WHEN IT COMES TO MEASURING, FIRST THINGS FIRST

Today's ever-expanding repertoire of metrology applications -- and the frequency with which they are employed -- is outstripping the supply of gray beard measurement specialists who have the experience to set up and execute them. Typically, the data is used for quality control, reverse engineering and rapid manufacturing routines. However, industry is finding that these enabling solutions can be a double-edged sword. That is because the programs generally have limitations, sometimes known, but often unknown to nonmetrology specialists operating them. The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) hosts an annual Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference. This is a venue where the latest in portable 3-D industrial measurement technologies is presented by industry experts via a large slate of technical paper presentations, exhibits, seminars and advanced workshops. Talion Edwards, Boeing associate technical fellow and CMS chairman, concludes that the results were extremely promising.