Pratt-whitney Canada Corp

Mario Blais

Clement Drouin Laberge

Michel Bellerose

Visal Ing

Alain Bouthillier

Philippe St-Jacques

William Ferry

Yan Cousineau

Mizanur Rahman

Fuat Atabey

Sylvain Roberge

Jean-Yves Barbeau

Martin Blanchet

Julien Guay

Systems and methods for validating an inspection software are provided. A dataset which defines properties for a three-dimensional component having at least one known defect is obtained. The three-dimensional component is inspected with the inspection software using the dataset to obtain inspection results for the three-dimensional component. The inspection results are compared to reference results for the three-dimensional component. When the inspection results correspond to the reference results within a predetermined threshold, a signal indicative of validation of the inspection software is issued.

Validation of inspection software

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for validating a measurement machine. A group of validation measurements associated with a reference part is obtained. The group of validation measurements includes at least a first measurement associated with a first tolerance and a second measurement associated with a second tolerance, the second tolerance being smaller than the first tolerance. A dimension of the reference part associated with the first measurement is measured to obtain a measurement value. The measurement value is compared to a nominal value associated with the first measurement to obtain a measurement error. The measurement error is compared to the second tolerance associated with the second measurement. When the measurement error is less than the second tolerance, a validation signal is issued to the measurement machine.

Validation of a measurement machine

The method can include measuring the tridimensional positions of a reference feature for a first at least three different angular positions of the reference feature around the first rotation axis and a same first reference angular position around the second rotation axis, the reference feature being fixed relative to the component; and measuring the tridimensional positions of the reference feature for a second at least three different angular positions of the reference feature around the first rotation axis and a same second reference angular position around the second rotation axis.

Method of calibrating a machine having at least two rotation axes

Methods, systems and devices for inspecting workpieces are described. The method comprises acquiring partial measurement data from a plurality of workpieces associated with a batch of workpieces; composing an inspection data set from the partial measurement data; comparing the inspection data set to a reference data set defining tolerances for the workpieces; and accepting and rejecting the batch of workpieces based on the comparing of the inspection data set to the reference data set.

System and method for inspecting workpieces

There are described a method, apparatus, and kit for validating an upgrade to a data acquisition system (DAS). The method comprises acquiring measurement data from a composite part using an upgraded DAS, the composite part representing a family of parts and having features from different parts of the family of parts incorporated thereon; comparing the measurement data to reference data defining tolerances for the measurement data; and validating the upgrade to the DAS based on the comparing of the measurement data to the reference data.

Validating an upgrade for a data acquisition system

There are described methods and system for managing machine tool maintenance. The method comprises assessing health data for the machine tool over health assessment cycles, the health data indicative of a performance of the machine tool; triggering first level maintenance events on the machine tool when the health data falls outside of a tolerance; modulating a time interval between the health assessment cycles as a function of an occurrence of first level maintenance events, wherein the time interval is reduced after first level maintenance events and increased after a given number of consecutive health assessment cycles without first level maintenance events; and triggering second level maintenance events on the machine tool when second level maintenance event conditions are met.

System and method for managing machine tool maintenance

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for measuring a component. First measurements for a plurality of features of the component are obtained from a first measurement instrument. Second measurements for at least one of the plurality of features of the component are obtained from a second measurement instrument, the second measurement instrument having a higher measurement resolution than the first measurement instrument. A scaling factor for the at least one of the plurality of features, which relates the first measurements to the second measurements, is determined. Scaled measurements for the plurality of features of the component are generated by applying the scaling factor to the first measurements. The scaled measurements are output as measurements of the component.

Methods and systems for measurement of components

A method for machining a workpiece to provide a toothed member having a desired tooth pattern. The workpiece is machined to a first depth using a cutting tool, thereby forming a semi-finished tooth pattern, the first depth less than a full depth to which the workpiece is to be machined to provide the desired tooth pattern. Dimensions of the semi-finished tooth pattern are acquired and compared to nominal dimensions. If the acquired dimensions are not within a tolerance of the nominal dimensions, the geometry of the cutting tool is modified for correcting deviations of the acquired dimensions from tolerance and the workpiece further machined by the modified cutting tool. Once the dimensions of the semi-finished tooth pattern are within tolerance, the workpiece is machined to the full depth for providing the desired tooth pattern.

System and method for automated machining of toothed members

Methods and systems for calibrating inspection of a feature on a part are described. The method comprises acquiring, at a plurality of point cloud densities, measurement data from a reference part having a known defect associated with the feature; assessing the measurement data at the plurality of point cloud densities to detect the known defect; determining a lowest point cloud density from the plurality of point cloud densities at which the known defect is detectable; and setting an inspection point cloud density for inspection of the feature to the lowest point cloud density.

System and method for calibrating inspection of a feature on a part

A method for machining a selected part with a machine tool, comprises obtaining a master part replicating at least a portion of a geometry of a selected part. The master part is loaded in a machine tool. A signature of the machine tool is defined by measuring at least dimensional data of the master part relative to the machine tool, the dimensional data being limited to a selected-part-specific working volume substantially smaller than a complete working volume of the machine tool. The machine tool is certified as being within tolerances to machine the selected part within the working volume, using the dimensional data of the signature. The selected part is machined from a workpiece with the machine tool.

Machine tool certification for part specific working volume

A system and method for machining a workpiece to provide a toothed member having a desired tooth pattern. A cutting tool machines the workpiece to a first depth, thereby forming a semi-finished tooth pattern, the first depth less than a full depth to which the workpiece is to be machined to provide the desired tooth pattern. Dimensions of the semi-finished tooth pattern are acquired and compared to nominal dimensions. If the acquired dimensions are not within a tolerance of the nominal dimensions, the geometry of the cutting tool is modified for correcting deviations of the acquired dimensions from tolerance and the workpiece further machined by the modified cutting tool. Once the dimensions of the semi-finished tooth pattern are within tolerance, the workpiece is machined to the full depth for providing the desired tooth pattern.

A system for assessing a calibration of a shot-peening apparatus using a part in a shot-peening session, comprising an intensity calculator for receiving real-time pressure data from at least one sensor positioned adjacent the part in the shot-peening session, and for calculating the intensity from the pressure data. A shot-peening parameter comparator compares the calculated intensity with a shot-peening intensity threshold range for the at least one sensor. A calibration assessor confirms a calibration of the shot-peening apparatus when the calculated intensity is within the shot-peening intensity threshold range for the at least one sensor. A method for assessing a calibration of a shot-peening apparatus is also provided.

Automated test strip peening

A system and method for automated part inspection are provided. The method comprises receiving a corrective machine tool program comprising instructions for causing a Numerical Control machine tool to machine at least one finished surface of a part, the corrective machine tool program differing from a nominal machine tool program; determining from the machine tool program a desired position and a desired orientation of an inspection tool relative to the at least one finished surface; and generating an inspection tool path program defining a movement of the inspection tool relative to the part, the inspection tool path program comprising instructions for placing the inspection probe at the desired position and the desired orientation and acquiring at least one measurement of the at least one new finished surface.

System and method for automated part inspection

The method can include: assembling the part to be machined to a pallet into an assembly; measuring a centering of the part relative to the pallet; adjusting the centering of the part relative to the pallet based on said measuring; repeating the steps of measuring and adjusting until determining that the part is centered based on said measuring; and mounting the centered assembly to an automatic machining device and machining the part of the centered assembly with the automatic machining device.

Growing community of inventors

Varennes, Canada

Mario Blais