Method and apparatus for testing workpieces

1. A method for measuring a plurality of workpieces, each having a plurality of structural features that form a plurality of test features to be measured, the method comprising:

(a) from among the plurality of test features, determining an unstable test feature, wherein a violation of a statistical control rule is expected for the unstable test feature;

(b) from among the plurality of test features, determining a stable test feature, wherein a violation of the statistical control rule is unexpected for the stable test feature;

(c) measuring a set of the plurality of workpieces, including measuring the unstable test feature more frequently than the stable test feature, wherein:

the set of the plurality of workpieces is measured in a series,

for a first number of workpieces in the series, the unstable test feature is measured without measuring the stable test feature, and

for a second number of workpieces in the series, the unstable test feature and the stable test feature are measured;

(d) ascertaining whether:

the unstable test feature remains unstable based on continued violation of the statistical control rule, and

the stable test feature remains stable based on the statistical control rule remaining satisfied;

(e) in response to both the unstable test feature remaining unstable and the stable test feature remaining stable, measuring another set of the plurality of workpieces; and

(f) repeating (a), (b), and (c) in response to at least one of:

the unstable test feature no longer being unstable,

the stable test feature no longer being stable,

a change in a production process of the workpieces,

a change in a measurement method,

a change in environmental conditions,

(c) having been performed for a predetermined time period,

(c) having been performed on a predetermined number of workpieces, and

a new batch of the plurality of workpieces is to be measured.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the another set of the plurality of workpieces is non-overlapping with the set of the plurality of workpieces.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of the plurality of workpieces measured in one iteration of (c) is non-overlapping with the set of the plurality of workpieces measured in each prior iteration of (c).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of workpieces is measured at most once across all iterations of (c).

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating (d), (e), and (f) at least once.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number is greater than the second number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first number of workpieces in the series are measured according to a reduced test plan;

the reduced test plan encompasses the unstable test feature and excludes the stable test feature;

the second number of workpieces in the series are measured according to a complete test plan; and

the complete test plan encompasses the unstable test feature and the stable test feature.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the reduced test plan includes movement commands for a measurement sensor; and

the movement commands define a reduced movement path that results in a measurement time that is less than a measurement time of the complete test plan.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining of (a) and the determining of (b) include evaluating a data set including data from an earlier measurement of at least one workpiece having the plurality of test features.

10. A method for measuring a plurality of workpieces, each having a plurality of structural features that form a plurality of test features to be measured, the method comprising:

(a) from among the plurality of test features, determining an unstable test feature, wherein a violation of a statistical control rule is expected for the unstable test feature;

(b) from among the plurality of test features, determining a stable test feature, wherein a violation of the statistical control rule is unexpected for the stable test feature;

(c) measuring a set of the plurality of workpieces, including measuring the unstable test feature more frequently than the stable test feature, wherein:

each test feature is assigned a plurality of measurement points;

for workpieces measured in (c), a first number of assigned measurement points are measured for the unstable test feature and a second number of assigned measurement points are measured for the stable test feature, and

the first number is greater than the second number;

(d) ascertaining whether:

the unstable test feature remains unstable based on continued violation of the statistical control rule, and

the stable test feature remains stable based on the statistical control rule remaining satisfied;

(e) in response to both the unstable test feature remaining unstable and the stable test feature remaining stable, measuring another set of the plurality of workpieces; and

(f) repeating (a), (b), and (c) in response to at least one of:

the unstable test feature no longer being unstable,

the stable test feature no longer being stable,

a change in a production process of the workpieces,

a change in a measurement method,

a change in environmental conditions,

(c) having been performed for a predetermined time period,

(c) having been performed on a predetermined number of workpieces, and

a new batch of the plurality of workpieces is to be measured.

11. A coordinate measuring machine for measuring a plurality of workpieces, each having a plurality of structural features that form a plurality of test features to be measured, the coordinate measuring machine comprising:

a measurement sensor;

memory configured to store processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor-executable instructions include:

(a) from among the plurality of test features, determining an unstable test feature, wherein a violation of a statistical control rule is expected for the unstable test feature;

(b) from among the plurality of test features, determining a stable test feature, wherein a violation of the statistical control rule is unexpected for the stable test feature;

(c) measuring a set of the plurality of workpieces, including measuring the unstable test feature more frequently than the stable test feature;

(d) ascertaining whether:

the unstable test feature remains unstable based on continued violation of the statistical control rule, and

the stable test feature remains stable based on the statistical control rule remaining satisfied;

(e) in response to both the unstable test feature remaining unstable and the stable test feature remaining stable, measuring another set of the plurality of workpieces; and

(f) repeating (a), (b), and (c) in response to at least one of:

the unstable test feature no longer being unstable,

the stable test feature no longer being stable,

a change in a production process of the workpieces,

a change in a measurement method,

a change in environmental conditions,

(c) having been performed for a predetermined time period,

(c) having been performed on a predetermined number of workpieces, and

a new batch of the plurality of workpieces is to be measured,

wherein the processor-executable instructions include evaluation software configured to:

perform (a) and (b), and

generate measurement instructions for measuring the plurality of workpieces such that the unstable test feature is measured in (c) more frequently than the stable test feature, and

wherein the processor-executable instructions include controlling software configured to:

receive the measurement instructions,

control the measuring of (c) based on the measurement instructions, and

transfer measurement values obtained from (c) to the evaluation software.

12. The coordinate measuring machine of claim 11 further comprising:

a controller; and

a measurement computer,

wherein the memory is distributed between the controller and the measurement computer,

wherein the at least one processor includes a first processor and a second processor,

wherein the controller includes the first processor, and

wherein the measurement computer includes the second processor.

13. The coordinate measuring machine of claim 11 wherein:

the measurement instructions include:

a reduced test plan that includes the unstable test feature and excludes the stable test feature, and

a complete test plan that includes both the unstable test feature and the stable test feature; and

the evaluation software is configured to communicate the reduced test plan and the complete test plan to the controlling software such that, when the workpieces are measured in (c), a first number of workpieces are measured according to the reduced test plan and a second number of workpieces are measured according to the complete test plan.

14. The coordinate measuring machine of claim 13 wherein the reduced test plan includes movement commands for a measurement sensor that are such that, when the measurement is controlled with the controlling software, a decrease in the measurement time takes place due to a reduced movement path of the measurement sensor.

15. The coordinate measuring machine of claim 11 further comprising:

a controller; and

a measurement computer,

wherein the evaluation software is stored on at least one of the controller and the measurement computer, and

wherein the controlling software is stored on at least one of the controller and the measurement computer.

16. The coordinate measuring machine of claim 11 wherein the evaluation software is configured to perform the ascertaining of (d).

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions including:

(a) from among a plurality of test features, determining an unstable test feature, wherein a violation of a statistical control rule is expected for the unstable test feature, wherein the plurality of test features correspond respectively to a plurality of structural features that are present in each of a plurality of workpieces;

(b) from among the plurality of test features, determining a stable test feature, wherein a violation of the statistical control rule is unexpected for the stable test feature;

(c) measuring a set of the plurality of workpieces, including measuring the unstable test feature more frequently than the stable test feature;

(d) ascertaining whether:

the unstable test feature remains unstable based on continued violation of the statistical control rule, and

the stable test feature remains stable based on the statistical control rule remaining satisfied;

(e) in response to both the unstable test feature remaining unstable and the stable test feature remaining stable, measuring another set of the plurality of workpieces; and

(f) repeating (a), (b), and (c) in response to at least one of:

the unstable test feature no longer being unstable,

the stable test feature no longer being stable,

a change in a production process of the workpieces,

a change in a measurement method,

a change in environmental conditions,

(c) having been performed for a predetermined time period,

(c) having been performed on a predetermined number of workpieces, and

a new batch of the plurality of workpieces is to be measured,

wherein the instructions include evaluation software configured to:

perform (a) and (b), and

generate measurement instructions for measuring the plurality of workpieces such that the unstable test feature is measured in (c) more frequently than the stable test feature, and

wherein the instructions include controlling software configured to:

receive the measurement instructions,

control the measuring of (c) based on the measurement instructions, and

transfer measurement values obtained from (c) to the evaluation software.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the another set of the plurality of workpieces is non-overlapping with the set of the plurality of workpieces.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the set of the plurality of workpieces measured in one iteration of (c) is non-overlapping with the set of the plurality of workpieces measured in each prior iteration of (c).

20. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of workpieces is measured at most once across all iterations of (c).

21. The method of claim 10 further comprising repeating (d), (e), and (f) at least once.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein:

in (c), the set of the plurality of workpieces is measured in a series,

for a first number of workpieces in the series, the unstable test feature is measured without measuring the stable test feature, and

for a second number of workpieces in the series, the unstable test feature and the stable test feature are measured.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first number is greater than the second number.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein:

the first number of workpieces in the series are measured according to a reduced test plan;

the reduced test plan encompasses the unstable test feature and excludes the stable test feature;

the second number of workpieces in the series are measured according to a complete test plan; and

the complete test plan encompasses the unstable test feature and the stable test feature.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein:

the reduced test plan includes movement commands for a measurement sensor; and

the movement commands define a reduced movement path that results in a measurement time that is less than a measurement time of the complete test plan.

26. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining of (a) and the determining of (b) include evaluating a data set including data from an earlier measurement of at least one workpiece having the plurality of test features.