Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided for determining an optimum manufacturing process routing. The method comprises electronically constructing a plurality of manufacturing process routings for a component to be manufactured. The electronically constructing for each manufacturing process routing of the plurality of manufacturing process routings comprises defining a recursive process routing tree for each manufacturing process routing, the recursive process routing tree comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes corresponding to a manufacturing process and comprising a branch node when the manufacturing process for a given node may be decomposed into a plurality of sub-processes for the given node.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided for determining an optimum manufacturing process routing. The method comprises electronically constructing a plurality of manufacturing process routings for a component to be manufactured. The electronically constructing for each manufacturing process routing of the plurality of manufacturing process routings comprises defining a recursive process routing tree for each manufacturing process routing, the recursive process routing tree comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes corresponding to a manufacturing process and comprising a branch node when the manufacturing process for a given node may be decomposed into a plurality of sub-processes for the given node.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system is provided for determining an optimum manufacturing process routing. The method comprises electronically constructing a plurality of manufacturing process routings for a component to be manufactured. The electronically constructing for each manufacturing process routing of the plurality of manufacturing process routings comprises defining a recursive process routing tree for each manufacturing process routing, the recursive process routing tree comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes corresponding to a manufacturing process and comprising a branch node when the manufacturing process for a given node may be decomposed into a plurality of sub-processes for the given node.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for determining an optimum manufacturing process routing. The method comprises electronically constructing a plurality of manufacturing process routings for a component to be manufactured. The electronically constructing for each manufacturing process routing of the plurality of manufacturing process routings comprises defining a recursive process routing tree for each manufacturing process routing, the recursive process routing tree comprising a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes corresponding to a manufacturing process and comprising a branch node when the manufacturing process for a given node may be decomposed into a plurality of sub-processes for the given node.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically estimating the optimized cost of a part during the course of design of the part on a computer-aided design (CAD) system by a designer. The method includes extracting parametric features of a current design from the CAD system. Manufacturing cost drivers are identified on the basis of the parametric features. The manufacturing cost drivers are translated into costs using process models. The costs are simultaneously optimized with respect to a plurality of operations within specified machine constraints using an algorithm with dynamically linked structures to obtain estimates of optimized costs and cost reasoning. An estimate of optimized costs and cost reasoning is fed back to the designer as an output display on an output device.

Abstract: A computerized gauge for efficiently measuring surface profiles of tracks of constant velocity joints in order to detect defects in the surfaces when rebuilding CV joints. The race is mounted on a support adapted for movement along a translation axis, and a follower is biased into contact with the race along a deflection axis generally orthogonal to the translation axis. An interface ball on the follower, of a size compatible with the track when used in a CV joint, is caused to traverse the track from one end to another while a sequence of data points are recorded indicating the position of the center of the interface ball as it traverses the track. A regressive curve-fitting technique determines a best-fit curve to the set of data points, and a comparison between the data points and a best-fit curve identifies defects in the tested track.

Abstract: A spline counting mechanism for determining the number of splines on a shaft. The spline counting mechanism includes a plunger urged into engagement with the shaft and adapted to be rotated with respect to the shaft. The plunger is adapted to engage each spline on the shaft as the plunger is rotated through one revolution and is operable to establish and cut off electrical continuity in an electrical circuit as the plunger rotates into engagement with and then beyond each spline. The mechanism further includes a digital counter for counting and displaying the number of times that electrical continuity is established in the electrical circuit, this number being equal to the number of splines on the shaft.