Probe and component set-up planning for coordinate measuring machines

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Abstract
This article is concerned with that part of the inspection planning process that determines how the probe and component should be set up on a coordinate measuring machine (CmiM) for all the dimensional and geometrical constraints on a part that requires inspection. Each component set-up specifies the orientation in which the part should be held and all the probe set-ups connected with it. The probe set-up specifies the orientation in which the probe should be mounted, its configuration (probe body, styles and extension piece types and dimensions) and all the probing operations connected with it. The method used to determine this information is based principally on the analysis of probe approach directions (PADs) generated by the system for each surface to be inspected. This article describes how PADs can be generated for components defined by constructive solid geometry (CSG) using a method based on the spatial decomposition technique.