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 portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) comprises an articulated arm having first and second ends, the articulated arm including a plurality of arm segments and a plurality of rotary joints, the first end configured to connect to a measurement probe and the second end configured to connect to a base. At least one of the rotary joints includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of the at least one of the rotary joints, and a rotary damping mechanism configured to provide controlled damping of rotational movement of the shaft about the axis of rotation.

A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes an articulated arm including arm segments and rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of at least one of the rotary joints. The shaft includes a middle portion and first and second end portions fixedly attached to ends of the middle portion. At least one of the rotary joints includes first and second housing ends, the first housing end having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the first bearing and the second housing end having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the second bearing. The first and second bearings are preloaded to remove play.

A portable coordinate measurement machine 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 including a handle mechanically but not electrically operably coupled to the first end, the handle rotatably coupled to the first end to rotate about an axis, the handle including a wireless transmitter and at least one switch operably connected to the wireless transmitter and configured to, when pressed, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal that triggers capture of an angle signal corresponding to an angle of rotation about the axis.

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. Structural portions of the CMM are fabricated from steel, stainless steel, or alloys lighter in weight than steel but having a thermal expansion coefficient matching that of steel.

A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes an articulated arm including arm segments and rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of at least one of the rotary joints. The shaft includes a middle portion and first and second end portions fixedly attached to ends of the middle portion. At least one of the rotary joints includes first and second housing ends, the first housing end having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the first bearing and the second housing end having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the second bearing. The first and second bearings are preloaded to remove play.

A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) comprises an articulated arm having first and second ends, the articulated arm including a plurality of arm segments and a plurality of rotary joints, the first end configured to connect to a measurement probe and the second end configured to connect to a base. At least one of the rotary joints includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of the at least one of the rotary joints, and a rotary damping mechanism configured to provide controlled damping of rotational movement of the shaft about the axis of rotation.

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. Structural portions of the CMM are fabricated from steel, stainless steel, or alloys lighter in weight than steel but having a thermal expansion coefficient matching that of steel.

A portable coordinate measurement machine 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 including a handle mechanically but not electrically operably coupled to the first end, the handle rotatably coupled to the first end to rotate about an axis, the handle including a wireless transmitter and at least one switch operably connected to the wireless transmitter and configured to, when pressed, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal that triggers capture of an angle signal corresponding to an angle of rotation about the axis.