All Features
Megan Wallin-Kerth
As the July 22–25, 2024, Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) rapidly approaches, quality professionals anticipate opportunities to explore and showcase various products and ideas from some of the biggest names and organizations. InnovMetric, Hexagon, Renishaw, Nikon, and many others will…
Adam Zewe
(MIT: Cambridge, MA) -- Before a robot can grab dishes off a shelf to set the table, it must ensure its gripper and arm won’t crash into anything and potentially shatter the fine china. As part of its motion planning process, a robot typically runs “safety check” algorithms that verify its…
Etienne Nichols
In a highly regulated industry like medical technology, manufacturing processes must undergo either process verification or process validation to ensure they’re consistently producing the correct result. The question is, which one should you use?
Verification and validation are two different…
Atul Minocha
Do you ever feel like you’re spending money like crazy on marketing and getting little or nothing in return? If so, you might be tempted to pull the plug on marketing altogether. That would be a big mistake.
An effective marketing strategy can mean the difference between your organization’s success…
Ryan E. Day
Metrology may sound like an esoteric dark art, but it isn’t. If you’re involved in manufacturing of any stripe, you’re almost certainly a metrology practitioner. Coordinate metrology, on the other hand, is a more narrow subset of the field but still widely used in many industries for various…
Ryan E. Day
Every so often an event, invention, or idea is so momentous it changes the face of entire industries. In some ways, the global response to Covid-19 has been such an event. In the case of metrology, however, it has only underscored that the foundational requirements of test and measurement remain…
David H. Parker
It is well known that the speed of light depends on the index of refraction of the medium in which the light is propagating. It is also well known that in a dispersive medium, the speed of an amplitude modulated wavefront depends on the group refractive index, i.e., slightly slower than the carrier…
Belinda Jones
Back in 2016, the PrecisionPath Consortium (PPC), in cooperation with the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) and UNC Charlotte, conducted the very first industry survey in support of their lead project—the Technology Roadmap for Large-Scale Manufacturing. 3D measurement professionals answered…
Belinda Jones
When it comes to metrology education, the CMS is all about its newest training asset 3D Measurement U or simply 3DMU. Developed in partnership with Quality Digest, 3DMU is an online video training program for organizations, educators, and metrology practitioners. The new resource offers a first…
Mike Richman
One hundred and forty-five years ago today, on May 20, 1875, delegates from 17 nations to the Metre Convention in Paris signed the Treaty of the Metre, which established the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). This organization standardized many of the measurements that we now take…
The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is strategically constructed on the summit of Haleakala, 10,023 ft above sea level, which is an ideal vantage point for solar observations. Site construction started in 2012 and moved into the integration, testing, and commissioning (IT&C) phase…
Mike Richman
Current Coordinate Metrology Society Chair Matt Ilardo of Brookhaven National Laboratory and CMS PrecisionPath Consortium Co-Chair, Professor Ed Morse of the University of North Carolina–Charlotte, are expert metrologists who always seek to share the importance of precision measurement with members…
Belinda Jones
TheEndoftheEndGame
It wasn't so long ago that metrology and inspection were reserved for the end of the manufacturing process. Metrologists were often considered to be a necessary evil, a harbinger of bad (or good) news, and in some cases, the unfortunate person who explained after a first article…
Matthew Ilardo
Without question, 2019 has been a great year for all of us at the Coordinate Metrology Society.
First of all, we celebrated our 35th anniversary, and the 10th year of our Measurement Zone. Our annual event, CMSC 2019, was a huge success this summer in Orlando with great new programs, a fantastic…
Belinda Jones
Women who crashed the glass ceiling in male-dominated fields have compelling stories about the trajectory of their careers. These days, I think a lot about those inadvertent role models, thankful for their determination to pursue big dreams so I could pursue mine. Trailblazers like Dr. Bonnie…
Fringe projection techniques offer fast, noncontact measurements of the surface form of manufactured parts. Fringe projection has seen successful implementation in the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries. Recently, advances in fringe projection have reduced the sensitivity of the…
Belinda Jones
Change is the only constant in life.” This quote is attributed to Heraclitus, a very influential Greek philosopher from the late sixth century BCE. His time-honored words still hold true in 2019, and change indeed continues to shape the metrology industry. The dynamics of the marketplace are…
Matthew Ilardo
I am looking forward to another year serving the community of the Coordinate Metrology Society. I would like to encourage our metrology membership to revel in your accomplishments, and expand your horizons in 2020 by taking on something new. Every year the CMS strives to expand its content,…
Mike Richman
For any of you who missed it, CMSC 2019 was, as always, a first-class conference with loads of great content, exciting new product and service offerings, and numerous unique opportunities for knowledge transfer with the leading metrologists in industry and academia.
Taking place July 22–26 at the…
Calibrating an absolute distance meter (ADM) laser tracker requires long linear distances. For such distances, the room temperature is a significant factor. Even though the calibration room’s temperature is controlled within ± 2° C, actual temperature and temperature variation in one end of the…
Mike Richman
On May 20, 1875, representatives from 17 of the leading industrial nations of the world met in Paris to set precise international standards for the meter and kilogram. Coming out of the meetings, the signatories to the Treaty of the Metre agreed to maintain internationally accepted standards and…
Belinda Jones
The Coordinate Metrology Society is pleased to announce Michael Raphael, president of Direct Dimensions and a veteran metrologist, will give the keynote address at this year's Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC). Former NASA astronaut, engineer, and educator Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will be the…
Belinda Jones
There are plenty of opinions in the blogosphere about technical papers, their value to the marketplace, and the pros and cons of producing them. Despite all the debate on the topic, the tirelessly persisting technical paper is here to stay. For the measurement professional, there is no richer…
Scott Sandwith
No matter how much metrology experience you have gained as a practitioner, the 2019 Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) is designed so every level of attendee can learn something new. CMSC provides the venue to explore new concepts, systems, interfaces, tools, and the opportunity to…
Scott Sandwith
A clear constant in the portable metrology market is “change and integration.” Almost every new product launch couples existing concepts and wraps them with tools that enable integration into hybrid metrology-guided systems. These deliver value by deploying the strengths of the technologies in a…
Mike Richman
A 35-year commitment is an impressive achievement, whether it be to a job, a marriage, or even a sports franchise. (New York Mets, why do you so consistently forsake my love?) When it comes to an all-volunteer organization working within an extremely complex and fast-changing technical field, that…
Belinda Jones
Shepherding the implementation of any new program takes strong leadership. Building a strong, legally defensible certification program calls for a herculean kind of dedication. Randy Gruver was just the guy for the job.
More than 10 years ago, a group of interested measurement professionals and…
Belinda Jones
Achieving Smart Factory initiatives requires a seismic shift toward data-driven processes, sensors, and advanced metrology solutions. Large-scale manufacturers bear the load of crushing backlogs and internal pressures to eke out more productivity. What are the roadblocks? Will existing measurement…
David H. Parker
A 154-page report by Moreu and LaFave in 2012 explains unique problems railroad bridge engineers must contend with. The gross weight of cars went from 200,000 pounds to 263,000 pounds in the 1970s, and to 286,000 pounds in 1991. The ratio of live to dead loads are much greater for railroads than…
Mike Richman
An industry, and even more so any individual company, is only as strong as its pipeline of incoming talent. This week on QDL we looked at this topic from a few different angles. Here’s what we covered at greater length:
“Ripped From the Headlines: Worker Shortage” A recent article on the Bloomberg…
Mike Richman
By any test, and certainly any measure, 2018 was a banner year for the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) and its keystone event, the Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC).
From the group’s founding in 1984 until today, the CMS has made a concerted and successful effort to support the…
Modern super-precision turning centers must provide accuracy in the lower range of diamond-turning machines (cylindricity of less than 1–2 μm) and high productivity. Traditionally, diamond-turning machines have not been able to provide this because of their design limitations. However, high…
Scott Sandwith
Industry 4.0 is the current hot trend in manufacturing, and one of the adjectives used to label new projects. The concept is primarily a way to describe how automation or “smart” systems enable manufacturers to drive costs down and increase quality. The sense of those words is magic to those…
NIST
A convocation of delegates representing 60 countries voted last month in Versailles, France, to implement the most significant change to the International System of Units (SI) in more than 130 years. For the first time, all measurement units will be defined by natural phenomena rather than by…
Megan Ray Nichols
There is rising enthusiasm all over the country and the world when it comes to apprenticeships. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2013 to 2017, the number of those participating in apprenticeship programs grew from 375,000 to almost 534,000, an increase of about 42 percent. In 2017…
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST*) is a nonregulatory federal agency of the Department of Commerce and is the national metrology institute of the United States. NIST’s role in the development of voluntary consensus standards (VCS) is rooted in many policy decisions and…
Dirk Dusharme @ Quality Digest
During the past five to 10 years, the United States has seen more industry and academic institutions embrace apprenticeship programs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2013 to 2017, the number of those participating in apprenticeship programs grew from 375,000 to almost 534,000, an…
Scott Sandwith
The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) continues its support and coverage of advancements in the precision dimensional metrology industry, as it has done for more than three decades. One of our key strengths has been the professional women in our membership ranks. They have been and continue to be…
CMSC
The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) has launched a new digital library of original technical papers delivered by metrology experts over the past 12 years at its annual conference—the Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC). The library is an online archival of more than 100 technical…
Belinda Jones
The PrecisionPath Consortium (PPC) for Large-Scale Manufacturing has completed and released their Technology Road Map for Large-Scale Manufacturing. The consortium is a collaboration of commercial-industry partners, the Coordinate Metrology Society, and the UNC Charlotte working to determine and…
Laser trackers are widely used for metrology and precision surveys. Depending on the approach, range, and instrument itself, the measurement accuracy can vary from millimeter to micron. Several applications of laser trackers used in the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) project will be…
Mark H. Stone
Historical dimensions for the cubit are provided by scripture and pyramid documentation. Additional dimensions from the Middle East are found in other early documents. Two major dimensions emerge from a history of the cubit. The first is the anthropological or short cubit, and the second is the…
Mike Richman
One of the foundations of our modern, technology-based society comes from established and commonly agreed-upon measurements. On May 20 each year, we acknowledge this fact by celebrating World Metrology Day, which is the perfect opportunity to consider the central importance of the science of…
Belinda Jones
The Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) has long been revered by measurement professionals for its original technical papers and presentations covering current and future industry trends. This year, the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) has outdone itself with its extensive slate of 28…
Gary Confalone
This year, the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) is proud to provide attendees at the Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) with many new and exciting experiences, starting with a brand-new website featuring new information regarding the show and a comprehensive agenda, including the…
Walter Copan
Being from Colorado, I’m a big fan of winter sports: skiing, skating, snowboarding, hockey, bobsledding, and even curling. Like many people, I look forward to the Winter Olympics every four years.
The Olympics are a test of the world’s greatest athletes’ skills—skills they have spent their entire…
Belinda Jones
In 2013, the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) launched the first level-one certification for 3D portable measurement professionals. Since that time, the organization has consistently rolled out additional assessments to support the industry. This year is no different. The CMS has announced plans…
Lucas M. Valdez, Mario O. Valdez, Joshua D. Montano, Ivan S. Trujillo
Tight-tolerance part inspection, whether for industrial applications or national laboratory requirements, is generally performed using cartesian coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). High-data density measurement sets to characterize part geometries are achieved using tactile probing or dynamic…
Gary Confalone
More than 30 years ago, a group of professionals formed an organization known today as the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS). Their overall objective was to standardize the industry in terms of tooling and processes and share knowledge to educate and improve the future workforce. Some of these…
Keith Bevan
As the world heads into the fourth industrial revolution, we are still struggling with skills gaps and workforce shortages in the metrology industry. These skills are critical not only to manufacturers and scientists, but to virtually all growth sectors around the world. Taking a fresh look at how…
The light-controlled factory (LCF) is a UK development project running for five years, from July 2013 to July 2018. It is directed by the University of Bath and supported by University College London (UCL) and Loughborough University. This ambitious project aims to demonstrate a “ubiquitous” seven…
Ben P. Stein
Paving the way for transforming the world’s measurement system, an international task force has determined updated values for four fundamental constants of nature. The updated values comprise the last scientific piece of the puzzle for redefining the modern metric system, known as the…
Gary Confalone
It starts with passion. Each year, my company, ECM Global Measurement Solutions, is invited to participate in an ever-increasing number of events, which introduces students and our future workforce to opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These range…
Ashley Machin
Ortho Baltic, a manufacturer of patient-specific medical implants, recently invested in additive manufacturing (AM) and computed tomography (CT) inspection technology. It is vital for such components to be of outstanding quality, therefore an assured quality control system is integral to the…
David H. Parker
Electronic distance measurement (EDM) instruments, such as laser trackers, total stations, and handheld laser distance meters, have been used in a limited number of nondestructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) applications attempting to measure bridge deflections and…
Greg Groth
In the following how-to, Greg Groth, Division Manager at Exact Metrology, explores the three steps of reverse engineering. Groth takes a dive into the due diligence questions that need to be asked before a job is started, and explores the technologies that can be used for data acquisition. And…
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
(Hexagon: North Kingstown, RI) -- Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence today announced it will showcase a new carbon composite inspection system for the aerospace industry in booth No. 1303 at WESTEC 2017, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from Sept. 12–14, 2017. Based on Apodius 3D…
Gary Confalone
Last month, the 33rd annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference took place at the Snowbird Meeting and Conference Center in the spectacular mountains of Snowbird, Utah. This signature event attracted the Who's Who in 3D portable metrology, from elite presenters to workshop instructors to…
Scott Everling
Two leading aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, face a challenge many manufacturers would envy: an order book of close to 12,000 aircraft, representing between eight and 10 years’ worth of production. But what might appear to be a dream is proving to be a nightmare—asking customers to wait…
NIST
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have produced and precisely measured a spectrum of X-rays using a new, state-of-the-art machine. The instrument they used to measure the X-rays took 20 years to develop, and will help scientists working at the agency make…
FARO
A researcher from the University of Cambridge recently worked on the Bonavista Peninsula to get a better understanding of what’s left of some of the oldest organisms in the history of life on earth.
Paleontologist Emily Mitchell used portable 3D metrology equipment from FARO and Manchester…
Jean-Angelo Beraldin, David MacKinnon, Luc Cournoyer
Recent interest in portable coordinate measuring systems (CMS) has attracted the attention of industrial users and the technical community at large. Articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and optically tracked CMM (OTCMM) systems have emerged from being “nice-to-have” to “must-have”…
Keith Bevan
The 33rd annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) is rapidly approaching in Snowbird, Utah from July 17–20. Preparations are moving forward at a land speed record pace, a reasonable expectation with the conference being held close to the Bonneville Salt Flats. The event has earned…
Alexander Schönberg, Mike Wehn, Alexander Richter
Measurement-assisted assembly has been integrated into the production flow in recent years. Many processes are designed for a high repeatability through fixtures and maximum stiffness. They approach an optimal operating point through iterative processes using measurements. This approach permits…
Belinda Jones
The Coordinate Metrology Society, in collaboration with UNC Charlotte, announced the fifth working meeting of the PrecisionPath Consortium for Large-Scale Manufacturing will be held on March 23, 2017, in Dallas, at the Hyatt Regency DFW, Terminal C. The PrecisionPath Consortium has worked steadily…
Keith Bevan
To kick off 2017, the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) has recently launched a new website and brand refresh with new features and old favorites such as technical papers, presentations, and technical reports, to name but a few. The organization is also in full swing preparing for the 33rd annual…
George LeGrand
One of the questions our customers ask most frequently is, “How often do I need to have my machine inspected for alignment?” Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. There are a number of factors that can affect the alignment of equipment and these should be taken into consideration when…
Ben Rennison, Chris Greer
The advancement of dimensional scanning technology has allowed massive amount of point cloud data to be obtained quickly. This data is used for analysis and reverse-engineering functions. Generally, once this data is collected, it will be polygonized into a mesh which allows for easier data…
Belinda Jones
Dedicated members of the PrecisionPath Consortium gathered recently near the UNC Charlotte campus for their fourth working meeting and Technology Innovation Workshop in Charlotte, NC. The Coordinate Metrology Society and UNC Charlotte pilot the industry-driven coalition to advance large-scale…
Michael O’Shea
Being able to be in two places at once has been a dream for many metrologists in the measurement services business. Taking a page from the field of artificial intelligence (AI), ATT Metrology developed an “Expert System” to perform a wide range of measurement tasks based on more than 20 years of…
Keith Bevan
With this year’s Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) behind us and 2016 rapidly coming to a close, new ideas are moving into full swing for CMSC 2017 in Snowbird, UT. The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) is in the process of revamping the conference agenda and addressing requested new…
Keith Bevan
Understanding the benefits of having sound knowledge, perspective, and the appropriate skill sets in metrology is just as crucial in today’s technological world as it was 50 years ago. The same goes for key decision making based on solid processes, procedures, methods, and data analysis. Taking…
Belinda Jones
A year ago, at the 2015 Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC), the PrecisionPath Consortium for Large-Scale Manufacturing started its journey toward building a sustainable, industry-driven coalition that continues to attract the brightest minds in manufacturing and metrology. The recent…
Third Dimension
(Third Dimension, Bristol, UK) -- Executive TV is excited to announce Manufacturing Change, the latest addition to their ongoing series of industrial documentaries exploring the United Kingdom’s manufacturing sector and its future. This program features Bristol-based Third Dimension, experts in…
API Services
Although it sank more than 150 years ago, the USS Monitor has an everlasting place in history.
As one of the first of the so-called "ironclads," the Monitor, along with its Confederate Army foe, the CSS Merrimack, fought to a draw at the Battle of Hampton Roads, VA, on March 9, 1862. From that…
Dimensional measurement has been used as a part of manufacturing systems for many years. However, although shop floor measurement equipment can be used next to a manufacturing machine and its measurement data can be digitally interfaced to change some manufacturing parameters, machine tools…
Superconducting (SC) magnetic and SC radiofrequency (SRF) devices designed for use in particle accelerators present challenging alignment problems. These devices are assembled and aligned at room temperature but operate at 2 Kelvin (K) to 4 Kelvin (K), with thermal offsets being large relative to…
Rina Molari-Korgel
On World Metrology Day this Friday, May 20, I ask that you pause a minute when you look at the alarm clock in morning, and then again as you set the thermostat or look at the weather report. World Metrology Day celebrates a link that binds humanity—the bond of a common measurement that is…
Belinda Jones
When the PrecisionPath Consortium concluded its second working meeting on February 25, 2016, noteworthy progress was made in the roadmapping process for advanced, large-scale manufacturing. More than 20 members of the consortium participated in this pivotal "“Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis”…
ECM Global Measurement Solutions
In greater Downeast Maine, boat builder Hodgdon Yachts plans for the construction of the 100-ft racing yacht called “New3” (also known as “New Cubed”). Set to be constructed and finished toward the end of the year, the vessel will be shipped to Australia for its first race. As Tim Hacket, the…
Belinda Jones
The industrial metrology sector is an ever-changing landscape for 3D measurement professionals. In the thick of it you will find the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL)—each offering…
InnovMetric Software
Headquartered in Graz, Austria, the Andritz Group (composed of Andritz Hydro, Andritz Pulp & Paper, Andritz Metals, Andritz Separation, and Andritz Automation) is a leading global supplier of plants, equipment, and services provided to hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the…
Rina Molari-Korgel
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this issue of CMSC World. Our 3D metrology community is small compared to the bigger circles of civil engineering, manufacturing engineering, or even quality engineering. An even scarcer sight is a female 3D industrial metrologist, such as me.
It has been and…
Mike Campbell, Ben Hughes, Dan Veal
I n this article, we present a wide angle, frequency scanning interferometer (FSI) system capable of measuring the absolute distance to multiple targets simultaneously.
A spatial light modulator has been integrated into the FSI sensor head, projecting multiple beams towards targets. Absolute…
Capture 3D
To reduce weight and fuel consumption, the aerospace industry increasingly relies on lightweight materials and new material combinations. That’s why the entire fuselage of the Airbus A350 XWB consists of carbon fiber composite (CFC) materials. In total, the long-haul aircraft reaches a CFC portion…
Rina Molari-Korgel
What a busy year for the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS). To get you updated, I will need to throw a lot of numbers and dates your way. Here we go!
The 2015 Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) in Hollywood, Florida, was a great success. Forty-five exhibitors and a newly expanded…
In aerospace vehicle manufacturing and assembly, including that at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, measurements of composite part thickness are required for ensuring that underlying processes are within tolerance, and for achieving outer-mold line-control surface requirements.
This article…
Belinda Jones
This past summer, the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte were awarded an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.…
The inspection and characterization of machine parts is still subject to research. Although optical means of measurement are very promising in respect to speed and precision, they are still not capable of measuring difficult-to-reach inner geometries. In this article, we will demonstrate our …
Exact Metrology
Josh Schradin, one of the 3D Scanning specialists at Exact Metrology’s Cincinnati facility, recently completed a computed tomography (CT) scanning project involving aluminum castings measuring approximately 12 in. x 6 in. x 6 in. and weighing 10 to 15 pounds.
The company’s new metrology-grade GE…
Rina Molari-Korgel
In the business of metrology services, a critical part of the process is setting expectations with customers and their management teams. Setting the stage for any measurement or inspection job requires clear communication so that both parties understand what they will receive in return for…
Mike Richman
The 31st annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC), which concluded on July 23rd, delivered some fantastic career-enhancing opportunities for metrologists from 13 nations, representing leading research institutions as well as industries such as aerospace, space hardware, antenna,…
Mike Richman
Editor's note: This week, Quality Digest Daily will be looking at some of the key technologies on display at the Coordinate Metrology Society's annual conference (CMSC). The CMSC, taking place this year July 20–24 in Hollywood, Florida, is the gathering place for users, service providers, and…
InnovMetric Software
E xtreme Fab Inc. is a structural metal fabrication company that has the tools and skills to build the massive machinery that the oil and gas, power, energy, and trucking industries require. One of their key customers is GE Aero Energy, a company that gives businesses and communities around the…
Large-volume metrology measurements are conducted at every major phase of alignment and integration of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM), which forms the main payload of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Both ambient and cryogenic…
Earlier this spring, thousands of people from all over the nation gathered in Springfield, IL, to honor the life of our beloved President Abraham Lincoln. After his death in 1865, his body was carried hundreds of miles by a funeral train. It passed through more than a hundred cities, with formal…
Ron Rode
Yesterday, May 20, 2015, we celebrated World Metrology Day. This is an annual commemoration of the signature by representatives of seventeen nations attending the Metre Convention, which was held on May 20, 1875. This convention set the stage for global acceptance and collaboration for “Metrology…
Nikon Metrology Inc.
Kiekert AG, the global leader for automobile door lock systems, now uses digital cross scanners by Nikon Metrology to test the positions and dimensions of sealing lips on door and rear compartment locks. Tactile inspection methods are unable to correctly measure these touch-sensitive and complex…
Masashi Sato
In the manufacturing industry, it is ideal to ensure high manufacturing accuracy without the need for inspection. In fact, however, the inspection and the measurement processes are performed for various reasons, such as to secure the product traceability, to visualize the quality of production,…
GE has introduced a metrology package for highly efficient, extremely precise 3D metrology performed with computed tomography (CT). The company states the enormous efficiency benefits, the use of industrial CT for nondestructive failure and structure analysis, and 3D metrology (especially for…
Ron Rode
The upcoming 2015 Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) will be held “beachside” this year in Hollywood, Florida, from July 20–24. Not only will you be able to swim in the beautiful Atlantic Ocean just steps away from the hotel, you will also be able to “swim” your way through the vast,…
Ron Rode
Several years back, I was asked this question: Does measurement software have the ability to determine scale without the use of scale bars? On numerous occasions in a variety of ambient conditions, I have tested and compared the results of initially setting up a system using temperature/material…
Hubert Meagher
Most manufacturing facilities have to manage the seemingly never-ending cycle of having to keep costs down while increasing production levels and maintaining high quality standards. Often, this ongoing struggle includes a reduction in staff and resources, and a lower-than-ever budget for…
The reconstruction of scenes from multiple images or video streams has become an essential component in many modern applications. Many fields, including robotics, surveillance, and virtual reality, employ systems to reconstruct a 3D representation of an environment in order to accomplish specific…
Steinbichler
Ford Motor Co.’s Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory (NDE) in Livonia, Michigan, is a leading facility for quality test inspection and failure analysis of automotive components. Historically, many of the automaker’s manufacturing programs depended heavily on coordinate measuring machines (CMMs)…
The use of optical 3D shape measurement devices are rapidly gaining importance, allowing the reconstruction of real 3D objects efficiently. The 3D shape and texture can be obtained from stereo images acquired with a freely moving camera. This approach measures the image displacement from the…
Cathy Hayat
Finance professional Joe Fabiani never imagined his love of exotic cars would develop into a full-time career. It began when he searched for an improved exhaust for his Porsche 993 but was at a loss to find one that conformed to the specifications he had in mind. Frustration with OEM stock…
Ron Rode
“So what’s the weather gonna do today?” I am sure that we have all been asked that after answering the first question (about what we do for a living) with: “Metrology.”
Metrology or meteorology? Both are studies of a particular science but are two words that are easily mistaken or misinterpreted…
NASA
Thanks to NASA’s Kepler and Spitzer Space Telescopes, scientists have made the most precise measurement ever of the radius of a planet outside our solar system. The size of the exoplanet, dubbed Kepler-93b, is now known to an uncertainty of just 74 miles (119 km) on either side of the planetary…
Barry Young
What do you do when 20 ultra-rare violins from the 1730s show up in town, ready to be measured? Further, what exactly would you want to learn from these measurements? For many of us, the first thing that jumps to mind is, “Why do these particular instruments sound so much better than others of…
Nikon Metrology Inc.
Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Istanbul, TOFAS (Türk Otomobil Fabrikası A.S.) manufactures cars, taxis, and vans in Turkey for international sale. Products are offered under several brands, including Fiat (which jointly owns the company), Peugeot, Citroen, and Opel. The TOFAS-built Fiat…
New River Kinematics
The Oasis of the Seas is the largest passenger ship in the world with a gross tonnage of 225,282 and room for more than 5,400 passengers. Not surprising, it creates a huge bow wave when sailing the seas and encounters waves of more than 60 ft when crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
When wave action…
Belinda Jones
The Certification Committee of the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) has been laser-locked on its target to deliver its first Level Two Certification, a device-specific performance assessment for users of portable coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Those efforts will come to fruition at this…
Ron Hicks
With the 30th anniversary of the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) around the corner, I am happy to celebrate World Metrology Week with you. This year’s conference will be held in North Charleston, South Carolina, from July 21–25, 2014. Charleston is the oldest and second-largest city…
Laser trackers and the software that controls them have revolutionized the way metrology data have been taken. With software and hardware advances have come new and better ways to take measurements. One of these advances in metrology software is the ability to measure the angle normal to a mirrored…
Automated Precision Inc.
Hexapods: The word sounds alien, but we see them every day. A hexapod (“hexa” is the Greek word for six; “pod” is Greek for foot) is simply a spatial motion machine with six driving elements. They can be seen at fairgrounds, as the motor for carnival rides, or on flight simulators for pilot…
John Palmateer
This article estimates the uncertainty for measuring a tool tip using dual Leica T-Mac sensors set up on opposite sides of an NC machine head and measured with tracking interferometers at opposite ends of a machine bed. Performance testing compares the estimated and measured uncertainties and…
NIST
They spanned 140 degrees of latitude—from Canada to Chile—and varied widely in age and experience. But their goal was the same: To improve their metrological capabilities for the benefit of their home countries and the Western Hemisphere.
For five extremely full days during the last week of…
Ron Hicks
Welcome to the winter edition of CMSC World. I want to touch on one of our biggest accomplishments of 2013—the Level-One Certification Program for Portable 3D Metrology. This program was requested and supported by many CMSC members. With your help and the tireless work of the Coordinate Metrology…
Creaform Inc.
Innovative technologies, mobility, and flexibility in measurement technology are playing a major role for more and more companies. In addition to fixed coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) or traditional measurement arms, optical systems are increasingly becoming established in measurement…
Ron Hicks
As we all look forward to 2014, I ask you to keep the new CMS certification program in mind, whether you are a beginner or veteran metrologist. Our certification committee is working hard to build a program that is beneficial to our membership, as well as future members of our organization.
This…
Untitled Document
Although 80 percent of Accurex’s business lies in the industrial application of precision metrology and scanning, the company always enjoys the occasional cultural heritage project. When the Accurex team was called upon to scan the Sphinx of Hatshepsut, it was ready for the…
The NOvA (NuMI off-axis νe appearance) experiment is looking to answer fundamental questions about neutrinos and the role they play in the universe. NOvA will use two detectors, a near detector located underground at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois, and a far detector located 810 km from Fermilab…
Creaform Inc.
Creaform Inc., developer of the Handyscan 3D laser scanner, was recently acquired for approximately $120 million by AMETEK Inc., a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electro-mechanical devices.
Creaform was formed in 2002 in Lévis, Québec, Canada, near Québec City. In 2005, the…
Ron Hicks
For the Coordinate Metrology Society, CMSC 2013 will be recognized as a landmark year in its quest to provide state-of-the-art information and best practices to the metrology industry. Twenty-seven technical presentations were delivered at this conference, and I could not be more impressed with the…
Erik Klaas, Arun Chhabra, Pia Böttcher
This article is about how augmented reality (AR) techniques can change the way we use measurement equipment. Three applications are presented to demonstrate how much easier, faster, and more intuitive an inspection task gets through gesture control (GC) and presenting information on the inspected…
Belinda Jones
Location, location, location! Last month, a diverse assortment of metrologists, scientists, engineers, quality control specialists, manufacturers, educators, and students streamed into the 2013 Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC). This annual event was staged at the beautiful Sheraton…
Robb McIvor
Countdowns are usually reserved for events of significant importance, like the classic T minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ignition, heard so many times from Cape Canaveral. Or a countdown to a momentous occasion like a wedding or a long-awaited product launch.
At the time of this writing, another countdown…
Belinda Jones
During this week’s World Metrology Day festivities, it is fitting to highlight the Coordinate Metrology Society’s longstanding dedication to education and the advancement of the field of 3D portable metrology. Each year, their Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference is held in a different city in…
Robert P. Elliott
Laser trackers and the software that control them have revolutionized the way metrology data has been taken over the last 20 years. With software and hardware advances, taking measurements has become more efficient and accurate.
One of these advances in metrology software is the ability to measure…
ECM Global Measurement Solutions
ECM Global Measurement Solutions (ECM) of Topsfield, Massachusetts is working with ProTom International (ProTom) of Flower Mound, Texas, to install a state-of-the-art proton therapy treatment center in Flint, Michigan, for McLaren Healthcare. This is the first in a series of proton therapy centers…
Robb McIvor
Being that this is Valentine’s Day, I can think of no better time and place to express my undying love—for the technical presentations that are offered each year at the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference.
CMSC 2013, which is being held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina July 22–26,…
Pravesh Mathur
To demonstrate that a typical spacecraft reflector is designed and manufactured according to specifications and caters to postulated performances, a detailed testing and verification campaign must be conducted. 3D metrology plays an important role in this process.
Conventional coordinate measuring…
Belinda Jones
Two major acquisitions were announced in early January 2013, and it is not surprising that both companies were software developers and long-time players in the industrial measurement sector.
3D Systems announced it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Geomagic Inc. This acquisition is…
Belinda Jones
The CMS Certification Committee broke new ground this year during the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference in July 2012. Attendees, both experts and novices, were encouraged to test their general knowledge of portable 3D metrology and contribute to the success of the first, level-one personnel…
Robb McIvor
The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) sends its support to our members and vendors who were affected by super storm Sandy. Families and businesses will need aid and support during the coming months to put their lives back together. You can help by donating money to the American Red Cross at www.…
Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
Few areas of research are as dependent on 3D measurement technology in the setup of its major experiments as fusion plasma physics. Highly developed laser trackers, as well as portable scanning and photogrammetry systems, have opened up a world of possibilities for improving fusion research…
Paul S. Banks
Most existing 3D capture technologies can’t be used to record objects in motion, and they usually require a stationary platform for operation. Some technologies can record 3D data at video rates (e.g., flash LADAR), but their spatial and range resolution are severely limited.
TetraVue, a provider…
The main plant of Hitachi Engineering and Services (HES) has produced pipe spools for large scale plants. These pipe spools have complicated shapes and are made by various types of materials. In the process of these pipe spools fabrication, high accuracy and high throughput are required. Especially…
Robb McIvor
CMSC 2012 is now “in the books,” and it was a smashing success at a great venue in New Orleans. Every year, the conference is filled with up-close looks at the latest portable coordinate metrology technologies, unparalleled networking opportunities and social events, and fantastic white paper…
NDI
Northern Digital Inc. (NDI), a provider of optical and electromagnetic measurement systems for medical and industrial applications, has announced that its parent company, Roper Industries Inc., has acquired Ascension Technology Corp., an industry leader in medical electromagnetic tracking.…
NIST
A new report by a national committee of U.S. industry and university leaders details 16 recommendations “aimed at reinventing manufacturing in a way that ensures U.S. competitiveness, feeds into the nation’s innovation economy, and invigorates the domestic manufacturing base.”
The report was…
Mike Richman
In recent weeks, you have likely heard a lot of chatter about various conventions, conferences, trade shows, and expos. (A rose by any other name....) If you’re sitting there thinking, “Yeah, and you’re one of the chatterboxes,” I’ll respond, “Guilty as charged.” We have frequently discussed trade…
Chuck Pfeffer
Remember when you got your first bicycle? You probably started riding it with training wheels. Soon enough the training wheels came off, and then you eventually went looking for hills and jumps. At some point, as you became better, you took your hands off the handle bars. There was a liberating…
Geomagic
Geomagic, a developer and global provider of 3-D software for capturing, creating, and inspecting digital models of physical objects, has acquired Sensable Technology Inc.’s 3-D design and haptics businesses. Sensable Technology, of Wilmington, Massachusetts, is a leading developer of volumetric…
API Services
This past month API Services and New River Kinematics teamed up for a historic preservation project at St. Luke’s Church and Museum in Smithfield, Virginia. Together, they provided a full building scan and collected point cloud data to keep records for the church and its ongoing restoration.
For…
Belinda Jones
When it comes to metrology, particularly as it applies to portable 3-D applications, no organization is more committed to this discipline than the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS). Each year, the CMS welcomes abstracts for presentations and technical papers for its annual Coordinate Metrology…
William Fetter
As Atlantis touched down for the final time at the Kennedy Space Center, it marked the poignant end of the Space Shuttle program. However, the precious cargo it left behind at the International Space Station could lead the way to a new wave of future missions. The first Robotic Refueling Mission, a…
Philip Hewitt
Aircraft manufacturing is international, with a complex supply chain dividing work among numerous companies around the world. Globalized manufacturing and outsourcing brings challenges and opportunities for suppliers.
Technical challenges include improving the quality of complex components with…
Chuck Pfeffer
“That’s so 27 seconds ago.” My daughter and I recently heard this catch phrase on a television commercial. We had a good laugh because there was some truth to it. We are living in a world of real-time updates, and it does not stop at news and social media. It extends to all facets of our lives.
In…
Chuck Pfeffer
It was a dark and stormy evening as the graveyard shift started at Frankenstein’s Precision Parts. Tonight was the night: All of the parts for the Reanimation order were ready for inspection. The contracted inspector was due at midnight.
Just as the clock struck 12, a bolt of lightning…
Belinda Jones
The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) has released the long-awaited results of its large-scale, interactive measurement study conducted during the 2011 Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC), which was held July 25–29 in Phoenix. The 58-page report, “How Behavior Impacts Your…
Donald Jasurda
Manufacturers face many obstacles across the life cycle of delivering a product to market.
They often find themselves:
• Spending a lot of time reworking or repairing parts
• With parts that fail inspection, but fit and function properly when assembled
• With parts that pass…
The purpose of this article is to discuss automated analysis and report generation of
key characteristics measurement data. Key
characteristics (KCs) are those features of a
part whose measurements must be kept to
the nominal values through process control
to minimize the "Taguchi Loss…
The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Center for Neutron Research is expanding the number of beamlines for research purposes from seven to 11 beams. The metrology tasks required to perform the installation of the new beamlines include the design and installation of a high-…
The buzz surrounding the Coordinate Metrology Society’s (CMS) efforts to bring an industry-recognized certification to the profession of portable 3-D metrology was nearly as prevalent as the buzz about the temperature at this year’s Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) in Phoenix. The…
The U.S. Department of Labor reported 13.9 million unemployed Americans in July 2011, and even the creation of 117,000 jobs last month didn’t put a dent in the 9.1-percent unemployment rate. In fact, there has been little change in the unemployment rate since December 2010. So why am I repeating…
Mike Richman
From the minute I arrived on site, I knew that this would be a Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference unlike any other. First of all, it was in Phoenix… in July. So, the 100-plus-degree temperature wasn’t unexpected; the humidity, on the other hand, was a bit of a surprise. The evening preceding…
Creaform Inc.
A patient had to undergo the surgical ablation of most of her nose because of a skin cancer that had attacked her right nasal septum.
Following the surgery, a cicatrization period had to be observed before a rhinoplasty was even considered. If no action was taken meanwhile, the patient was at…
The need for learning and certification of knowledge in portable coordinate measurement and large-volume metrology has been recognized by professional organizations such as the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) and major industrial end-users. During the past year, the United Kingdom’s National…
Belinda Jones
If you think the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) is a run-of-the-mill conference, be prepared to have those preconceived notions shattered. There is a comfortable grassroots feel to this five-day event. Experts and novices alike talk metrology shop. Ideas and theories abound.…
Manufacturing speed and innovative designs are two crucial issues affecting whether or not a manufacturer can lead the mobile telephone market. Therefore, mobile phone manufacturers have put considerable efforts into accelerating the product development process, including the introduction of 3-D…
Talion Edwards
R
egardless of the economic indicators discussed on the nightly network news, it appears from our vantage point that the manufacturing segment is coming back. If we back up two years, all of us in the large-volume measurement industry saw the effect of declining markets. Large manufacturers…
The purpose of this article is to present the planning of a case study performed in the field of geometrical and dimensional measurement and controllability planning (GMCP, previously abbreviated GICP). The case study is carried out at the Swedish automotive company Scania CV. This article presents…
InnovMetric Software
Aerodynamic Trailer Systems Ltd. (ATS) of Auburn, Ohio, has developed a new product that fits on commercial trailer doors to provide a more aerodynamic shape to the rear of the trailer. The object is a “Green Technology” to reduce emissions by improving fuel efficiency of over-the-road trucks. The…
Noncontact measurement is the fastest growing segment in the metrology world, with new methods and technologies being introduced every year. As with all new solutions, end users want to know how to evaluate the performance of these new products, and for that they turn to standards organizations.…
AICON 3D Systems
Uwira Oy , based in the West-Finnish harbor town of Vaasa, is part of the Leinolat Group, a corporation of six companies. Since 1993, the company has successfully manufactured welding products for the energy, shipbuilding, and machine-building sectors. One of Uwira’s special fields is the…
Talion Edwards
The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has been invaluable to the U.S. measurement industry by developing calibration techniques for equipment used for large volume portable metrology. The United Kingdom’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has made a further commitment to…
Talion Edwards
The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has been invaluable to the U.S. measurement industry by developing calibration techniques for equipment used for large volume portable metrology. The U.K.'s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has made a further commitment to address the…
On behalf of the Coordinate Metrology Society Executive Committee,
I would like to thank each of you for contributing to the 2010 Coordinate Measurement Systems Conference. Each member of the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) is responsible for adding to the exchange of technical ideas, concepts…
Automated Precision Inc.
Martin Säger, survey engineer at Wolz Nautic: The measurement of the templates clearly saved time.
Brothers Michael and Andreas Wolz manufactured 5,000 teak boat decks last year, a hand-crafted product with high requirements for quality. Their business, Wolz Nautic,…
The acronym MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) has long been part of the aerospace vernacular. But only recently have service providers adopted automated tools to streamline the upfront process of capturing and digitally reconstructing physical parts that require repairs or redesign.
The…
At the Harris Corp. (Government Communications Systems Division—GCSD), solid carbon-fiber and aluminum-shaped reflector dishes are manufactured to support military ground, sea, and air communications. These reflectors range in size from 1 to 13 m. To meet performance requirements, the surface…
Michael Raphael
There are many reasons why firms need to model the exterior contour of existing aircraft outer mold lines (OML). Most aircraft flying today were not designed in a modern 3-D CAD system. Even with a current 3-D digital design, the actual as-built contour deviates from the intended shape, at least…
Ron Rode
Yes, it’s time to get your game on—metrology game, that is. I invite you to join us in Reno, Nevada, where the Coordinate Metrology Society is in the final preparations for its 26th annual Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC). This year’s conference, sure to be a landmark event, will be…
Hiram Powers (1805–1873) is considered one the America’s great neoclassical sculptors. His works were popular in his time and remain so today. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) has one of the most comprehensive collections of Powers’ work featuring major sculptures in marble, as well as…
Located near Montreal, Canada, the Nova Bus manufacturing team was routinely building many hundreds of complete bus frames per year. Production grew as new models were introduced. The addition of a new diesel electric hybrid design necessitated a re-examination of the quality inspection…
Dave Maxham
A joint project of NCMS called Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT), partnering Automated Precision, Boeing, Siemens and Mag Cincinnati, has pioneered an innovative process and established new methodology in volumetric error compensation for large machine tools. Volumetric error…
Bob Cramblitt
Although he’s not one for clichés, Rus Emerick, process improvement specialist at Schneider-Electric, endorses this one: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
This concept, which dates back to Aristotle, is at the core of an approach called functional analysis that has…
Ron Rode
As “Old Man Winter” continues to toss his wrath at many of us, it is quite easy to turn our thoughts toward warmer, sunnier places. One of those locations we are all starting to think about is Reno, Nevada, the location for the 2010 Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) hosted by the…
(ISM: Tempe, AZ) -- The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) will present the 95th Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit April 25–28 in San Diego, California. The event includes four days of supply management professional development, training, and networking…
On behalf of the entire CMS Executive Committee, I would like to wish everyone an upcoming happy and joyous Holiday season. This is always a busy time of year with extra planning, shopping and travels and one sometimes wonders how everything gets accomplished. I am going to add one more item to…
Belinda Jones
It is no coincidence that Astronics-Luminescent Systems Inc. (LSI) is a prominent supplier of aerospace lighting systems in three aircraft markets: commercial transport, military and business jets. For nearly a decade, Astronics has focused on expanding their product line to become a major…
In partnership with Metris UK, in this article we will discuss the utilization of modeling and simulation methods in the development of a revolutionary 7-axis Robot CMM Arm (RCA). An offline virtual model is described, facilitating pre-emptive collision avoidance and assessment of optimal…
Mobile 3-D-measurement technique ProCam for bus manufacturing
A vast number of varieties, multiple special customer requirements and a low level of automation are significant for the manufacturing of passenger busses. An automated control of individual parts and complete vehicles as part of the…
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…
T
his article describes a new solution for precise automated digitalization of large objects. The practical application is carried out with the help of a standard (imprecise) industrial robot, a near range on-line photogrammetric system and a 3-D White Light Scanner. The tracking system…
Dirk Dusharme @ Quality Digest
Investing in capital equipment always involves an analysis of the return on investment (ROI), but never as much as during a recession. The question this year is often, "Our company is already tightening its belt, is this equipment going to help us save a lot of money in a relatively short time…
SURVICE Metrology was recently awarded a U.S. government research grant to improve upon the current methods used to measure and repair damage to composite materials associated with next-generation aircraft. The problem is that current ways of measuring and repairing damage (as a result of…
CMSC
Technology is changing the face of aerospace manufacturing and quality assurance. No place is that change more welcome and dramatic than at Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. in Hawthorne, California.
According to Paul Evans, quality assurance lead, changes in processes and systems at his…
Robert Clem
Hello readers, and welcome to the latest issue of CMSC World, which is packed with the latest news and features in the metrology arena.
Registration for CMSC 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky, is now open! As most of you know, this year is an historical landmark for the CMSC. In two months, the…
The Infrared GPS system (iGPS) from Metris Inc. can be used to locate and track any point in a rugged indoor environment precisely and accurately. It was used by the Systems, Controls, and Components Research division at Caterpillar Inc., to calibrate the various sensors on a 420 E-series backhoe…
Robert Clem
Hello readers! 2009 brings CMSC into its 25th year. CMSC has grown from a small gathering of users and developers who had a common problem to solve—the standardization of theodolite targets. Today, CMSC has morphed from a conference-based organization into a society whose focus is on the promotion…
Olkiluoto, the world’s largest and most modern nuclear power station, with an output of 1.600 Mwatts, relies on German technology. During the final assembly of turbine manufacturing at Siemens, blades are installed to the rotor and measured in the housing. This is a balancing act between optimal…
Robert Clem
Greetings from your new Chairperson! It’s my pleasure to lead the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) into a new year. 2009 is an exciting time for CMS, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of our annual conference, the Coordinate Metrology Society Conference, better known as CMSC. This…
In just the past two years, the functionality of portable computer-aided metrology system (CAMS) in harsh factory environments has improved a great deal. A few examples of today’s improved instrumentation/measurement technology are laser trackers, digital photogrammetry systems, laser radars,…
CMSC
As the world leader in armored prestige vehicles, CARAT-Duchatelet counts sheiks, kings, presidents, CEOs, and other wealthy VIPs among its customers. Before stretching and armoring luxury vehicles, CARAT-Duchatelet engineers remove seats and trim, and scan the entire vehicle body using Metris K-…
CMSC
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), a $1.4 billion research facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is a feat of precision engineering, execution, and control. Each component of the SNS machine requires exactness in location and assembly only achieved through the use of laser tracking…
In 2007, all three Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teams qualified for the Chase for NASCAR’s Nextel Cup. On top of this formidable accomplishment, RCR’s top race car drivers did great: Kevin Harvick won the famous Daytona 500, Jeff Burton won in Texas, and Clint Bowyer won in New Hampshire and…
CMSC
The 24th Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference convened at the Embassy Suites in Concord, North Carolina, from July 21-25, 2008. With a record number of attendees, this year’s conference offered a multifaceted program consisting of a sold-out exhibition hall with 54 exhibitors, a workshop,…
Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are a basic requirement for any industrial manufacturing facility conforming to the specifications of drawings and standards. Accuracy needs to be observed, verified, and certified with respect to a comprehensive set of standardization rules. Highly precise…
CMSC
The Car of Tomorrow, a new racecar style for NASCAR’s NEXTEL Cup Series, made its debut in March 2007 with much fanfare. Seven years in the making, NASCAR’s research and development center rolled up its shirtsleeves and conceptualized their dream template. Their ideal racecar would implement the…
Rina Molari-Korgel
The Coordinate Metrology Society is pleased to post a diverse but technically packed week of presentations and activities for CMSC 2008. This year’s record number of 46 submitted abstracts has resulted in an exciting lineup for you, our attendees.The technical agenda commences with Jon Cowart…
FARO
At rare moments, an idea comes along that makes people rethink how jobs are done from that point on. The engineers at Falk PLI Engineering & Surveying have hit on such an idea for one of the most basic concepts of all: measuring.
The larger-than-life nature of steelmaking would seem to belie…
With the ever-growing demands of energy, the demands on high value-added vessels, such as container vessels, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, and crude oil carriers, have skyrocketed in recent years. As of 2006, shipbuilding orders received by South Korean shipbuilders accounted for 42…
Rina Molari-Korgel
Welcome to the second issue of CMSC World—the place to catch up on the latest happenings in portable 3-D metrology and imaging. This is the official newsletter of the Coordinate Metrology Society, and once again we are gearing up for our Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference—“the” conference…
Neven Jeremi
Dirk Noffke, a metrology technician at DaimlerChrysler Bremen, inspects the dimensional accuracy of the left fender on a Mercedes SLK body-in-white. The comparison between the actual and CAD data is displayed in real time on an application PC running the PolyWorks…
Belinda Jones
The 23rd Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference convened at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, July 16-20, 2007. The CMSC Society hosts this gathering each year. The organization is comprised of 3-D measurement technology professionals, service providers, and original equipment…
Rina Molari-Korgel
The CMSC is proud to sponsor this inaugural issue of CMSC World, an electronic information guide for users of industrial, high-precision, 3-D measurement technology. This quarterly e-newsletter will deliver the latest metrology industry news, best practices, new techniques, product and personnel…
