Manufacturing method and apparatus

A method of manufacturing an article, comprising

• using a coordinate measuring machine both to obtain measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place, and
• using the coordinate measuring machine to position a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part,
• wherein the coordinate measuring machine comprises a plurality of measurement transducers, with the same plurality of measurement transducers being used for obtaining the measurements and for positioning of the second part based on those measurements.

A method of manufacturing an article, comprising

• using a coordinate measuring machine both to obtain measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place and to position a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part, and
• controlling the machine to hold the first and second parts in the predetermined spatial relationship while performing an operation to fix the first and second parts in the predetermined spatial relationship.

A method of manufacturing an article, comprising

• using a coordinate measuring machine both to obtain measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place, and
• using the coordinate measuring machine to position a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part, and
• leaving a gap between the second part and any other part of the article when in the predetermined spatial relationship.

A method of manufacturing an article, comprising

• using a coordinate measuring machine both to obtain measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place and to position a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part, wherein the machine comprises first and second platforms moveable relative to one another, and
• supporting the first part on the second platform and supporting the second part on the first platform, wherein positioning the second part relative to the first part comprises controlling the machine to move the first and second platforms relative to one another.

A method of manufacturing an article, comprising

• using a coordinate measuring machine both to obtain measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place, and
• using the coordinate measuring machine to position a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part,
• wherein the first and second parts are operative parts of the article having a function in use of the article.

A manufacturing system or apparatus comprising a coordinate measuring machine configured to perform a method of manufacturing an article, comprising

• using the coordinate measuring machine both to obtain measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place and to position a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed, cause a coordinate measuring machine to perform a method of manufacturing an article where the coordinate measuring machine both obtains measurements of a first part of the article that is already in place and positions a second part of the article in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the first part in dependence upon the measurements of the first part.