A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes a manually-positionable articulated arm having first and second ends, the articulated arm including a plurality of arm segments and a plurality of rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints from the plurality of rotary joints includes first and second bearings, a shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of the first bearing and the second bearing, at least one transducer configured to output an angle signal corresponding to an angle of rotation of the shaft about the axis of rotation, and a serial communication circuit configured to communicate the angle signal, the serial communication circuit configured without a dedicated capture wire, without a dedicated trigger wire, or without either.

A system and a method for reliably monitoring a parameter, in particular a moment of inertia, required for determining a kinetic energy of an object that can be measured by means of a sensor of a coordinate measuring machine. The object is moved between various positions, with the object preferably being at least briefly at rest in each of the approach positions. The method comprises the steps of: a) initially determining the parameter, and setting the initially determined parameter as target value; b) moving the object from one position to a next position, and re-determining the parameter for a movement cycle between the corresponding positions; c) setting the re-determined parameter as an actual value; d) comparing the target value with the actual value; e) continuing the movement of the object if the comparison results in that the actual value substantially coincides with the target value, and returning to the step b) as long as a last position has not been reached; or f) outputting an error message if the comparison results in that the actual value deviates significantly from the target value.

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.

A Coordinate measuring apparatus (100) includes a probe (102) configured to detect a workpiece and a movement mechanism (110) configured to support the probe (102) and enable the probe (102) to move in mutually-orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions. The movement mechanism (110) includes a Z-axis drive portion (141) and a spindle (162) configured to enable the Z-axis drive portion (141) to move relative to the Z direction. The Z-axis drive portion (141) includes a rotational drive mechanism (142) including a rotational drive source (148) and a drive pulley (150) to which the rotational drive source (148) provides rotation, and an open belt (164) fixed to the spindle 162 at both ends of the open belt (164) in the relative movement direction (Z direction) of the Z-axis drive portion (141) and configured to engage with an output shaft (154) of the drive pulley (150).

A positioning apparatus including a support extending in a first direction, and a beam extending in a second direction. The beam movably mounted to the support so as to be movable in the first direction and exerts a load on the support. The support includes a profile which when the beam exerts the load thereon the profile of the support is deformed such that the beam is maintained at a substantially constant orientation for all locations of the beam along the support.

A coordinate positioning machine includes a plurality of drive axes, each being a rotary or linear drive axis, for positioning a platform within a working volume of the machine, and a separate linear counterbalance axis for counterbalancing the platform. With this arrangement the counterbalance axis can be substantially invariant to changes in orientation of the drive axes and can be counterbalanced by a simple counterweight. Also, an arrangement wherein the counterbalance axes and force generator are arranged so horizontal movement of the platform causes substantially no net movement of and/or no work to be done on the generator. Also, an arrangement wherein a series of counterbalance axes has at least one rotary counterbalance axis, and the generator is arranged behind or at a predetermined distance from the counterbalance axis. Also, an arrangement having a series of counterbalance axes with at most one rotary counterbalance axis between the generator and ground.

A measuring probe includes a stylus having a contact part to be in contact with an object to be measured, an axial motion mechanism having a moving member that allows the contact part to move in an axial direction, and a rotary motion mechanism having a rotating member that allows the contact part to move along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction by means of rotary motion. The measuring probe includes a probe main body that incorporates the axial motion mechanism, and a probe module that is supported by the probe main body, incorporates the rotary motion mechanism, and supports the stylus. The probe main body and the probe module are detachably coupled to each other with a pair of rollers and a ball capable of positioning to each other. This allows adequate detection sensitivity and a restoring force suitable for the stylus to be obtained at a low cost.

An articulated coordinate measuring machine comprising, a base, a set of articulated elements, a probe and an operator action sensor mounted on a hand-controlled member. The operator action sensor is configured to derive operator action data, regarding a force or a torque exerted or a displacement caused by an operator action on a hand-controlled member of the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine.