Isoparametric line sampling for the inspection planning of sculptured surfaces

This paper presents a new approach for the sampling of sculptured surfaces using continuous scanning coordinate measuring machine probe heads. This approach is based on scanning isoparametric lines on the sculptured surface. This paper addresses the issue of isoparametric line sampling. The problem is to determine the locations of the sample lines extracted from the surface CAD model. These lines are fitted to construct a substitute geometry of the surface. The accuracy of the sampling plan is characterised by the maximum deviation between the substitute geometry and the surface CAD model. Two new algorithms for sampling isoparametric lines are proposed. These are, automatic sampling, and surface curvature-based sampling. Both algorithms are constrained by the maximum number of scan lines, and the step over distance between subsequent sample lines. Automatic sampling uses the deviations between the substitute geometry, and the surface CAD model to determine the sample locations. Curvature change-based sampling uses the change in surface curvature to determine the sampling line locations. Both algorithms are compared to uniform iso-planar sampling. The algorithms, their implementation, and a case study are presented in this paper. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.