Overview of Various Tactile Measuring Probe Constructions

The probes contribution to the 3D measuring uncertainty of coordinate measuring machines is important. Besides uncertainty the sensing force is an important factor. From these two points of view one can conclude that the resolution and accuracy of measuring elements built into the probe and the suspension of the probe tip determine the quality of the probe. The geometric accuracy of the probe parts can't be neglected. The paper discusses a number of probe designs and gives the mathematical relation between the displacement of the probe tip and the sensing force. Simulation results and figures from the literature and our own experiences illustrate the performance of the different constructions.