Measurement probe systems for co-ordinate positioning apparatus

A measurement probe for co-ordinate positioning apparatus, the measurement probe comprising;

• a measurement device for generating measurement data indicative of the position of at least one point on the surface of an object;
• a communications device for communicating with a remote probe interface;
• and
• an authentication device for determining if the remote probe interface is an authentic remote probe interface,
• wherein the communications device passes the measurement data to the remote probe interface only when the authentication device has determined that the remote probe interface is an authentic remote probe interface.

A measurement probe for co-ordinate positioning apparatus, the measurement probe comprising;

• a measurement device for measuring an object;
• an interface for providing a data connection with an associated data storage unit,
• a communications device for receiving data from an associated data storage unit connected to the interface,
• an authentication device for determining if a data storage unit connected to the interface is an authentic data storage unit;
• wherein data stored on a data storage unit connected to the interface is used by the measurement probe only when the authentication device has determined that the data storage unit connected to the interface is an authentic data storage unit.