Abstract: A touch probe for sensing the position of a surface, having a housing and a moving assembly supported within the housing and including a flexible reflective element, a spacer element, and a semitransparent element, wherein a reflective surface of the flexible reflective element and a surface of the semitransparent element are separated by the spacer element, and a stylus connected to the flexible reflective element. Movement of the stylus responsive to a force causes the flexible reflective element to flex and change distances between points on the reflective surface and on the surface of the semitransparent element. Coherent light incident upon the semitransparent element and directed towards the reflective surface creates interference fringes dependent upon separation distances between the reflective surface and the surface of the semitransparent element. A detector senses changes in the interference fringes patterns in response to flexing of the flexible element.

Abstract: A recess or “pocket” is formed in at least one leg of a moving bridge assembly of a coordinate measuring machine, and in a particular embodiment in a primary leg of a moving bridge assembly, to permit a quill to move farther in the X direction to an end of a planar base surface of the coordinate measuring machine adjacent the leg without interfering with the leg. The recess formed in the leg of the moving bridge assembly permits coordinate measurements of a part whose width covers the full area of the planar surface of the base, without necessarily adding significant cost or increasing the footprint of the measurement system.

Abstract: A touch probe for sensing the position of a surface, having a housing and a moving assembly supported within the housing and including a flexible reflective element, a spacer element, and a semitransparent element, wherein a reflective surface of the flexible reflective element and a surface of the semitransparent element opposing the reflective surface are separated by the spacer element, and a stylus connected to the flexible reflective element. The moving assembly and stylus are configured such that movement of the stylus responsive to a force on the stylus causes the flexible reflective element to flex and change distances between points on the reflective surface of the flexible reflective element and on the opposing surface of the semitransparent element.

Abstract: A recess or “pocket” is formed in at least one leg of a moving bridge assembly of a coordinate measuring machine, and in a particular embodiment in a primary leg of a moving bridge assembly, to permit a quill to move farther in the X direction to an end of a planar base surface of the coordinate measuring machine adjacent the leg without interfering with the leg. The recess formed in the leg of the moving bridge assembly permits coordinate measurements of a part whose width covers the full area of the planar surface of the base, without necessarily adding significant cost or increasing the footprint of the measurement system.

Abstract: A measuring machine provides a base provided with a measurement plane and first guide means defining a first longitudinal axis with respect to the measurement plane itself, a first portal-type carriage slidable along such first guide means and provided with second guide means defining a second axis extending transversely with respect to the measurement plane, a second carriage movable on such second guide means and provided with third guide means defining a third axis orthogonal to the measurement plane, a measurement head provided with a feeler carried by the second carriage and movable with respect to it along the axis by hand grip means fixed to the second carriage and provided with at least one actuating element for manual control of the translation of the measurement head and transmission means for coupling the actuation element to the measurement head.