Method for inspecting a manufacturing device

Abstract

A method is provided for inspecting a plurality of parts with an electronic measurement device and a processing system. The method includes a step of creating surface geometry maps of the parts utilizing the electronic measurement device, where each part was manufactured utilizing the manufacturing device. Geometric part models of the parts are generated from the surface geometry maps. The part models can subsequently be analyzed to determine whether a manufacturing device that manufactured the plurality of parts manufactures parts that comply with a part design specification.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for inspecting a plurality of parts with an electronic measurement device and a processing system, comprising:
 creating surface geometry maps of the parts utilizing the electronic measurement device;   generating geometric part models of the parts utilizing the surface geometry maps;   comparing each of the part models to a geometric reference model to provide model comparison data indicative of geometric differences between the models;   processing the model comparison data to determine deviation between the part models and the reference model; and   evaluating the deviation to determine whether the deviation satisfies one or more predetermined geometric tolerances;   wherein the generating, the comparing, the processing and the evaluating are performed by the processing system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parts are manufactured utilizing a manufacturing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining that the manufacturing device manufactures parts that comply with a part design specification where the deviation satisfies the geometric tolerances. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the manufacturing device comprises a die. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the geometric tolerances include at least one of a lower tolerance value and an upper tolerance value; and   the geometric deviation satisfies the predetermined geometric tolerances where a value of the deviation is at least one of greater than the lower tolerance value, and less than the upper tolerance value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processing of the model comparison data comprises:
 statically comparing the geometric differences between the part models and the reference model using a normal distribution; and   analyzing the normal distribution to determine the deviation.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the deviation comprises a fourth standard deviation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising structurally analyzing each of the parts utilizing the part models to provide stress data indicative of at least one of a thermal stress distribution and a mechanical stress distribution for each of the parts. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising evaluating the stress data to determine whether at least one of the thermal stress distribution and the mechanical stress distribution satisfies one or more predetermined stress tolerances. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining that the parts comply with a part design specification where
 the deviation satisfies the geometric tolerances; and   at least one of the thermal stress distribution and the mechanical stress distribution satisfies the predetermined stress tolerances.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic measurement device comprises a white light optical scanner. 
     
     
         12 . A method for inspecting a plurality of parts with an electronic measurement device and a processing system, comprising:
 creating surface geometry maps of the parts utilizing the electronic measurement device;   generating geometric part models of the parts utilizing the surface geometry maps;   structurally analyzing at least some of the parts utilizing the respective part models to provide stress data indicative of at least one of a thermal stress distribution and a mechanical stress distribution for the respective parts; and   evaluating the stress data to determine whether at least one of the thermal stress distribution and the mechanical stress distribution satisfies one or more predetermined stress tolerances;   wherein the generating, the analyzing and the evaluating are performed by the processing system.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the structural analysis is performed for each of the parts, and wherein the stress data is indicative of at least one of a thermal stress distribution and a mechanical stress distribution for each of the parts. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the parts are manufactured utilizing a manufacturing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining that the manufacturing device manufactures parts that comply with a part design specification where the at least one of the thermal stress distribution and the mechanical stress distribution satisfies the predetermined stress tolerances. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the predetermined stress tolerances have a thermal stress tolerance value; and   the thermal stress distribution satisfies the predetermined stress tolerances where a thermal stress value of the thermal stress distribution is less than the thermal stress tolerance value.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the predetermined stress tolerances have a mechanical stress tolerance value; and   the mechanical stress distribution satisfies the predetermined stress tolerances where a mechanical stress value of the mechanical stress distribution is less than the mechanical stress tolerance value.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 comparing each of the part models to a geometric reference model to provide model comparison data indicative of geometric differences between the models;   processing the model comparison data to determine deviation between the part models and the reference model; and   evaluating the deviation to determine whether the deviation satisfies one or more predetermined geometric tolerances.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the processing of the model comparison data comprises:
 statically comparing the geometric differences between the part models and the reference model using a normal distribution; and   analyzing the normal distribution to determine the deviation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the deviation comprises a fourth standard deviation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining that the parts comply with a part design specification where
 the deviation satisfies the geometric tolerances; and   at least one of the thermal stress distribution and the mechanical stress distribution satisfies the predetermined stress tolerances.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic measurement device comprises a white light optical scanner.