If you’ve done your research into coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology, you probably know how vital CMMs are to creating an efficient and integrated production line. You probably also understand that CMMs are the best way to guarantee the highest standards of quality control on your factory floor, and can save you both time and money by anticipating production issues before they reach crisis proportions.
But how do you find the CMM that is right for you? With so many options on the market, from gantry CMMs to ROMER Portable arms and white light CMMs, it can be hard to know where to start, which is why this brief explainer has been compiled to provide a brief introduction to CMM shopping.
What Problem Are You Trying To Solve?
There are a lot of different CMMs out there, but when trying to find the right one for you, it is best to start by asking your staff how new tech can make their jobs easier. What are the persistent problems they are running up against, and what are the most time-consuming issues they face on a daily basis? Having a good idea of where the current inefficiencies are will go along way toward addressing them.
Invest In Quality
As with any other equipment provider, you cannot assume that all CMM brands offer the same value. When considering which CMM to purchase, learn about CMM machine manufacturers and research the pros and cons of different brands from reliable metrology sources. A CMM is a delicate and sensitive piece of equipment, and one that you the quality control of your production line will depend on for years to come. For this reason, it is important to make sure that you are purchasing a piece of machinery that will be able to provide excellent service in the long term.
Choose The Right CMM For The Job
Deciding which CMM is right for you will depend on the parts and products you need to measure. “Coordinate measuring machine” is a broad category, and it includes everything from the large-scale gantry CMMs used in the automotive and aerospace industries to multisensory CMMs designed to measure parts so small and delicate they cannot be measured by a tactile probe.
It will also depend, to some extent, on the context in which your CMM will operate. If you need a CMM that can be used by hand to measure complex parts, then a portable CMM is probably best; while it cannot measure automatically, if provides staff an easy way of processing complicated products not easily measured mechanically. If, on the other hand, you want a CMM that can do its work largely on its own, a slower tactile-probe-using CMM is probably the way to go.
Every production line has its own particular needs, and the very reason there are so many CMMs on the market has to do with the variegated needs of different manufacturers. The best way to approach buying a new CMM is to focus on your own assembly line and ask yourself how metrology can help you produce your parts better. Once you know what problems you are trying to solve, it will be much easier to find the right metrology solutions.
