Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) are used to measure the geometry of any physical object. CMM can incorporate different types of probes including mechanical probes and non-contact probes (optical, laser and white light).
The most common type of CMM is the 3D “bridge” CMM. These machines often have a computer-controlled probe that moves along three axis (X, Y and Z). The machine can record the position of sensor points to produce a 3D image, which describes the surface areas of the scanned part. These images can be used in a digital environment for further analysis.