Automated CMM path planning for dimensional inspection of dies and molds having complex surfaces

Abstract

A hierarchical planning system using heuristics for path planning in dimensional inspection using coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) is presented. The objective is to automate the planning of a collision-free inspection path for dies and molds. The proposed system demonstrates that the inspection paths of geometrically complex parts having multiple surfaces can automatically be generated with efficiency. This is made possible by appropriate CMM abstractions, genuine 3D collision detections, and heuristic modifications of reasonably assumed default inspection paths. Automatic generation of probe angles based on a local accessibility analysis of a given surface is also presented. The collision-free inspection path can then be simulated in a CAD environment before it is carried out by the real CMM. Both simulation and experiment show excellent results of the proposed path planning strategies and demonstrate the feasibility of automatic path planning in dimensional inspection of dies and molds using CMMs.