VIRTUAL COMPONENT ALIGNMENT

摘要

This invention concerns improvements in the inspection, assessment and re-working of manufactured components such as nozzle guide vanes (NGVs) and blades, in particular by improving the comparison of the component with nominal data. Dimensional data of a physical component is obtained and used to create a virtual digitised model of the component which is aligned with a nominal CAD model of the component in a virtual space. The correspondence is assessed and used to adjust weightings of different regions of the digitised model to improve the alignment. This process is repeated within the digital space until either conformance is reached or it is determined that this is not possible.

主权项

1. A system for the reworking of a three dimensional component to conform with pre-defined nominal dimensions and tolerances (the tolerances defined by a maximum tolerance and a minimum tolerance for any given region of the component) comprising;
a device for capturing dimensional data of the component; the device in data communication with a processor; the processor including a memory in which the pre-defined nominal dimensions and tolerances are stored as a nominal CAD model and the processor configured for performing the steps of;
a) creating a virtual digitised model of the component from the captured dimensional data;b) aligning the digitised model with the nominal CAD model using a component datum system;c) assessing the correspondence of the digitised model with the nominal CAD model;d) comparing one or more regions of the digitised model with the CAD model and identifying regions where the digitised model does not exceed a tolerance minimum;e) adjusting the alignment of the digitised model with the CAD model to bring regions identified in step d) to a position where they meet or exceed the tolerance minimum;f) comparing one or more regions of the digitised model with the CAD model and identifying regions where the digitised model exceeds a tolerance maximum; the processor in data communication with a controller operable to control a machine to remove material in regions identified in step f) to an extent which brings the regions within the tolerance maximum and minimum; and a machine controlled by the controller.