Abstract
Due to the inherent dimensional uncertainty, the tolerances accumulate in the assembly of plasma cutting torch. Tolerance accumulation has serious effect on the performance of the plasma torch. This study proposes a statistical tolerance propagation model, which is based on matrix transform. This model can predict the final tolerance distributions of the completed plasma torch assembly with the prescribed statistical tolerance distribution of each part to be assembled. Verification of the proposed model was performed by making use of Monte Carlo simulation. Monte Carlo simulation generates a large number of discrete plasma torch assembly instances and randomly selects a point within the tolerance region with the prescribed statistical distribution. Monte Carlo simulation results show good agreement with that of the proposed model. This results are promising in that we can predict the final tolerance distributions in advance before assembly process of plasma torch thus provide great benefit at the assembly design stage of plasma torch.