence, a simplified model has been developed for each probe component (column, head, touch probe, stylus and tip) using different basic geometrical shapes. Finally, collision-free probe orientations are clustered for minimizing the orientation changes during the inspection process. Furthermore, the applied algorithm allows for determining different valid combinations of clusters. The developed system was applied to two example parts in order to prove that this methodology is adequate for the solution of real cases.

Conoscopic holography (CH) is a non-contact interferometric technique used for surface digitization which presents several advantages over other optical techniques such as laser triangulation. Among others, the ability for the reconstruction of high-sloped surfaces stands out, and so does its lower dependence on surface optical properties. Nevertheless, similarly to other optical systems, adjustment of CH sensors requires an adequate selection of configuration parameters for ensuring a high quality surface digitizing. This should be done on a surface located as close as possible to the stand-off distance by tuning frequency (F) and power (P) until the quality indicators Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and signal envelope (Total) meet proper values. However, not all the points of an actual surface are located at the stand-off distance, but they could be located throughout the whole working range (WR). Thus, the quality of a digitized surface may not be uniform. The present work analyses how the quality of a reconstructed surface is affected by its relative position within the WR under different combinations of the parameters F and P. Experiments have been conducted on AISI 316 wire EDM machined flat surfaces. The number of high-quality points digitized as well as distance measurements between different surfaces throughout the WR allowed for comparing the metrological behaviour of the CH sensor with respect to a touch probe (TP) on a CMM.

This paper presents an automatic set-up planning module integrated in a CAPP system for rotational parts to be machined on a lathe. The developed system determines the possible set-up combinations that are necessary for a complete machining of the part as well as the order of each set-up and the surfaces to be used for clamping the part. The applied methodology takes into consideration constraints such as the geometry of both the stock and the final part, the geometry and the capacity of the chuck, and the part tolerances. In general, these constraints allow the system to obtain several valid solutions for clamping the part. Some criteria based on the clamping force and the value of tolerances have been considered in order to establish a preference order among these solutions. Finally, the analysis of linked tolerances and the tool approach direction to each surface determine the sets of surfaces to be machined within each set-up. An example part is used in the course of the paper to illustrate conveniently the methodology, and two additional case studies prove that this methodology is adequate for the solution of real cases.

A notable constraint to the industrial application of additive manufacturing processes is the lack of geometric accuracy of the parts produced. In-situ inspection systems, therefore, need to be developed to detect and compensate for any geometric deviations that appear during the process. This article proposes a noncontact system for the digitization of deposited material layers, based on a contact image sensor extracted from a low-cost flatbed paper scanner. The viability of using this sensor for such a purpose was analyzed by integrating it in a tailor-made test bench with the dual capability of fused filament fabrication and digitizing of deposited layers. The integration procedure includes analysis of the sensor's operating principle, development of the hardware and control routines required for PC operation, and image processing. To validate the integration, two specimen parts were built and digitized in the test bench. The measurements performed on the captured images showed low discrepancies with respect to those obtained on a coordinate measuring machine.