Title: Task specific uncertainty estimation in dimensional metrology

Authors: Han Haitjema

Addresses: Mitutoyo Research Center Europe, De Rijn 18, 5684 PJ Best, The Netherlands

Abstract: From calibration data of a measuring instrument, it is not always evident what the uncertainty will be in an actual measurement (or calibration) using that calibrated instrument. Especially where many measured data are involved, such as in CMM measurements, but also in typical dimensional geometry measurements such as roughness, roundness and flatness measurements, setting up an uncertainty budget for each measurement can be a rather impossible demand. The |mainstream| uncertainty budget can be modified in several ways to allow for more complicated measurements and can be generated automatically by the measuring instrument, by the simulation of measurements by instruments with alternative metrological characteristics. This can lead to a measuring instrument where next to the measured value, also the uncertainty is displayed. It is shown how these principles can be used as well for e.g., roughness, roundness, cylindricity, flatness and CMM measurements.

Keywords: CMMs; coordinate measuring machines; uncertainty estimation; Monte Carlo simulation; task specific uncertainty; precision metrology; roughness; roundness; cylindricity; flatness; CMM measurements.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2011.039461

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2011 Vol.2 No.2/3, pp.226 - 245

Published online: 06 Apr 2011 *

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