Coordinate measurement machines with removable accessories

A method of operating a portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

• providing a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
• receiving at an electronic circuit the position signals from the position transducers;
• providing a noncontact measurement device electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the noncontact measurement device having an electromagnetic radiation transmitter, a sensor and a movable first mirror;
• moving the first mirror;
• reflecting a measuring beam of electromagnetic radiation with the first mirror onto the object;
• receiving a reflected beam of electromagnetic radiation with the first mirror and transferring the reflected beam of electromagnetic radiation to the sensor;
• determining a distance to the object from the reflected beam of electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor and based at least in part on a combined propagation time of the measuring beam and the reflected beam and on a speed of light in air;
• and
• determining three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object based at least in part on the determined distance and the position signals.

A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of an object in space, comprising:

• a base;
• a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
• an electronic circuit which receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer;
• a noncontact measuring device removably coupled to the arm portion, the noncontact measuring device having a light source and an optical receiver and a mirror is arranged to reflect a first light beam emitted from the light source and reflect a second light beam reflected off the object, the noncontact measuring device is configured to determine a distance to the object based at least in part on a combined propagation time of the first light beam and the second light beam and on a speed of light in air;
• and
• a processor electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, the processor configured to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of a point on the object in response to receiving the position signals from the position transducers and in response to receiving the measured distance.