The invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine with a ram and a probe head or a sensor or an articulating head/unit or with an articulating head/unit with a probe head or sensor positioned on the articulating head/unit
and/or with an interface
in which the probe head or the sensor or an adapter for the articulating head/unit and/or the interface is/are positioned at least partially in the ram.

The invention relates to a method for the electric control of a measurement stand (11) having a drive movement of at least one measurement probe (26) from an initial position (31) into a measurement position (32), in particular for the measurement of the thickness of thin layers in which a motor (34) is controlled for the drive movement of the measurement probe (26), said motor (34) moving a ram (23), to which the measurement probe (26) is fastened, back and forth via a drive device (35) at least for the implementation of a measurement, wherein before a first measurement with the measurement probe (26), a learning routine is carried out, and for the subsequent implementation of one or more measurements, the measurement probe (26) is transferred from the initial position (31) into the measurement position (32), and the drive path of the measurement probe (26) from the initial position (31) into the measurement position (32) is divided into a fast speed and, before the setting of the measurement probe (26) on the measurement object (14), a slow speed, wherein the number of pulses for the fast speed is reduced by the number of pulses for the slow speed, originating from the total number of the determined pulses of the drive path and the number of pulses for the drive path at the fast speed is a multiple of the number of pulses of the drive path at the slow speed.

A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.

Measuring apparatus includes an upper support supporting a first end of a columnar work piece in an axis direction, a lower support supporting a second end of the work piece in the axis direction, a probe measuring the work piece supported by the upper support and lower support, a rotary table coupled to the lower support and capable of rotating centered in the axis direction, and a post provided to the rotary table and mounting a first position determiner and a second position determiner so as to be switchable, the first and second position determiner determining a position of the work piece with respect to the rotary table. When a first columnar work piece as the work piece is supported by the upper support and lower support, the first position determiner is mounted to the post to determine a position by contacting the first work piece.

A system is provided for communicating between a 3D metrology device and a portable computing device via near field communications. In one embodiment, the metrology device is an articulated coordinate measurement machine (AACMM), a laser tracker, a laser scanner or a triangulation scanner, and the portable communications device is a cellular phone or a tablet. The portable device may use the NFC to establish to change or establish settings and parameters or to replace at least a portion of the operating system used to control the metrology device.

Device and method for determining and comparing distances between balls in the game of bocce in which a marker block is magnetically attached to a measuring tape in a position corresponding to the distance between a first thrown ball and a target ball, and the tape with the marker attached is then used to compare that distance with the distance between a second thrown ball and the target ball to determine which of the two thrown balls is closer to the target ball.

A measuring apparatus includes a first end support portion supporting a first end of the columnar work piece; a second end support portion supporting a second end of the columnar work piece; and a measurement device having a probe which measures the columnar work piece supported by the first end support portion and the second end support portion. The first end support portion includes a first end support body attachably and detachably fitting into a centering aperture of the first end of the columnar work piece. The first end support body includes at least two cut-outs, and in a state where the first end support body is fitted into the centering aperture, an interior surface of the centering aperture is visible to the exterior through the cut-outs. The measurement device inserts the probe into the centering aperture through the cut-outs and measures the interior surface of the centering aperture.

A parts processing assistance system includes a three dimensional measurement unit for acquiring a three dimensional measured data about a part, a display unit for displaying the part based on the three dimensional measured data, and a virtual assembly unit for virtually assembling the part displayed by the display unit on the display unit. According to this system, assembly error can be confirmed before an actual assembly work of parts.

A workstation for measuring dimensions includes an operator zone, a first fixture, a second fixture, a component delivery device, a gauge, and a collaborative robot. The second fixture is accessible to an operator in the operator zone. A component delivery device deposits a first component onto the first fixture. The envelope of the component delivery device is not accessible by the operator in the operator zone. The collaborative robot supports the gauge tool and has a range of motion capable of measuring the first component on the first fixture and a second component on the second fixture. A control module is in communication with the gauge and the collaborative robot and operates the collaborative robot to measure the first component on the first fixture and the second component on the second fixture.

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a coordinate measuring machine CMM, comprising a carrier as a support and positioning structure for an end-effector as a target, the end-effector being movable in at least three degrees of freedom and positionable by the carrier, a stationary metrology table as a support for a possible target object, and a control unit controlling the moving of the end-effector by the carrier. The CMM further comprises at least one, in particular at least two, imaging detectors for measuring and determining in six degrees of freedom a position of the possible target object, and an analysing unit for processing electronic signals and/or data delivered by the imaging detectors. According to the invention, the imaging detectors are firmly mounted to the metrology table, mechanically de-coupled from the carrier.