Portable Measuring Arms
Portable measuring arms bring high-precision metrology directly to the customer and enable process improvements exactly where they have the greatest impact. Comparable to coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), they allow precise measurement of components, with the probe position determined by incremental encoders located in each joint of the arm.
Although they do not reach the accuracy of high-end stationary CMMs, portable measuring arms can be used in almost any environment. They require no climate-controlled measuring room and provide excellent accessibility to components from virtually any direction. This makes them highly versatile tools for on-site measurement tasks.
MEASUREMENT VOLUME & ACCURACY
The measurement volume is defined by the physical length of the arm. Typically, portable measuring arms cover volumes with diameters between 2.0 m and 4.5 m. When combined with a laser tracker, this volume can be extended almost indefinitely. Depending on the arm size, achievable accuracies range from 0.03 mm to 0.1 mm.
SETUP & SPEED
Portable measuring arms can be mounted in almost any orientation. A stable connection to the measured component is essential and is usually achieved using tripods or magnetic bases. Measurement speed largely depends on the operator, as each measurement point is triggered manually. However, the arm allows technicians to quickly and easily access hidden or difficult-to-reach points within the measurement volume.
HOW IT WORKS
A portable measuring arm is designed to mimic the anatomy of a human arm. It consists of two main segments connected by multiple joints and ends in a sensor head. Each joint contains incremental encoders that precisely determine its angular position. Most measuring arms feature at least six joints, allowing the probe to reach virtually any point within the 3D measurement space in almost any orientation. By combining the known lengths of the arm segments with the measured joint angles, the exact 3D coordinates of the probe tip are calculated, providing accurate measurement data for a wide range of applications.
