Abstract: The four components of the deviations of a rotary table from an ideal axis of rotation can be obtained by a single measuring method wherein a test body (4) having a plurality of well-defined measurement points is placed on the rotary table (1) and the positions of said measuring points are then determined by means of a coordinate-measuring instrument (3), for each of various angular positions of the rotary table, there being thus a set of ascertained measurement-point coordinates for each of the angular positions of the rotary table. From the sets of measurement-point coordinates, the travel deviations f.sub.a, f.sub.r and f.sub.t of the axis of rotation, and the angle-position deviation p.sub.w are then determined by calculation.

Abstract: A "scanning" work-contact probe is deflectable with respect to a measuring-machine head which is driven by the three-coordinate drive system of the measuring machine. The arrangement is such that the probe continuously tracks (scans) a desired profile of a workpiece and, in doing so, measured probe increments (decrements) of deflection with respect to the head are so mathematically combined with head-position data that, in the further circumstance of holding path-velocity magnitude .vertline.V.sub.des. .vertline. of the measuring machine to a constant value, the orientation of the probe head with respect to the locally contacted slope of the workpiece can also be a constant.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a multi-coordinate measuring machine with interferometric detection of the path of displacement in each of the measurement axes.Each measurement axis is provided with at least one interferometer head which consists of a beam splitter, reference mirror and photoelectric detector. The interferometer heads are supplied by a monomode fiber from a single stationary laser generator.