In 1994 the international standard ISO 10360 "Acceptance and reverication tests for coordinate measuring machines (CMMs)" was established. This standard describes detailed test procedures for the various applications of a coordinate measuring machine such as length measurement, form inspection, measurements with and without a rotary table etc.

Prior to purchasing a coordinate measuring machine it is certainly helpful to get familiar with the basics of this standard.

In the box on the right you will find a brief introduction into the ISO 10360 with some examples. It is not intended to be complete and some expressions have been simplified for better understanding. The original standards can be obtained for example from publisher Beuth.

Some CMM manufacturers still publish specifications for their coordinate measuring machines according to the old German standard VDI/VDE 2617 or according to the US-standard B89. You should however insist on specifications according to ISO 10360. Only then the performance of different coordinate measuring machines from different producers can be compared.