Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) are flexible and universal dimensional measuring devices with the capability for full integration into a CIM information network. Developed as highly precise measuring machines for specially designed measuring rooms, today's CMMs are more and more used in shop floor applications which is a hostile environment for a precise measuring tool. CMMs are offered in a variety of configurations and levels of automation. For the CMM buyer it is therefore essential to have an overview of the different types of CMMs and their subsystems before making a purchasing decision.

To obtain reliable measuring results that are used for controlling and improving manufacturing activities, it is essential to know how accurate the machine can perform and which parameters can influence its performance negatively. The US-standard B89.1.12M-1990 and the German industry guideline VDI/VDE-Richtlinie 2617 for CMM performance testing are compared.

Coordinate measuring technique offers solutions for all dimensional measuring tasks and has replaced most of the conventional measuring tools used in metrology. The most important issues of this technique as discussed in detail in this thesis.