A matrix method for calculating working dimensions and offsets for tolerance charting

摘要

This paper presents a new matrix method for calculating working dimensions and offsets for tolerance charts. The method is part of a more general datum hierarchy tree technique for tolerance planning and control. The matrix method is suitable for both manual and computer-aided computation. It has been implemented in an industrial program, CATCH, and a prototype artificial intelligence (Al) program for process planning. The method has been successfully taught to engineering students in New Zealand and Finland. Worked examples are provided to illustrate the method. The examples show how to calculate working dimensions without offsets, and how to calculate an offset working dimension and an offset resultant dimension.