Effect of 160 MeV Xenon Ion Irradiation on the Tribological Properties and Crystal Structure of 100Cr6 Bearing Steel.

This is the first study ever to show the impact of high-energy 160 MeV xenon ion irradiation on the properties of 100Cr6 bearing steel. The projected range (Rp) of xenon ions is 8.2 µm. Fluence-dependent variations in the coefficient of friction and wear of the 100Cr6 steel material have been observed. These changes correlate with shifts in the crystal lattice constant and variations in the oxygen, carbon, and iron content in the wear track. Fluence-dependent changes in these parameters have been observed for the first time. Irradiation reduces stresses in the crystal lattice, leading to crystallite size increase. The modifications in the properties of 100Cr6 steel result from radiation-induced defects caused by electronic ion stopping. The degree of these modifications depends on the applied irradiation fluence. Furthermore, the use of a higher irradiation fluence value appears to mitigate the effects produced by a lower fluence.

Estimating Time of Coordinate Measurements Based on the Adopted Measurement Strategy.

This article concerns coordinate metrology and contact coordinate measurements which are conducted using a coordinate measuring machine. The paper presents the results of experimental investigations, based on which a model to calculate the time needed to conduct coordinate measurements to determine the flatness deviation of a selected surface of a machined product was developed. The time taken and the accuracy of the coordinate measurements influence the effectiveness of coordinate measurements of geometrical quantities of products and the productivity of the entire manufacturing process. Therefore, when planning a strategy for the coordinate measurement process, apart from considering the measurement uncertainty, the duration of individual measurement tasks should also be taken into account. A coordinate measurement time model was developed by use of response surface methodology (RSM). Experimental research was carried out using an ACCURA II coordinate measuring machine equipped with a VAST XXT measuring probe and cooperating with Calypso inspection software. The coordinate measurement time model which was developed was implemented in the selected metrology software of the coordinate measuring machine. The purpose of the implementation was to enable application of the mathematical model created into industrial practice.

Selection of the Best Model of Distribution of Measurement Points in Contact Coordinate Measurements of Free-Form Surfaces of Products.

The article presents a new method for determining the distribution of measurement points, which can be used in the case of contact coordinate measurements of curvilinear surfaces of products. The developed method is based on multi-criteria decision analysis. In the case of the new method, the selection of the distribution of measurement points on free-form surfaces is carried out based on the analysis of five different criteria. The selection of the best model of the distribution of measurement points results from the accuracy of coordinate measurements, the time needed to complete measurement tasks, the number of measurement points, the accuracy of the substitute surface representing the measured free-form surface and the area where measurement points are located. The purpose of using the developed method of the distribution of measurement points is to increase the performance of coordinate measurements primarily by increasing the automation of strategy planning of measurements of curvilinear surfaces and improving the accuracy of measurements of free-form surfaces of products. The new method takes into account various aspects of coordinate measurements to determine the final model of the distribution of measurement points on measured surfaces of products, thereby increasing the probability of the proper determination (i.e., identifying the highest deviations of a product) of the location of measurement points on the surfaces of a measured object. The paper presents an example of the application of the created method, which concerns the selection of the best model of the distribution of measurement points on a selected free-form surface. This example is based on, among others, the results of experimental investigations, which were carried out by using the ACCURA II coordinate measuring machine equipped with the VAST XXT measuring probe and the Calypso measurement software. The results of investigations indicate a significant reduction in time of coordinate measurements of products when using the new method for determining the distribution of measurement points. However, shortening the time of coordinate measurements does not reduce their accuracy.

A New Method of Distribution of Measurement Points on Curvilinear Surfaces of Products.

The article presents the method of selecting scanning lines along which coordinate measurements, performed by using, e.g., a coordinate measuring machine working in the single point probing mode, of free-form surfaces of measured workpieces may be conducted. Additionally, the proposed method supports the user of a coordinate measuring system during defining the number of measurement points distributed along selected scanning lines, thus deciding on the final distribution of measurement points on a measured surface of a product. The proposed method enables distributing measurement points in the parts of a measured product characterized by the worst quality of manufacturing. Moreover, the new method is very automated, therefore it affects the increase in the efficiency of coordinate measurements. The effect of using the new method is the non-uniform distribution of measurement points located on free-form surfaces. The presented algorithm takes into account the lengths of selected cross-sections of a measured curvilinear surface of an object, its geometrical complexity and the accuracy of the probe radius correction process. The decision regarding the number of measurement points is made on the basis of the accuracy analysis of the calculations of the corrected measurement points obtained during the probe radius correction process and the accuracy of the substitute model representing a measured curvilinear surface. Two methods of the correction process were used. The accuracy of the applied methods of the probe radius compensation process was estimated on the basis of the deviations calculated between corrected measurement points and scanning lines. The selection of scanning lines and the number of measurement points was realized by using the expert system based on the fuzzy logic. The paper presents the results of both simulation and experimental investigations. The numerical calculations were performed for two selected free-form surfaces. The verification of the developed algorithm was carried out during experimental investigations based on a measurement of a selected free-form surface. The conducted research was aimed at verifying the correctness of the distribution of measurement points generated using the proposed method. In the case of real measurements, measurement points should be located in the places of surfaces of products characterized by the largest deviations of manufacturing. The results of the conducted investigations confirm the usefulness of the developed algorithm for defining the distribution of measurement points on curvilinear surfaces in the coordinate measuring technique. Moreover, the way of implementation of the developed method of the distribution of measurement points in selected commercial measurement software is presented, thus enabling the use of the new method in the industry.