Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) Specifications

Help with Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) specifications:

Specifications

	x-axis Measuring Length		The total travel, or measuring length that can be performed in the x-direction.  This is not necessarily the same as the measuring capacity, which is the maximum size of the object in the x-direction that the machine can accommodate.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	y-axis Measuring Length		The total travel, or measuring length that can be performed in the y-direction.  This is not necessarily the same as the measuring capacity, which is the maximum size of the object in the y-direction that the machine can accommodate.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	z-axis Measuring Length		The total travel, or measuring length that can be performed in the z-direction.  This is not necessarily the same as the measuring capacity, which is the maximum size of the object in the z-direction that the machine can accommodate.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Resolution		The least increment of a measuring device; on digital instruments, the least significant bit (Reference: ANSI B-89.1.12).
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.
	Workpiece Weight		The mass of the work piece being measured.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.

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Equipment Design

	Control
	Your choices are...
	Manual		Machine positioning is operator controlled.
	CNC		Machine positioning is controlled by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC).
	PC		Machine positioning is controlled by a personal computer (PC).
	Other		Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary control type.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Operation
	Your choices are...
	Articulated Arm		The machine has an articulated, or multi-axis arm.  This design is very common for portable, or tripod mounted styles machines.  The articulating arm allows the probe to be placed in many different directions.
	Bridge		In bridge style machines, the arm is suspended vertically from a horizontal beam that is supported by two vertical posts in a bridge arrangement.  The machine x-axis carries the bridge, which spans the object to be measured.  The bridge supports the guide rail (the machine y-axis), the bearings, and the machine's z-axis bar.
	Cantilever		In cantilever style machines, a vertical arm is supported by a cantilevered support structure.
	Gantry		Gantry style machines have a frame structure raised on side supports so as to span over the object to be measured or scanned.  Gantry machines are similar in construction to bridge style designs.
	Horizontal Arm		In horizontal arm machines, the arm that supports the probe is horizontally cantilevered from a movable vertical support.  As a result, this style is sometimes referred to as cantilever.
	Other		Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary machine type.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Mounting Options		Manufacturers use many of these terms interchangeably. Keeping this in mind, the options have been delineated as follows to help locate the ideal item(s) for your needs.
	Your choices are...
	Benchtop		The machine mounts on a benchtop or desk.
	Free Standing		The machine does not need to be mounted. It can stand on its own.
	Handheld		The device may be operated while being held in the hand.
	Portable		The device may be moved freely; it is not meant to be bolted or hardwired in place.
	Other		Other, unlisted mounting option.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Probe / Sensor Type		Also try searching for CMM Probes on GlobalSpec.
	Your choices are...
	Touch Probe (Discrete Point)		The most common probe type.  Discrete point probes actually touch the surface of the work piece.  Upon contact, a signal containing the coordinates of that point is sent to the CMM.  The probe is then backed off and moved to the next location where the process is repeated.  Types of touch probes include kinematic (switching), strain-sensing, and piezoelectric.
	Laser Triangulation		Laser triangulation probes are generally referred to as scanning probes.  This method generally involves passing the probe over a target surface at its working range.  As the probe scans the surface, it transmits a continuous flow of data to the measurement system.
	Camera (Still)		Probe head is a still camera.
	Video Camera		Probe head is a video camera.
	Other		Other unlisted probe or sensor type.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Multi-sensor		Machine has capabilities to mount more than one sensor, camera, or probe at a time.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

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Application and Features

	Application
	Your choices are...
	Dimensional Measurement		Machine used as for dimensional measurement or inspection.
	Profile Measurement		Machine used to capture information about the profile or form of an object.  The profile could be 2-D or 3-D, depending on the capability of the equipment.
	Angularity / Orientation		Machine can determine information about the angularity or orientation of an object.
	Depth Mapping		Depth mapping is constructed by measuring the difference between two stereo images.  Stereo images are successive images of the same scene taken at slightly different angles. The objects further away will move relatively little from one image to the next, whereas objects closer to the viewer will move by a greater degree. A depth map is then created, resulting in a single image using different intensities to represent the different depths.
	Digitizing / Imaging		Machine uses digitizing, or three-dimensional scanning, to capture the geometry of existing physical objects and convert it into a digital format or image.
	Shaft Measurement		Machine specifically designed for the measurement and inspection of shafts.
	Other		Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary application.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	Features
	Your choices are...
	Crash Protection		Machine has provisions to protect sensitive components in the event of an unanticipated crash.
	Offline Programming		Software supports offline programming using a CAD model.
	Reverse Engineering		Machine software capable of performing reversed engineering.  Reverse engineering captures the geometry of existing physical objects and uses this data as a foundation for designing something new as in a CAD file.
	Shop Floor Suitable		Equipment is suitable for operation on the shop floor as opposed to a clean inspection area.
	SPC Software		Machine has integrated SPC software for statistical analysis.
	Temperature Compensation		Machine automatically compensates for a change in the environmental temperature.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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