Registration of articles of manufacture with dimensional variations
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a tangible three-dimensional structure as a fiducial mark, which structure is, at least partially, tolerant of dimensional variations in the article. The illustrative embodiment uses three such tangible three-dimensional structures: (1) a portion of a tangible conical surface, (2) a portion of a tangible spheroidal surface, and (3) a portion of a tangible pyramidal surface.
1. A method of fabricating an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
probing, with a probe, a first hole in a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to locate a first conical apex, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical-surface volume;
probing, with the probe, a second hole in a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to locate a second conical apex, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical-surface volume;
probing, with the probe, a third hole in a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to locate a third conical apex, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the third tangible conical surface establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical-surface volume; and
maneuvering an automated tool to a location on the article of manufacture, wherein the location is determined based on the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex;
wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear; and
wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the second conical-surface volume.
2. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the second conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume; and
wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume.
3. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the first tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a first conical axis;
wherein the second tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a second conical axis; and
wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are non-parallel.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are skew.
5. The method of claim 3 :
wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical axis;
wherein the first conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel; and
wherein the second conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
probing, with a probe, a fourth hole in a fourth portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to locate a fourth conical apex, wherein the fourth hole is defined, at least in part, by a fourth portion of a fourth tangible conical surface, wherein the fourth tangible conical surface defines a fourth conical apex; and
wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, the third conical apex, and the fourth conical apex are non-coplanar.
7. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a blind hole;
wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a blind hole; and
wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is a blind hole.
8. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a through hole;
wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole; and
wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is a through hole.
9. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a blind hole;
wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole.
10. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the first tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a first conical-surface area;
wherein the second tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a second conical-surface area; and
wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the second conical-surface area.
11. The method of claim 1 :
wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical-surface area;
wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the third conical-surface area; and
wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the second conical-surface area.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the material fiber-reinforced thermoplastic.
13. A method of fabricating an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
probing, with a probe, a first hole in a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to locate a first conical apex, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical axis;
probing, with the probe, a second hole in a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to locate a second conical apex, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical axis;
probing, with the probe, a third hole in a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to locate a third conical apex, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical axis; and
maneuvering an automated tool to a location on the article of manufacture, wherein the location is determined based on the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex;
wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear; and
wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are non-parallel.
14. The method of claim 13 :
wherein the first conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel; and
wherein the second conical axis and the third conical axis are non-parallel.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are skew.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein:
wherein the first tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a first conical-surface volume;
wherein the second tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a second conical-surface volume; and
wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the second conical-surface volume.
17. The method of claim 16 :
wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical-surface volume;
wherein the second conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume; and
wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the third conical-surface volume.
18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
probing, with a probe, a fourth hole in a fourth portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to locate a fourth conical apex, wherein the fourth hole is defined, at least in part, by a fourth portion of a fourth tangible conical surface, wherein the fourth tangible conical surface defines a fourth conical apex; and
wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, the third conical apex, and the fourth conical apex are non-coplanar.
19. The method of claim 13 :
wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a blind hole;
wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a blind hole; and
wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is a blind hole.
20. The method of claim 13 :
wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a through hole;
wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole; and
wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is a through hole.
21. The method of claim 13 :
wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a blind hole;
wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole.
22. The method of claim 13 :
wherein the first tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a first conical-surface area;
wherein the second tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a second conical-surface area; and
wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the second conical-surface area.
23. The method of claim 13 :
wherein the third tangible conical surface also establishes (iii) a third conical-surface area;
wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the third conical-surface area; and
wherein the first conical-surface area does not equal the second conical-surface area.
24. The method of claim 13 wherein the material is fiber-reinforced thermoplastic.