The fundamental elements of the Co-ordinate Measuring Machine
Any Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) is fundamentally based on the use of four
technological elements which, once integrated and brought in the condition of interacting,
constitute the CMM itself; these are:
1. High precision mechanical structure: operating unit which can be either
“Manually” or “Numerically” controlled, capable of positioning the sensorial element
in any point of its working volume in an extremely repeatable mode
2. Data handling and control system: computerised system, generally with
distributed architecture, for the handling of the dynamic activities of the CMM and
for the elaboration of (and on) the measured points
3. CMM Software: the metrology operating system of the CMM, it allows the
management of the dynamics, computations, programming, communication
between the CMM and the external world, etc. To be underlined that on a CMM
other specific “Application Software” packages may be implemented which,
interacting with the CMM software, allow the solution of peculiar applications such
as the measurement of: gears, turbine blades, etc.
4. Sensors: rather sophisticated mechatronic or optoelectronic devices capable of
allowing the CMM of recording the co-ordinates of the points lying on the surface of
the part to be measured. The sensor may either get in physical contact with the part
(tactile sensor) or not (non contacting sensor).
