In this third post, we will discuss how the measurement cost affects the total production cost as well as how to correctly calculate the measurement cost to support a decision making for machine selection so that we can lower the total production cost.

Metrology has been commonly seen as “cost-centre”. In this first post in the topic of “productive metrology” that is metrology as “profit-centre”, we will start by discussing the philosophical goal of metrology to gain know-how or wisdom.

Rehearsal method is a method to separate combined or coupled errors into separated individual error elements. By separating the combined errors into individual errors, the error quantification of an instrument can be performed without a calibrated artefact and/or calibration instrument.

The mathematical model of a measuring instrument is important for building the error compensation system for the instrument.

Error compensation is an important process to produce an accurate measuring instrument. Any measuring instruments, although inherently constituted by accurate and precise components, always have some degree of error.

X-Ray computerised tomography (X-ray CT) has the ability to non-destructively measure internal features of a part that is made of different materials including metals and non-metals.

In this post, practical case studies of algorithm implementations for automatic geometrical perpendicularity and cutting tool measurements are presented.

Focus variation microscopy (FVM) is an optical coordinate measuring machine (CMM) that is able to measure both micro-scale part geometry and areal surface texture. An FVM machine can have an up to 5-axis motion system.

Length or distance measurement with a laser interferometer has an important application in various engineering and scientific fields.

Point auto-focus (PAI) optical measuring instrument works based on the principle of following the focus position of a microscope objective lens. This auto-focus mechanism follows the height of the surface of a measured object.

Performance verification and measurement uncertainty estimation of an optical coordinate measuring machine (optical-CMM) are very important aspects assuring that the optical-CMM works within its specification and its measurement results are traceable to the definition of metre.

Optical coordinate measuring machines (Optical-CMM) have advantages over tactile (contact) CMMs, such as more part-feature accessibility, no surface damaging-risk and large surface points capture in relatively a short period of time (compared to tactile CMMs).

The mathematical model of CMM measurements is very complex to reconstruct. ISO 15530-4 presents a method to estimate CMM measurement uncertainty without the need of the mathematical model of CMM measurements.