Coordinate measuring apparatus

A coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece, said coordinate measuring apparatus defining coordinate directions (x, y, z) and comprising:

• a probe head movable in said coordinate directions (x, y, z);
• a probe pin or probe pins which can be attached to said probe head;
• said probe pin or said probe pins having a plurality of shafts having respective ends;
• a plurality of contact bodies attached to corresponding ones of said ends of said shafts;
• at least two of said shafts of one of said probe pins having different orientations when said probe pin is attached to said probe head;
• a control and evaluation unit for controlling the measuring sequence and for evaluating the recorded measuring points;
• said control and evaluation unit functioning to carry out a method including the steps of:
• determining at least one characteristic directional datum ({right arrow over (n)}Ai or {right arrow over (n)}Ii) for the points, which are to be measured, of a geometric element on said workpiece either from measured measuring points (P1 to P4) or from predefined desired data of said geometric element;
• and,
• determining one or several probe shafts of the one or several of the measuring points of the geometric element which are suitable from said directional datum ({right arrow over (n)}Ai or {right arrow over (n)}Ii).