Abstract: The invention is directed to a collision protective arrangement for a measuring arm of a coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece. The measuring arm has a surface facing toward the workpiece. The collision protective arrangement includes a part for covering and protecting the surface; and, a circuit switchable between a first electrical state wherein no contact is present between the part and the workpiece and a second electrical state indicative of a collision between the workpiece and the part. The surface of the measuring arm and the part conjointly define an interface and the circuit includes a plurality of resiliently-biased contact pins and contacts mounted at the interface to coact to switch the circuit into the second electrical state when the collision takes place.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a probe head of a coordinate measuring apparatus for conducting measurements on a workpiece. The probe head has a first longitudinal axis and has a probe pin mounted on the probe head. The probe pin has a second longitudinal axis defining an angle with the first longitudinal axis. A joint-free, rigidly-configured adjusting device adjusts this angle when the probe pin is not in contact with the workpiece.

Abstract: A load-compensating gas bearing which exhibits high total rigidity over a large range of loads. The bearing consists of a deformable disk (3) that is supported by, but is not fixed to, a circular support (6) that is rigidly mounted to a base element connected with the machine part (1) being supported by the bearing. The disk (3) is held and centered only by a cylindrical insert (5) that is also used to supply the supporting gas to the bearing span. The bearing side of the deformable disk is provided with a hard plastic coating for protection in the event the gas supply is discontinued; and in one preferred embodiment, the circular support (6) is mounted to a base element that is integral with the machine part being supported.