Comparative Analysis of Chosen Tolerance Stackup Methods and Development of an Improved Tolerance Analysis Method

Abstract

The perception of Tolerance Analysis (TA)/Tolerance Stackup is imperative for every Design and Manufacturing Engineer because Tolerance is the criterion that should be compromised between the cost and function of a product. The literatures relevant to 15 methods of TA which are being used to determine Assembly Tolerance from Component Tolerances are collected and critically analyzed to gain an insight into the existing methods. Out of these methods, four major methods viz., Simulation Based Stack-Up Analysis, Second Order Tolerance Analysis, OpTol - Spatial Tolerance Analysis and Tolerance Analysis of 2D and 3D Assemblies are chosen for further study and comparative analysis. Based on the analysis and based on the identified merits and demerits of these methods, a framework for a new TA Method is developed. Based on the developed framework, a new TA Method using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is developed and trained which can predict the value of Assembly Tolerance for the known Component Tolerances.