A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a noncontact 3D measuring device that has a projector configured to emit a first pattern of light onto an object, a scanner camera arranged to receive the first pattern of light reflected from the surface of the object, an edge-detecting camera arranged to receive light reflected from an edge feature of the object, and a processor configured to determine first 3D coordinates of an edge point of the edge feature based on electrical signals received from the scanner camera and the edge-detecting camera.

A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The AACMM having a manually positionable articulated arm having first and second ends, the arm including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals, at least one of the position signals passing between two of the arm segments through a first slip ring assembly. A first a first electronic circuit is provided that receives the position signals. A base section is connected to the second end. A probe assembly includes a probe end and a cover. The cover rotates about an axis extending through the probe assembly, the cover having at least one indentation formed thereon. The probe assembly is connected to the first end. The AACMM measures a three-dimensional coordinate of a point in space associated with the probe end.

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.