A fixturing apparatus is described that can be used with metrology apparatus, such as coordinate measuring machines, flexible gauges and the like. The fixturing apparatus has a base and a plurality of supports extending from the base that are configured to retain an object. At least one of the plurality of supports comprises a floating support having a floating support element that is moveable relative to the base upon contact with an object being loaded into the fixture. A locking mechanism, such as a pneumatic locking mechanism, is provided that can be actuated to immobilise each floating support element relative to the base. The object may have a glass sheet. A corresponding method of fixturing an object is also described.

A retaining system for a rotation angle sensor assembly is disclosed. The retaining system includes a first retaining element for coupling to a first of two machine parts and comprising a rotation angle sensor of the rotation angle sensor assembly. The retaining system also includes a second retaining element for coupling to a second of the two machine parts and comprising at least one position encoder element of the rotation angle sensor assembly corresponding to the rotation angle sensor. The rotation angle sensor is configured to detect a rotation of the position encoder element relative to the rotation angle sensor. The first retaining element is configured to guide the rotation angle sensor via a guide positioned between the first retaining element and the second retaining element so as to be rotatable relative to the position encoder element on the second retaining element.

An apparatus and a relative method for measuring straightness errors of elongated-shape elements, such as bars, tubes and the like is presented. The measuring apparatus includes a supporting system for a bar, a first detecting system having one or more first sensors to detect the development of the longitudinal axis of the bar, and a central control unit. The measuring apparatus further includes a second detecting system provided with a plurality of second sensors to detect the forces the bar applies to the supporting system and acquiring means to acquire at least one physical parameter of the bar under measuring. The central control unit includes at least one data acquiring and processing module to acquire and process the data detected by said first and second detecting systems and acquired by said acquiring means, in order to determine the possible straightness error of the bar.

A rotary table for a coordinate measuring apparatus for receiving and mounting a workpiece to be measured is provided. The rotary table has a rotatable main rotary table body and a clamping chuck, which is arranged on the rotatable main rotary table body and which has a clamping chuck receptacle for receiving the workpiece to be measured, the rotary table also having at least one master, which is arranged outside the clamping chuck receptacle, and/or at least one fastener for a master, which is provided in addition to the clamping chuck receptacle. In addition, a coordinate measuring apparatus with a corresponding rotary table is provided.

A registration device for the registration of facial topographic parameters is disclosed. The device comprises a base member, wherein the base member comprises a transverse section. The transverse section, in a central section thereof, comprises a coupling for rotationally immobile coupling to a referencing member. The base member further comprises two occlusal plane indicators extending in a posterior direction from the transverse section and is rotationally immobile connected to the transverse section. The occlusal plane indicators extend in a common plane. Two mandibular condyle indicator pointers are linked to the base member in a mobile linkage relationship allowing displacement of each mandibular condyle indicator pointer relative to the base member in a respective sagittal plane. A tragus indicator is pivotably coupled to each mandibular condyle indicator pointer. A method for using said device is further disclosed.

A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a fixer that fixes an illuminator and a photoreceptor to produce a measurement area to be illuminated with measuring light above a stage and to incline their optical axes with respect to a placement surface of the stage in an orientation in which the illuminator and the photoreceptor face the measurement area obliquely downward; a point cloud data generator that generates point cloud data as a set of points including three-dimensional position information representing a three-dimensional shape of a measurement object placed on the stage based on light-reception signals provided by the photoreceptor; a top view map image generator that generates a top view map image representing a plan view of the measurement object as viewed downward from a position right above the measurement object based on the point cloud data; and a display that displays the top view map image.

A valve clearance measuring assembly includes a panel having a first side, a second side, a forward edge and a rearward edge. The forward edge is extendable between a valve tip and a rocker arm. The first and second sides of the panel each are planar and orientated planar with respect to each other. A head includes a central member and a pair of arms. The arms extend in a generally same direction with respect to each other to define a space between the arms. The panel is attached to the arms and traverses the space. The forward edge is in static communication with the arms such that the forward edge is in a linear configuration as the forward edge traverses the space.

A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.

In various example embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for a waist measuring belt are provided. An example waist measuring belt is made up of a belt buckle frame with attachments for a belt strap. The belt further includes a position measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures an attachment position of a second end of the belt strap to the belt buckle frame. The belt also includes a tension measuring module coupled to the belt buckle frame that measures a tension through the belt buckle frame and the belt strap. A memory and a wireless communication module attached to the belt may be used to store measurements and communicate with a mobile device or server. In various embodiments, estimated user waist sizes over time using measured values and belt-specific data may be used to estimate a user's waist size and generate a waist size history.

A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine that includes an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine. The extendable leg assembly includes a first member and a second member which move relative to one another when the extendable leg assembly changes length. The first member including an axial arrangement of magnets forming part of a linear motor for extending and retracting the extendable leg assembly, and at least one resilient member for absorbing at least some of any axial thermal expansion or contraction of the magnets in use.