This paper focuses on a concept that shows a way to automatically create a point-based tolerance analysis model out of existing development data. Nowadays solutions for an automated tolerance simulation model creation are using a static approach for the model build-up. For this purpose product-/ production-development data are automatically mapped on preexisting models (e.g. skeleton models). If chances during development process occur, the tolerance simulation models have to be reworked. Today only simple changes in the model can be automated (e.g. change of distribution, tolerance range etc.). A complete new tolerance simulation model build-up process for dynamically changing product-/ production-development information is not possible. To give an application example, tolerance simulation models for sheet metal parts in automotive industry are based on different development data. Before the first simulation model is created (to secure the tolerance concepts etc.), all necessary information have already been developed, e.g. in the automotive industry's development process: part geometry, tolerance information, assembly graph, jig and fixture concept, joining location and measurement points. Thus the automated simulation generation should be possible. First step is to describe an interface for a dynamic model creation in tolerance simulation systems. In a second step preprocessing of development data is necessary to map them into tolerance simulation software restrictions. This delivers a solution to fill the gap between the PDM-/ CAD and the CAT-system. The considered approach for automated tolerance simulation model creation provides the opportunity to build-up the tolerance analysis models highly efficient and almost automatically. Tolerance analysis can then be used to rapidly calculate several options. This offers the possibility to increase the product maturity level at a very early stage of the development process.
To ensure a robust mass production, the automotive industry relies on computer aided tolerancing to guarantee the dimensional quality of the vehicles' body-in-white. One of the challenges for computer aided tolerancing is the accurate modelling of the positioning for joining processes in the body-in-white production. The research work presented in this paper analyses three use-cases, on which different approaches of modelling of the so-called geo-stations are investigated, aiming at improving the deviation prediction based on the geo-station modelling. The examples show that the measurement values are met most accurately, if the positioning processes of the geo-station are taken into account as the dominant impact factor in the simulation.
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