Articulating device

A method of moving an articulating mechanism for a measuring device, the method comprising:

• (a) releasing two bodies which form the articulating mechanism allowing relative movement thereof;
• (b) moving one of the two bodies with respect to the other until a position adjacent a desired position is reached;
• (c) moving one of the two bodies with respect to the other from the position adjacent to the desired position to the desired position whereby said movement occurs under particular conditions;
• and
• (d) re-constraining the two bodies so they are relatively fixed characterized in that the relative movement prior to re-constraining at the desired position is a part of a locking process.

A method of positioning an articulating mechanism for a measuring device which is controlled by a potentiometer, the method comprising:

• moving the articulating mechanism to a position under particular conditions;
• recording a signal indicative of that position;
• and
• repeating for other positions;
• characterized in that, during a subsequent movement to the position carried out under the same particular conditions, a signal indicative of the position is obtained, compared with the recorded signal and the articulating mechanism is moved until the indicative signal corresponds to the recorded signal.

A measuring device comprising:

• an articulating mechanism having two bodies which can be relatively fixed or relatively moveable;
• a controller which includes a comparator for comparing current device position with a desired position;
• and
• means to control motion of the device such that it always moves to the desired position under particular conditions as part of a locking procedure to re-constrain the two bodies so they are relatively fixed.