A tree approach for tolerance charting

A tolerance chart is a very useful tool for process engineers to determine tolerances and mean values of working dimensions of a process plan. This paper presents a tree-theoretic representation for a tolerance chart. Three trees can be generated from blueprint dimensions, stock removals and working dimensions of a tolerance chart. The algorithms for generating the trees are provided, and these trees can be used to identify dimensional chains and solid stock removals in a tolerance chart. Finally, a mathematical model of linear equations for calculating mean working dimensions is formulated from the dimensional chains.