Assessing cylindricity for oblique cylindrical features

This research investigates the algorithmic aspect of cylindricity assessmen t. With the surface points measured with coordinate measuring machines (CMM s), cylindricity can be assessed under different kinds of reference cylinde rs. In order to explore the full capability of CMMs, supplementary methodol ogies for finding a fine-tuned axis of the cylinder have been developed, in cluding rotational devices, quasi-linear equations and complicated procedur es. This research derives a mathematical model so that the axis of the refe rence cylinder can be tuned algorithmically, The global optimum of the mode l, which yields the assessment of cylindricity, is computed by using a simu lated annealing algorithm, namely Hide-and-Seek. (C) 1999 Published by Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.