Wide-Area Coordinate Measurement¶
Wide-area coordinate measurement is a dimensional metrology method in which a tracked handheld probe records 3D coordinates of a part that is too large, or too awkward, to place on a fixed coordinate measuring machine. Distances, GD&T, and optional laser-scanned shape are the outputs. The part stays where it is.
How wide-area CMM measurement works¶
A camera unit on a tripod tracks near-infrared markers on a handheld probe. The operator touches or scans the part. Software reports coordinates relative to a user-defined datum.
Two probes appear in the catalogue:
- Contact probe. Touches a point. GD&T, holes, edges, and CAD comparison.
- Laser-scanning probe. Returns a point cloud. Shape and form. Keyence specifies the WM-P6200 at up to 2.4 million points per second, 300 mm working distance, ±100 mm depth of field, and scanning accuracy ±(50 + 5L/1000) µm.
The camera rotates ±120° horizontally and ±30° vertically so the operator is not locked to one viewing angle.
Which WM-6000-series head is installed is not asserted here. The catalogue quotes the series range (up to 25 m) and an example envelope for the WM-6210 (10,000 × 3,500 × 5,000 mm). Confirm the installed model if the part is near those limits.
When to use wide-area CMM measurement¶
- A fixture, frame, or assembly that will not fit a benchtop metrology instrument
- GD&T on a large part that cannot be moved to a granite CMM
- On-site measurement of a part that is still in a build
- Capturing shape with the laser probe when contact points are not enough
- Comparing a large as-built part to CAD
What wide-area CMM measurement cannot do¶
- It is not a lab CMM. Scanning accuracy of ±(50 + 5L/1000) µm is not a micrometre-class granite machine. Do not use it for a 10 µm hole on a small coupon.
- It does not measure chips, films, or roughness. Those are microscopy and profilometry questions.
- Temperature moves the number. Keyence documents temperature compensation. A shop floor that is not 20 °C is not the specification condition.
- The installed model is not published as a single envelope. The 25 m figure is series capability. Ask which head is on the floor.
The WM-6000 at MPaCT Lab, Flagstaff, Arizona¶
The MPaCT Lab at Northern Arizona University holds a Keyence WM-6000 wide-area CMM in Flagstaff, Arizona. The catalogue specifies series measurement range up to 25 m, an example envelope of 10,000 × 3,500 × 5,000 mm (WM-6210), camera rotation ±120° / ±30°, WLAN / Bluetooth 5.0 / USB 3.0 / IR connectivity, laser-probe scan speed up to 2.4 million points per second, 300 mm working distance with ±100 mm depth of field, and laser-probe scanning accuracy ±(50 + 5L/1000) µm.
The equipment catalogue currently lists the WM-6000 as expected rather than available. Confirm live status on the catalogue page before planning a measurement.
When the tool is in service it is available to NAU researchers, external academic users, and industry partners, on a fee-for-service basis or as a trained hands-on user.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Series measurement range | Up to 25 m wide (series capability) |
| Example envelope | 10,000 × 3,500 × 5,000 mm (WM-6210), model dependent |
| Camera rotation | Horizontal ±120°, vertical ±30° |
| Laser probe scan speed | Up to 2.4 million points per second |
| Laser probe working distance | 300 mm, ±100 mm depth of field |
| Laser probe scanning accuracy | ±(50 + 5L/1000) µm |
Figures follow the equipment catalogue and Keyence's published WM-P6200 laser-probe specification.
Full WM-6000 specifications and booking →
Sample requirements¶
- Form. A part, assembly, or fixture that can be seen by the tracking camera. Say the longest dimension.
- Access. The probe has to reach the features. A cavity the camera cannot see cannot be measured.
- Datum. Bring a drawing or a CAD file if comparison is the point.
- Environment. Note if the measurement cannot be done at ~20 °C.
Frequently asked questions¶
What is a wide-area CMM?¶
A wide-area coordinate measuring machine tracks a handheld probe in three dimensions over a volume of metres, not millimetres, so a large part can be measured where it sits. Contact probing reports GD&T. An optional laser-scanning probe captures shape. It is the opposite of a granite-table CMM that the part has to be brought to.
What is the difference between the WM-6000 and a fixed CMM?¶
Portability and volume. A fixed CMM is more accurate inside a climate-controlled envelope the size of its granite. The WM-6000 series is specified up to 25 m wide, sets up on a tripod, and measures the part in place. Accuracy is lower than a lab CMM; the laser-scanning probe is specified at plus or minus (50 + 5L/1000) micrometres. Use a lab CMM when the part fits one. Use this when it does not.
How large a part can the WM-6000 measure?¶
The series is specified up to 25 m wide. The catalogue quotes an example envelope of 10,000 by 3,500 by 5,000 mm for the WM-6210. Which head is on the floor is not asserted here; confirm the installed model on the catalogue page if the part is near those limits.
How accurate is the laser-scanning probe?¶
Keyence specifies the WM-P6200 laser-scanning probe at plus or minus (50 + 5L/1000) micrometres, with L the measurement length in millimetres, under VDI/VDE 2634 Part 3 at 20 C plus or minus 1 C. Scan speed is up to 2.4 million points per second; working distance is 300 mm with plus or minus 100 mm depth of field. Contact-probe accuracy is a tighter figure on a different probe and is not substituted here.
Can I measure a chip or a thin film with a wide-area CMM?¶
No. This instrument is for large parts and assemblies. A die, a wafer feature, or a film thickness is digital microscopy, optical profilometry, AFM, or ellipsometry.
Request time on this instrument¶
MPaCT Lab - Building 98E, South Engineering Lab
561 E Pine Knoll Dr, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: 928-523-2343 · Email: mpct.nano@nau.edu