Intelligent repeatable arm mounting system

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

• a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals;
• a measurement device attached to the first end of the AACMM;
• an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device;
• a base coupled to the second end;
• an upper mount portion disposed on the base;
• and
• a lower mount portion fixed to a mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion, wherein the upper mount portion and the lower mount portion are components of a curvic coupling or a Hirth coupling.

A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), with steps comprising:

• providing a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals, a measurement device attached to the first end of the AACMM, an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device, a base coupled to the second end, and an upper mount portion disposed on the base;
• providing a first lower mount portion fixed to a first mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion;
• connecting the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine to the first lower mount portion;
• and
• sending to the electronic circuit first identifier data that identifies the first lower mount portion.

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), comprising:

• a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals;
• a measurement device attached to the first end of the AACMM;
• an electronic circuit;
• a base coupled to the second end;
• an upper mount portion disposed on the base;
• a lower mount portion fixed to a mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion in a single mounting orientation;
• and
• an electronic identification system configured to send identifier information identifying the lower mount portion to the electronic circuit, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to receive the position signals from the transducers, configured to receive the identifier information from the electronic identification system, and configured to calculate a position of the measurement device.

A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM), with steps comprising:

• providing a manually positionable articulated arm portion having opposed first and second ends, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing position signals,
• providing a measurement device attached to the first end of the AACMM, an electronic circuit, a base coupled to the second end, and an upper mount portion disposed on the base;
• providing a first lower mount portion fixed to a first mounting structure and configured to repeatably connect to the upper mount portion in a single mounting orientation;
• providing an electronic identification system configured to send identifier information identifying the lower mount portion to the electronic circuit;
• connecting the upper mount portion of the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine to the first lower mount portion in a single mounting orientation;
• sending by the electronic identification system first identifier data that identifies the first lower mount portion to the electronic circuit;
• receiving the position signals from the transducers and the first identifier data by the electronic circuit;
• and
• providing data corresponding to the position of the measurement device based at least in part on the position signals and the first identifier data.