METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTICALLY INSPECTING MANUFACTURED ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION OR CYLINDRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE ROUNDS TO OBTAIN ROUNDS WHICH EXHIBIT SUPERIOR ACCURACY WHEN FIRED

摘要

A method and system for optically inspecting manufactured rounds of ammunition or cylindrical components of the rounds to obtain rounds which exhibit superior accuracy when fired are provided. The method includes providing a nominal numerical value and an acceptable range of numerical values for a size or a geometric characteristic of an acceptable manufactured round of ammunition or a cylindrical component of the round for a predetermined caliber of ammunition. Also provided is a high-performance range of numerical values for the corresponding size or geometric characteristic of a high-performance manufactured round of ammunition or a cylindrical component of the high-performance round for the predetermined caliber of ammunition. The method further includes optically gauging the size or geometric characteristic of a manufactured round of ammunition or cylindrical component of the round for the predetermined caliber at a vision station to obtain a measured value for the corresponding size or characteristic. The method still further includes determining whether the measured value is within the high-performance range. The method further includes generating a signal if the measured value is within the high-performance range. The signal identifies the inspected round or a round including the inspected cylindrical component as having superior accuracy when fired relative to acceptable inspected rounds or inspected cylindrical components having a corresponding measured value which is outside the high performance range but within the acceptable range of numerical values.