Machine capability Machine capability is measured in Cm and Cmk; it is a snapshot picture that shows how well a machine is performing

right now in relation to the tolerance limits. When measuring machine capability you must not alter measurements or change tools, materials, operators or measurement methods, stop the machine, etc. In other words: Out of the six factors, only machine and measurement are allowed to affect the result. Cm (capability machine) The Cm index describes machine capability; it is the number of times the spread of the machine fits into the tolerance width. The higher the value of Cm, the better the machine. Example: if Cm = 2.5, the spread fits 2 times into the tolerance width, while Cm = 1 means that the spread is equal to the tolerance width. Note that even if the spread is off-centre, it is still the same size (Cm index). The figure takes no account of where the spread is positioned in relation to the upper and lower tolerance limits, but simply expresses the relation ship between the width of the spread and the tolerance width (see Fig. 1). The six factors These are the factors that are generally regarded as causing variation in capability measurements: Machine (e.g. degree of wear and choice of tooling); Measurement (e.g. resolution and spread of measuring instrument); Operator (e.g. how experienced and careful he/she is); Material (e.g. variations in surface smoothness and hardness); Environment (e.g. variations in temperature, humidity and voltage); Method (e.g. type of machining operation). Cmk (capability machine index) If you also want to study the position of the machines capability in relation to the tolerance limits, you use the Cmk index, which describes the capability corrected for position. It is not much use having a high Cm index if the machine setting is way off centre in relation to the middle of the tolerance range. A high Cmk index means, then, that you have a good machine with a small spread in relation to the tolerance width, and also that it is well centred within that width. If Cmk is equal to Cm, the machine is set to produce exactly in the middle of the tolerance range (see Fig. 2). A normal requirement is that Cmk should be at least 1.67. Machine capability Cm and Cmk Machine & measurement Not to be included Not to be included 2050 in succession Short Process capability Cp and Cpk All six factors Included Included 50250 Long

Index Factors influencing result Stoppages Adjustments No. of components Time