Optimal tolerance design for mechanical assembly considering thermal impact

Abstract

In this paper, a cost–tolerance model based on neural network methods is proposed in order to provide product designers and process planners with an accurate basis for estimating the manufacturing cost. Tolerance allocation among the assembly components is carried out to ensure that the functionality and design quality are satisfied considering the effect of dimensional and geometric tolerance of various components of the assembly by developing a parametric computer aided design (CAD) model. In addition, deformations of various components of mechanical assembly due to inertia and temperature effects are determined and the same is integrated with tolerance design. The benefits of integrating the results of finite element simulation in the early stages of tolerance design are discussed. The proposed method is explained with an application example of motor assembly, where variations due to both dimensional and geometric tolerances are studied. The results show that the proposed methods are much effective, cost, and time saving than the ones considered in literature.