The Coordinate Metrology Society

Greetings to all! Welcome to the eighth edition of CMSC World, the electronic counterpart to the The Journal of the CMSC, the official print publication of the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS). This edition comes as the 25th anniversary of the CMSC is still fresh in our minds. Held this year in Louisville, Kentucky, the Executive Committee once again did an outstanding job in preparing and executing a landmark event. This conference not only showcased the cutting edge of portable metrology, but delivered a wide variety of technical presentations and workshops.

Every year exhibitors extol the virtues of the CMSC conference as the premier event to unveil their latest achievements in hardware and software, and this year was no exception. Hardware that not so long ago seemed as far-fetched as a Buck Rogers sonic ray gun was showcased in the exhibit hall this year, along with best-in-class metrology software. You only need to attend this conference once to understand why the CMSC boasts such a high return rate for both attendees and exhibitors.

As if the innovative exhibits weren’t enough, the technical presentations make the trip an even more worthwhile event. This year, there were more than eighteen presentations, ranging from the technical aspects of accuracy, scaling, and compensation, to hands-on procedures for measuring even the most difficult of parts. Parts discussed ranged in size from a few inches all the way up to satellites, ships, full-size commercial aircraft, and nuclear piping layouts. New to this year’s conference, and well received, was a round-robin workshop featuring experts instructing in the fundamentals of laser trackers, photogrammetry, short- and long-range laser scanners, and articulated arms. Another workshop featured a lively discussion and an update on the progress of the Certification Committee concerning the subject of industry accreditation and certification of portable CMM operators.

Registration for the CMSC conference always includes the CMS annual membership fee. So if you attended the conference, you are automatically a member of the Coordinate Metrology Society and have the privilege to download the technical presentations. To do this, simply go to www.cmsc.org [1]. At the bottom of the homepage select “Members Log In”. Here, you will be asked to provide your e-mail address and password. Your password was generated when you registered for the conference.  If you do not remember your password, you can retrieve it using the “Lost Password” selection. Your password will be sent to your e-mail address immediately. You can also log in from the upper menu bar (Annual Conference/Program Archives) which will take you to the Log In screen. Once you are at the Log In page, simply fill in your e-mail address and password and you will be directed to the Archives. NOTE:  You must have Adobe Reader to view the presentations. If you do not have it, there is a link on the Archives page to download it.

Even if you did not attend the conference, you can still become a member of the Coordinate Metrology Society. Simply go to www.cmsc.org [2] and select “Annual Conference” from the upper menu. Then select “Register” and explicitly follow the instructions in the fourth paragraph, starting with “NOTE”. Without a doubt, you’ll find your CMS membership both educational and rewarding.  Welcome!