Patent ID: 9720398
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G05B

Claim:
1. A method comprising: generating a three-dimensional model of a reference object, wherein the three-dimensional model includes a surface profile of the reference object; identifying an expected shape for a surface of an object using the surface profile of the reference object, wherein the object and the reference object are objects of a same type manufactured according to the same manufacturing specifications, wherein both the reference object and the object are aircraft parts that have been used in a same manner but on two different aircraft; identifying a reference tool path for performing a number of operations with a tool based on the expected shape for the surface of the object; identifying a sampling path for evaluating the surface of the object based on the expected shape for the surface of the object, wherein the sampling path comprises a plurality of sample points that defines a grid pattern for evaluating the surface of the object based on the expected shape for the surface of the object, wherein a density of the sample points within a particular area of the grid pattern is determined by at least one of an amount of variation in the expected shape within the particular area, a complexity of the expected shape within the particular area, and an edge of the object corresponding to the particular area; generating offset data for the plurality of sample points in the sampling path, wherein the offset data identifies a difference between the expected shape for the surface of the object and the actual shape of the surface of the object; modifying the reference tool path using the offset data to form a modified tool path for the tool; and performing the number of operations at the surface of the object using the tool and the modified tool path.