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Optimum tolerance synthesis for complex assembly with alternative process selection using Lagrange multiplier method

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Abstract

Any part cannot be manufactured to the required nominal dimensions due to inherent variations in workmanship, material, and machine. The specification of tolerance on part dimensions plays a major role on performance, quality, and cost of the product. Distribution of tolerance among the components of an assembly is known as tolerance allocation. The selection of alternative processes for tolerance allocation also plays a vital role in reducing manufacturing cost. Near-optimal allocated tolerances are obtained using nontraditional optimization techniques in which the solutions are achieved randomly. Also, there is a chance for omitting the better process for allocation. The results of successive run of the program based on these techniques will not yield consistent results. An attempt has been made in this work to solve the above problem using Lagrange multiplier method for complex assemblies with univariate search method. The methodology has been demonstrated on wheel mounting assembly. The example product after implementing the proposed method would yield 1.4% savings in manufacturing cost as compared with the cost obtained by Singh.

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Correspondence to M. Siva Kumar.

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Siva Kumar, M., Stalin, B. Optimum tolerance synthesis for complex assembly with alternative process selection using Lagrange multiplier method. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 44, 405–411 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-008-1866-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-008-1866-x

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