The Evolution of Tridimensional Metrology: The Era of Computer Aided Metrology

Abstract The use of Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) provides an accurate and versatile solution for industrial metrology, that is being in use for decades. Although the electromechanical components of these machines have not suffered a great evolution in the last decade, the software used for controlling the CMM have suffer a great development in the last years, making them more user friendly, offering more powerful solutions, such as better CAD support and a better degree of automation, resulting in a faster measuring process. Together with the implementation of new non-contact technologies, like optical sensors for measuring purposes. Overall this resulted in a step further in the functions of a CMM, the measuring process becomes more automatic for either calculations and machine control. The use of new technologies also offers the possibility to work with a bigger amount of data, and virtual data systems turning the process more versatile and able to satisfy the actual demand of the industry, reducing the overall time and price of the inspection process.