ISO 10360-8:2013

Overview - ISO 10360-8:2013 (CMMs with optical distance sensors)

ISO 10360-8:2013 is part of the ISO 10360 series of Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) and defines acceptance and reverification tests for Cartesian coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) equipped with optical distance sensors. The standard specifies how to verify that a CMM meets the length-measurement performance stated by the manufacturer and how users can periodically reverify that performance. Tests are designed to provide direct traceability to the unit of length (the metre) and to characterize how a CMM will perform on comparable measurements.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability

  • Applies to Cartesian CMMs with optical distance sensors (point-measuring and area-measuring sensors).
  • May be applied to non-Cartesian CMMs by mutual agreement.
  • Not intended for machines whose measuring volume is significantly smaller than the test sphere, although test principles and artefacts can be adapted.

• Sensor types covered

  • Point measuring sensors and area measuring sensors (e.g., laser point/line scan, fringe projection).
  • Measurement principles referenced include triangulation, confocal, and interferometry.

• Metrological characteristics and errors

  • Probing form error, probing dispersion, and probing size error (including translatory, articulating, and stationary conditions).
  • Length measurement error and flat form measurement error.
  • Environmental and operating condition requirements; effects of workpiece loading.

• Tests and artefacts

  • Defined procedures for acceptance tests (manufacturer or purchaser) and reverification tests (periodic user checks).
  • Use of calibrated artefacts such as test spheres, local test flats, and global test flats (annexes describe artefact selection and alignment).
  • Rules for verifying conformance and linking results to declared performance.

• Supporting guidance

  • Relationship to measurement uncertainty evaluation (see ISO/TS 23165) and to other ISO 10360 parts for contact and imaging probing systems.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 10360-8:2013

• Manufacturers: to declare and prove CMM performance for machines equipped with optical distance sensors.
• Purchase/acceptance teams: to perform acceptance testing on delivered CMMs.
• Calibration and metrology laboratories: to execute reverification and provide traceable certification.
• Quality engineers and metrologists: to monitor CMM performance, plan interim checks, and ensure compliance with product specifications.
• Industrial users in aerospace, automotive, electronics and precision manufacturing where non-contact optical measurement is required.

Related standards

• ISO 10360 series: Part 1 (vocabulary), Part 2 (linear dimensions), Part 5 (contact probing), Part 7 (imaging probes), Part 9/10 (other systems).
• ISO/TS 23165 (CMM test uncertainty) and ISO 14253-1 (decision rules for conformity).

Using ISO 10360-8:2013 helps ensure reliable, traceable performance for optical-distance-sensor-equipped CMMs, enabling confident use of non-contact measurement methods in production and inspection workflows.