Calibration Delivery Options
On-Site CMM Calibration
Field-service calibration performed at the customer facility using portable artifact sets (swift-check gauge, ball plate, ball-and-cone artifact, end bar, length gauge blocks, KOBA step gauge, reference sphere).
Laboratory CMM Calibration
In-lab calibration in a temperature-controlled environment using gauge blocks, step gauge, ball plate, ball bar, reference sphere, and laser interferometer.
Standards Followed
ISO 10360-2 CMM Calibration
Length-measurement performance test (size and length error E0, EL, repeatability R0) using step gauge, ISO 3650 gauge blocks, ball bar, and laser interferometer; the headline acceptance test for bridge and gantry CMMs.
ISO 10360-5 CMM Calibration
Probing performance test (form and size error) using a 10-50 mm calibrated test sphere; companion test to ISO 10360-2.
ASME B89.4.1 CMM Calibration
Legacy US performance-evaluation standard for CMMs (now superseded by B89.4.10360.2). Artifacts: ball bar, reference sphere, step gauge.
ASME B89 CMM Calibration
ASME B89 standards family covering CMMs and adjacent dimensional metrology: B89.4.10360.2 (CMM performance), B89.4.19 (laser trackers, adjacent context only), B89.4.22 (articulated arms), and B89.7.x (traceability and uncertainty).
CMM Types Calibrated
Bridge CMM Calibration
Moveable-bridge and moveable-table / fixed-bridge configurations - the most common CMM topology across general manufacturing and quality labs.
Gantry CMM Calibration
Large-envelope gantry machines used for aerospace and automotive body-in-white inspection; laser-interferometer and ball-bar setups typical for large measurement volumes.
Horizontal Arm CMM Calibration
Plate-mounted, runway-mounted single-arm, and runway-mounted dual-arm horizontal-arm CMMs typical of automotive body checking.
Articulated Arm CMM Calibration
6-axis and 7-axis (scanning wrist) portable articulated arms, evaluated per ASME B89.4.22 and ISO 10360-12:2016. Includes hard-probe and laser-scanning-probe configurations.
Portable Arm CMM Calibration
Industry synonym for articulated arm; same scope and standards as the articulated arm entry above.
FARO Arm CMM Calibration
FARO Quantum X, Quantum Max, E Max, M Max, S 8-Axis, and Gage Max portable arms.
Romer Arm CMM Calibration
Romer (legacy brand for the Hexagon articulated arm line) - Absolute Arm 7-Axis, 6-Axis, Compact, and 83/85/87 Series.
Hexagon Absolute Arm CMM Calibration
Current product naming for the Romer line - Absolute Arm 7-Axis, 6-Axis, Compact, and 83/85/87 Series. Same family as Romer entries above.
Operating Modes Supported
Manual CMM Calibration
Hand-driven operation. ISO 10360 / ASME B89 acceptance criteria are identical to direct-computer-control machines.
DCC CMM Calibration
Direct computer control - the dominant operation mode for modern bridge, gantry, and horizontal-arm CMMs and the implicit default in most calibration content.
Renishaw UCC Controller CMM Calibration
Calibration of CMMs running Renishaw UCC controllers (T5, S3, T3 PLUS, T3-2, BI, MMI-2, UCClite-2, UCC2-2). Controller variant does not change the underlying calibration deliverable.
When To Recalibrate
Annual CMM Calibration
Default cadence covering the ISO 10360-2 (MPE_E) and ISO 10360-5 (MPE_P) acceptance and reverification cycle, including the 5-block MPE_E gauge-block verification and reference-test-sphere probing test.
Post-Relocation CMM Calibration
Triggered when a CMM is moved to a new facility or has experienced impact. Full ISO 10360 acceptance and reverification artifact set is re-deployed (step gauge, length bar, ball plate, hole plate, laser interferometer).
Performance Parameters Verified
CMM Volumetric Accuracy Calibration
Headline output of an ISO 10360-2 calibration. Artifact set includes hole plate, ball-bar / Invar ball bar, QuikChek, ball plate, calibrated gauge blocks, and laser interferometer.
CMM Probe Performance Calibration
ISO 10360-5 acceptance and reverification using 125-point reference-sphere probing for single-stylus, multi-stylus star, articulating, and stylus / probe-changer configurations across discrete and scanning probes.
21-Parameter CMM Error Mapping Calibration
Characterizes the 21 parametric errors (3 linear positioning, 6 straightness, 9 angular pitch / yaw / roll, 3 squareness) using laser interferometer, ball plate, ball-and-cone artifact, end / length bar, gauge blocks, KOBA step gauge, and swift-check gauge.
Tactile Sensor CMM Calibration
Probe qualification for touch-trigger kinematic, analog continuous-contact scanning, strain-gauge, piezoelectric, and LVDT sensors against a calibrated masterball per ISO 10360-5.
Optical CMM Calibration
Non-contact probe qualification - laser triangulation single-point, laser-line scanning, white-light scanning, vision / CCD imaging, capacitive optical, and optoelectronic sensors - per ISO 10360-7 (imaging) and ISO 10360-8 (optical distance sensors).
Calibration Methods And Tools
Volumetric Ball Bar CMM Calibration
Uncalibrated and calibrated / traceable archival ball bars, length-standard ball bars, and Renishaw QC20 telescoping ballbars; 20-position volumetric performance test.
Laser Interferometer CMM Calibration
Heterodyne, homodyne, multi-axis 6-DOF, Michelson, Zeeman-stabilized HeNe, AOM, and SIOS-style linear-axis displacement interferometers - the primary instrument for 21-parameter error mapping and large-envelope volumetric verification.