Intelligent Planning of Cad-Directed Inspection for Coordinate Measuring Machines

A method of CAD-directed inspection path planning for coordinate measuring machines is developed in this study. With the general three-dimensional objects designed in a surface model by the use of AutoCad, the measuring points on each specified surface are generated automatically with even distribution. The probe inspection path is planned to touch each measuring point from a normal direction. With the swept-volume analysis of the probe path, any possible collisions can be detected and a new detoured path generated. This system is developed on the personal computer to make it more applicable to small- and medium-sized companies