Coordinate measuring apparatus and method for controlling the same

A coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece having a surface, the coordinate measuring apparatus comprising:

• a probe head having a probe unit attached thereto;
• a control system for control driving said probe head and said probe unit along a path for measuring said workpiece whereby mass inertial forces occur because of an acceleration of said probe unit along said path;
• a first device for forming a desired measuring force (Fdes) directed perpendicularly to said surface and having a constant magnitude;
• said control system including a second device for determining a corrective measuring force (Fcorr) which at least partially compensates for said mass inertial forces (Ftr, Fzp);
• and,
• said control system further including a third device for combining said desired measuring force (Fdes) and said corrective measuring force (Fcorr) to form a measuring force (Fmeas) and for adjusting the application of said measuring force (Fmeas) to said probe unit relative to said probe head.