Various embodiments improve the performance and reliability of coordinate measuring machines by verifying that coordinate measuring machine is configured to use the appropriate probe or stylus for measuring an object. In some embodiments, confirmation that the appropriate probe or stylus is mounted is built into an automated part of the CMM's measurement process, thereby assuring that a confirmation step is performed and that the outcome is correct.

According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.

An alignment system for an imaging sensor of a coordinate measuring machine incorporates a reference surface associated with a stage of the measuring machine but instead of imaging the reference surface as a location marker, the reference surface is incorporated into a combined imaging system together with the imaging sensor for imaging a feature associated with the imaging sensor. The imaged feature can be an internal part of the imaging sensor, such as an internal aperture, or an external feature in a fixed relationship with the imaging sensor, such as a lens hood.

An augmented reality simulation device includes: extension information display means for displaying a virtual object; relation information acquisition means for acquiring first relation information which is information that specifies relation between the virtual object and control axes of a numerical controller and second relation information which is information that specifies settings of the control axes and relation between the control axes; conversion means for converting a movement amount in a first coordinate system which is a coordinate system of the control axis to movement information in a second coordinate system which is a coordinate system for allowing the extension information display means to display the virtual object on the basis of the first relation information and the second relation information; and calculation means for calculating a display position and a display angle of the virtual object based on the movement information in the second coordinate system after the conversion.

A measurement system and method, which increases a degree of freedom for setting a measurement period and a transmission period of measurement values and has a high accuracy, are provided. The measurement system includes a control device and a measurement device that measures a measurement object in a first period and transmits measurement values obtained from the measurement device to the control device. The measurement device transmits the measurement values waiting to be transmitted and additional information including information of the number of the measurement values waiting to be transmitted to the control device using frames transmitted in a second period that is longer than the first period. The control device generates time series data in which the measurement values are arranged in time series using the additional information.

A coordinate measuring machine (1) for determining at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point of an object (15) to be measured, comprising a base (5) and a drive mechanism, adapted to drive a probe head (13) in a manner such that the probe head (13) is capable to move relative to the base (5) for approaching a measurement point, characterized by a first range camera (3, 33) having a range image sensor with a sensor array, wherein the range camera (3, 33) is adapted to be directed to the object (15) for providing a range image (23) of the object (15), and wherein range pixels of the range image are used for creating a point cloud with 3D-positions of target points of the object (15), and a controller, adapted to control the drive mechanism on the basis of 3D-positions of the target points.

A processing system includes a machine tool including a measuring unit which outputs measurement information for calculating a shape of a processing object, a control unit which generates position information related to a position of the measuring unit at the time of measuring the processing object and outputs the generated position information and a generation time signal indicating a time at which the position information is generated, an acquisition unit which acquires the output position information and the generation time signal, an estimation unit which estimates the time at which the position information is generated on the basis of a time at which the acquisition unit acquires the generation time signal, and a shape calculation unit which calculates a shape of the processing object on the basis of the measurement information, the position information, and the time estimated by the estimation unit.

A coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes a manually-positionable articulated arm having first and second ends. The articulated arm includes a plurality of arm segments and a plurality of rotary joints. The first end includes a connector configured to connect to a measurement probe. The second end includes a base for mounting the CMM. A housing of at least one rotary joint from the plurality of rotary joints has a cylindrical outer surface that engages a) the base or b) a connecting portion that connects the at least one rotary joint to another rotary joint from the plurality of rotary joints, the housing welded to the base or to the connecting portion.

A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes an articulated arm including rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints includes bearings; a shaft that engages an inner diameter of the bearings, the shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of the bearings; a housing having at least one port that engages an outer diameter of at least one of the bearings; and at least one transducer configured to output an angle signal corresponding to an angle of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing about the axis of rotation. The shaft has two ends, the two ends may be concentric to within one tenth of thousands of an inch (0.0001), or the at least one port of the housing may have no portion whose diameter is narrower than the outer diameter of the first bearing or the second bearing.

A method and apparatus for measuring an object using a coordinate measuring machine locates the object using logic associated with the coordinate measurement machine. In response to locating the object, a controller directs a measuring device of the coordinate measuring machine to measure the object.