Factors which influence CMM touch trigger probe performance

Since the introduction of Go-ordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs), probe systems have been a matter of concern with regard to machine's error sources. Initially CMMs used land sometimes still use) solid probes, but for the last 20 years they have extensively employed touch trigger probes. Using either probe type, CMM measurement results are affected by probing errors. This paper presents some results from probe performance verification, i.e. results from tests on a kinematic-resistive touch trigger probe to quantify its accuracy. The paper also emphasizes sources of errors which affect probe performance as well as probe repeatability. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.