Computer-aided simulation and testing of spatial linkages with joint mechanical errors

Tolerance allocation influences production costs in a big way. For this reason it is very important to have an accurate study about the effects of manufacturing errors on the functioning and performances of linkages. In this paper, the authors present a computer-aided methodology based on a 3D geometrical approach using the dual-algebra fundamentals. The purpose is to give ail useful tool which can be integrated into CAD software in order to evaluate the performances of spatial mechanisms with mechanical errors. The proposed methodology has been validated by means of experimental tests on a Cardan joint mechanism with clearances, misalignments and dimensional errors. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.