Various types of convergence means multisensor technology has made different types of metrology platforms more similar-and more capable-than ever.

The reason comparators have not changed much in 85 years is that the fundamental technology behind an optical comparator is elegantly simple, and it simply works.

A familiar sight in manufacturing facilities across the globe is the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) being used for three-dimensional measurement and verification. In the past 20 years, the CMM has really come into its own. Once exotic, expensive and limited in capability, modern CMMs have become affordable, accessible and highly flexible quality assurance tools. Taking into account the various types of CMMs, conservative estimates suggest there are more than 40,000 operating units in the United States, Canada and Mexico alone.

Portable arm coordinate measurement machines efficiently measure large or bulky parts on the shop floor.

Portable coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are a viable solution to making the power of coordinate metrology flexible. Traditionally, when engineers think of portable CMMs, the first image that comes to mind is an articulated arm CMM. Articulated arm CMMs offer portability and are available in many different configurations.