A measurement point determination method for determining the number or an arrangement of measurement points for a measurement apparatus that performs measurement processing of a measurement item at a plurality of measurement points, the method comprises the steps of acquiring a minimum value and a maximum value of the number of measurement points, acquiring a target value of uncertainty for the measurement item of the measurement apparatus, estimating uncertainties when the measurement item is measured by the measurement apparatus using two or more of the numbers of measurement points between the minimum value and the maximum value of the number of measurement points, and determining the number of measurement points of the measurement apparatus on the basis of the target value and the estimated uncertainties.

Embodiments provide measurement systems having a coordinate measuring machine, a workpiece storage apparatus, and a robot for delivering workpieces from the workpiece storage apparatus to the coordinate measuring machine, and methods for orienting and operating such systems. Illustrative embodiments employ a reference geometry tool on the robotic arm, and kinematic locators on the coordinate measuring machine and/or on the workpiece storage apparatus to define a coordinate system common to the coordinate measuring machine, the workpiece storage apparatus, and the robot.

Embodiments provide measurement systems having a coordinate measuring machine, a workpiece storage apparatus, and a robot for delivering workpieces from the workpiece storage apparatus to the coordinate measuring machine, and methods for orienting and operating such systems. Illustrative embodiments employ a reference geometry tool on the robotic arm, and kinematic locators on the coordinate measuring machine and/or on the workpiece storage apparatus to define a coordinate system common to the coordinate measuring machine, the workpiece storage apparatus, and the robot.

There is provided a probe unit correction method for correcting linear expansion of a probe unit to obtain an accurate measurement value. First, a probe offset value is calculated as a model. Then, a probe unit correction method includes a temperature data acquisition step of acquiring a temperature difference between a temperature at a time of calibration and a temperature of a current measurement environment, a reference tip coordinate correction step of calculating, as a reference tip correction coordinate value, a correction value of a reference tip coordinate value to which linear expansion is added, and a probe offset correction step of calculating, as a probe offset correction value, a correction value of a probe offset value to which the linear expansion is added.

There is provided a probe unit correction method for correcting linear expansion of a probe unit to obtain an accurate measurement value. First, a probe offset value is calculated as a model. Then, a probe unit correction method includes a temperature data acquisition step of acquiring a temperature difference between a temperature at a time of calibration and a temperature of a current measurement environment, a reference tip coordinate correction step of calculating, as a reference tip correction coordinate value, a correction value of a reference tip coordinate value to which linear expansion is added, and a probe offset correction step of calculating, as a probe offset correction value, a correction value of a probe offset value to which the linear expansion is added.

A method efficiently measures an object having a feature. The feature has a plurality of cross-sections that each have a surface. The method provides a coordinate measuring machine having a discretely indexable wrist coupled with a measuring probe. The wrist has a given wrist orientation, relative to an arm of the coordinate measuring machine, that is adjustable between a plurality of different orientations. The probe is able to measure different surfaces as a function of the different wrist orientations. The method segments an object to be measured into a plurality of segments that are each measurable with a given wrist orientation.

A workpiece installation method includes obtaining a reference image that shows a reference workpiece whose posture has been adjusted, setting workpiece reference lines on a boundary of a first image area occupied by the reference workpiece in the reference image, obtaining a measurement image that shows a workpiece, generating, using a processor, a measurement combined image in which workpiece reference lines are superimposed on the measurement image and which shows the workpiece reference lines pass through positions respectively identical to workpiece reference line positions, and adjusting a posture of the workpiece such that a boundary of a second image area occupied by the workpiece in the measurement combined image is shown to be substantially parallel to or substantially coincident with the workpiece reference lines.

A method for calibrating a positional relation between a main spindle and a contact tool sensor attached to a table in a machine tool. The method includes: mounting a reference tool on the main spindle and obtaining measurement position coordinates as respective tool sensor measurement values, the measurement position coordinates being of a distal end of the reference tool in at least two different measurement regions on an upper surface of the contact tool sensor; outputting predetermined difference values based on the respective tool sensor measurement values; determining an abnormality when the difference values are compared with preliminarily set acceptable values and at least one of the difference values are out of the acceptable values; and calibrating a positional relation between the main spindle and the contact tool sensor based on the respective tool sensor measurement values when the abnormality is not determined at the determining of abnormality.

A method for calibrating a positional relation between a main spindle and a contact tool sensor attached to a table in a machine tool. The method includes: mounting a reference tool on the main spindle and obtaining measurement position coordinates as respective tool sensor measurement values, the measurement position coordinates being of a distal end of the reference tool in at least two different measurement regions on an upper surface of the contact tool sensor; outputting predetermined difference values based on the respective tool sensor measurement values; determining an abnormality when the difference values are compared with preliminarily set acceptable values and at least one of the difference values are out of the acceptable values; and calibrating a positional relation between the main spindle and the contact tool sensor based on the respective tool sensor measurement values when the abnormality is not determined at the determining of abnormality.

A calibration standard for geometry measurement calibration of a measurement system operating by tactile and/or optical means is provided which includes a flat surface having a structure that is capturable by a measurement system operating by optical and/or tactile means. The structure has a changeable periodicity that is capturable by a sensor in a first direction and/or in a second direction and for a change in the periodicity to code position information and/or direction information. In addition, a method for calibrating a coordinate measuring machine operating by tactile and/or optical means and to a coordinate measuring machine for such a method or having such a calibration standard is provided.