This article presents a multi-criteria analysis of the errors that may occur while measuring the geometric deviations of crankshafts that require multi-point support. The analysis included in the paper confirmed that the currently used conventional support method-in which the journals of large crankshafts rest on a set of fixed rigid vee-blocks-significantly limits the detectability of their geometric deviations, especially those of the main journal axes' positions. Insights for performing practical measurements, which will improve measurement procedures and increase measurement accuracy, are provided. The results are presented both graphically and as discrete amplitude spectra to make a visual, qualitative comparison, which is complemented by a quantitative assessment based on correlation analysis.
Keywords: Fourier series; crankshaft; discrete Fourier transform; eccentricity; finite element model; geometrical error.