Non-Sequential Tolerancing

Information on Tolerancing

Non-Sequential Tolerancing allows the user to specify more complex relationships and tolerances in assemblies than in other programs. The typical metrics as specified by various optics manufacturers are specified in Tolerancing mode - this should allow for a user to specify tolerances in terms of engineering metrics rather than design metrics directly. Tolerances may be specified in percentages or in terms of an absolute tolerance. Below is an example of Sensitivity Analysis data where it shows the contributions of every computed value in a Merit Function and how it has effected the total sum as well as the individual metrics and the difference from their nominal values.

Below is an example of UI for selecting particular Lens and position Tolerances.

Tolerancing Groups

Tolerancing Groups are our way of allowing users to specify system tolerances. Typically in sequential design programs the user can only specify optics in a sequence to be toleranced in a group. In ODS, we specify which elements exist in a particular group, regardless of their sequence, along with a reference coordinate system which the tolerance should be performed in. By providing this reference coordinate system, one can account for the way in which a system mechanically constrained. This will come in handy later with the release of a future product.

Suppose Mode

In ODS, upon completing a tolerancing analysis whether it be a sensitivity analysis or monte-carlo run, a table of data will appear in a Quick-Analysis Window. There is an eye icon which can be pressed to enter suppose mode. This means that the program will load up that design and allow you to make changes, and perform analysis without saving any changes. This can also be handy for when a user wants to use compensators to determine if the internal optimization routine for the compensator was effective or not.

Compensators

Any independent variable can be made a compensator in ODS. In order to add compensators, one needs to click on the white space on the "Modes" multiselect in the Tolerancing Properties, and select the "Compensators" option. Next a new section will show up on the properties menu allowing a user to select a Compensator from the list.

Parameter Tolerance

Any indepedent variable can also be toleranced by adding the "Parameter Tolerance" option to the Mode list on tolerancing. Then the user can set the range for tolerances for these as well.