Solutions • 3D metrology • Dimensional inspection

Laser trackers, portable measuring arms and coordinate measuring machines for 3D metrology.

A ground shaft in the metrology lab, a part still clamped on the machine tool, a six-meter welding fixture: each has a 3D measuring instrument that fits. We help you figure out whether you need a coordinate measuring machine, a portable arm or a laser tracker, looking at parts and tolerances before catalogs.

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In short

What is 3D metrology?

It is the measurement of a part’s dimensions, form and position in three dimensions, referred to a coordinate system. In manufacturing it relies on three families of instruments: the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) in the metrology lab, the portable measuring arm on the machine and the laser tracker for large structures and fixtures. The performance of all three is verified with the tests in the ISO 10360 series.

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How much does a laser tracker or a CMM cost?

Prices vary widely between a measuring arm for the shop floor and a bridge CMM for the metrology lab, and software, probes and training also add to the total. Send us part sizes and your tightest tolerances and we will put together a quote for the right instrument, accessories included.

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Dimensional metrology

How 3D metrology instruments work.

CMMs, arms and laser trackers do the same job in different ways. They capture the coordinates of points on the part’s surface, with a touch probe or an optical sensor, and the software derives planes, cylinders, distances and geometric tolerances from those points, comparing them with the drawing or the CAD model.

Coordinate measuring machine

The CMM, the reference in the metrology lab

A bridge CMM moves the probe along three axes, on air bearings or mechanical guides, above a granite base in a temperature-controlled room. It offers the lowest uncertainty for small and mid-size machined components, and with CNC programs it measures whole batches automatically.

Length measuring error and probing error are verified to ISO 10360-2 and ISO 10360-5.
Single-point touch probes, scanning probes or optical sensors, depending on what you need to capture.
It needs a temperature-stable room, and the part has to be brought to the machine.

Choosing the instrument

Laser tracker, measuring arm or coordinate measuring machine?

The choice depends mostly on how large the part is, where it sits and how tight the tolerance is. We have added photogrammetry too, since it is often used alongside the other systems.

Comparison of coordinate measuring machine, portable measuring arm, laser tracker and industrial photogrammetry
Instrument	Measuring volume	Where it is used	Strengths	Limits
Coordinate measuring machine (CMM)	From under a meter to several meters for the largest bridge CMMs	Metrology lab, production inspection	Lowest uncertainty, automatic and repeatable measurements	The part must go to the machine; needs a controlled environment
Portable measuring arm	Working diameter usually between about 1.5 and 4 m	On the machine, on the shop floor, on fixtures	Goes where you need it, with probe and laser scanner on the same arm	Higher uncertainty than a CMM; volume limited by arm length
Laser tracker	From a few meters to tens of meters	Large structures, jigs, machine alignment	High accuracy over long distances, can also measure moving targets	Needs a line of sight; not well suited to small details
Industrial photogrammetry	From a few decimeters to tens of meters	Large structures, deformation, reference for scanners	Many points in little time, lightweight system	Only measures applied targets or clearly recognizable features

When components are machined, fit on a table and the tolerances are a few hundredths of a millimeter or less, the CMM remains the reference choice. An arm pays off when the part is mounted on a machine or too bulky to move, and when you also want to scan. A laser tracker comes into play on welded structures, steelwork, very large molds and alignments, where the alternative would be a template or an optical level.

Applications

Where 3D metrology is used.

Machined components

Dimensions, diameters, flatness and position tolerances on mechanical parts, with GD&T reports based on the drawing.

Machine and plant alignment

Rolling lines, paper machines, turbines, rolls and guideways aligned during assembly or after maintenance, a typical laser tracker job.

Jigs and welding fixtures

Checking and adjusting jigs and fixtures in automotive and aerospace, where the position of the datums decides the quality of everything produced on them.

Steelwork and large structures

Frames, welded structures, marine and rail components where flatness, hole positions and distortion matter.

On-machine measurement

With a portable arm you check the part while it is still clamped on the machine tool and decide whether to re-cut it before unclamping.

Acceptance and suppliers

First article, samples and incoming inspection on batches from suppliers.

Laser tracker

Large structures, measured where they stand

A laser tracker follows a spherical reflector that the operator places on the part, and uses distance and two angles to calculate the position of the sphere’s center. Accuracy stays high even over tens of meters, so the instrument goes to the structure instead of the other way around. Acceptance tests for laser trackers are described in ISO 10360-10.

Jigs, templates and assembly fixtures.
Alignment of shafts, rolls and guideways.
Six-degree-of-freedom probes and connected scanners for hidden points and surfaces.

Which measuring instrument do your parts need?

Measuring in the metrology lab, on the machine or on site changes the choice quite a bit. Tell us where you work and what tolerances you hold, and you will get a quote for the right option among CMMs, arms and laser trackers.

CMMs, arms and laser trackers
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Technical criteria

How to choose a 3D metrology system.

Only a few parameters really matter, and they should be judged on your parts, not the brochure. We go through them with you before talking models.

Uncertainty versus tolerance

The instrument’s uncertainty must be much smaller than the tolerance to check, usually between a quarter and a tenth of it. ISO 14253-1 explains how to account for it when you decide whether a part conforms.

Part size and weight

They set the CMM travel or the arm length. Beyond a few meters, a laser tracker or photogrammetry is often the only practical option.

Where you measure

In the metrology lab, on the shop floor, on the machine or on site. Outside the lab the temperature changes and the material expands, so you need compensation and suitable procedures.

Probes and sensors

A touch probe for precise geometric features, contact scanning for forms, laser or optical sensors for freeform surfaces. It pays to decide early which ones you need.

Software and GD&T

A result is only as good as the software that interprets it. Look at how geometric tolerances are handled to ISO 1101 or ASME Y14.5, offline programming from CAD and report quality.

Periodic verification and calibration

Every instrument must be verified over time with ISO 10360 tests and calibrated by an accredited lab. Ask how and where this is done, and how long the downtime lasts.

To capture whole surfaces without contact, see professional 3D scanners, while small, flat parts measured in two dimensions are covered under profile projectors and optical measuring systems. For internal dimensions without cutting the part, read how dimensional metrology with CT scanning works. The DIPITECH solutions index covers the other families of measuring instruments.

Buy, outsource or rent

Buy the instrument or outsource the measurements?

If you measure every day, or if measurement is part of production control, it makes sense to have the instrument in-house and someone trained to use it. A CMM is bought for many years and should be chosen together with the room that will house it.

For occasional needs, such as aligning a line during a shutdown or accepting a new fixture, an outside measurement service is often more cost-effective. Arms and laser trackers are portable, so for a limited campaign you can also consider rental.

The DIPITECH approach

It starts with the tightest tolerance.

Part weight and location matter too, because a ground shaft goes to the metrology lab while a six-meter welding fixture gets measured where it stands.

What to send us for an assessment

Type of parts, size and weight.
Tightest tolerances to check.
Where you measure: metrology lab, shop floor or on site.
How many parts you measure per day or month.
Whether you already have drawings or CAD models.
Whether you are considering purchase, a service or renting a portable instrument.

FAQ

3D metrology FAQ

What is the difference between a laser tracker and a measuring arm?

A measuring arm is an articulated arm with encoders in the joints and measures within its reach, usually a few meters. A laser tracker measures the position of a reflector at a distance, even tens of meters away, and suits large structures and alignments. The arm is more practical on details and with a laser scanner, while the tracker wins on distance.

How much does a coordinate measuring machine cost?

It depends on the measuring volume, uncertainty, probe type and software, and a large CMM also needs a suitable room. A portable arm generally costs less than a bridge CMM, while a laser tracker sits in its own price range, tied to the large volumes it covers. Tell us what you measure and we will send a quote for the right configuration.

How accurate is a laser tracker?

Stated accuracies are in the range of a few tens of microns over several meters and increase with distance. The figure to compare across models is the maximum permissible error to ISO 10360-10, read at the distance you will actually work.

What is mechanical metrology?

It is the branch of metrology that measures dimensional and geometric quantities of mechanical parts, such as lengths, diameters, form, position and roughness. It covers hand tools like calipers and micrometers and systems like CMMs, arms, laser trackers, profile projectors and roughness testers, and it relies on calibration traceable to national standards.

Can a measuring arm replace a CMM?

Partly. An arm measures on the machine and on bulky parts, but it has higher uncertainty and depends more on the operator. For tolerances of a few microns and for automatic production inspection, the CMM is still the right tool, and many companies use both.

What does ISO 10360 cover?

It is the series of standards on acceptance and reverification tests for coordinate measuring systems. Its parts cover CMMs with contact probes, optical sensors, laser trackers and articulated arms, and define how length and probing errors are measured. It lets you compare different instruments on the same basis.

How do I request a quote?

Message us on WhatsApp, by email or through the form, with the type and size of your parts, tolerances, where you measure and how many parts you check per month. We reply within 24 hours with the right instrument and a quote.

Application support

Support with your choice, before and after you buy.

We help you choose a measuring instrument based on your real parts and tolerances. After purchase, technical support in Italy is there for the questions that come up in the metrology lab.

Contact

Let’s find the right measuring instrument for your parts.

We start from the tightest tolerance and the part size, a shaft in the metrology lab or a line to align on the shop floor, and suggest the instrument with a quote.

Application request

Tell us what you need to measure.

Describe what you measure, to what tolerance and where; mention it if you have a sample drawing.