Basics of Coordinate Metrology
Unit 7: Structure of Coordinate Measuring Machines- Controller

Step 9 of 12
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The controller of a coordinate measuring machine must fulfill many functions, which can be summarized under the headings axis control, object probing, programming, control of the measuring run, data acquisition and evaluation.

In terms of control technology equipment, mainly two automation stages have become accepted in industrial use:
manually operated coordinate measuring machine with computer-assisted measurement data evaluation and reporting.
CNC-controlled coordinate measuring machine with the option of programming away from the CMM and measurement data feedback.
  
Due to the fact that high flexibility and a high degree of automation are desired, CNC coordinate measuring machines are used more and more frequently. The control of the CMM and the processing of the obtained data are carried out by computers.

Controller of a coordinate measuring machine, Zeiss
Controller of the coordinate measuring machine Brown & Sharpe FDG2000