ISO 10360

ISO 10360. This is a series of international standards, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, that specifies acceptance and reverification tests for coordinate measuring machines. The standards provide a unified method for manufacturers and users to verify the performance of these critical metrological instruments, ensuring traceability and reliability in industrial measurement. Its development and maintenance are managed by technical committee ISO/TC 213, which deals with dimensional and geometrical product specifications and verification.

Overview

The series was first introduced in the 1990s to address the growing need for standardized performance evaluation in the field of coordinate metrology. Prior to its establishment, manufacturers like Carl Zeiss AG and Hexagon AB often used proprietary test procedures, making objective comparison between machines from different suppliers difficult for end-users such as General Motors or Airbus. The creation of a common framework under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization facilitated global trade and quality assurance in sectors ranging from automotive to aerospace engineering. The standards are harmonized with other foundational documents like ISO 1, which defines standard reference temperature for geometrical product specification.

Scope and application

ISO 10360 applies primarily to coordinate measuring machines, including types like bridge CMMs, horizontal arm CMMs, and more recent technologies such as laser trackers and articulated arm CMMs. Its principles are used across various industries that require high-precision dimensional control, including the manufacturing of jet engine components at Rolls-Royce Holdings, semiconductor production equipment, and medical devices regulated by bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The standards are referenced in quality management systems aligned with ISO 9001 and are crucial for meeting the geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing requirements outlined in standards like ASME Y14.5.

Structure and parts

The standard is organized into multiple parts, each addressing specific CMM technologies or test aspects. For instance, Part 2 covers CMMs used for measuring linear dimensions, while Part 5 concerns the testing of CMM with optical distance sensors. Other parts detail procedures for articulated arm coordinate measuring machines and systems utilizing computed tomography for dimensional measurement. This modular structure, managed by ISO/TC 213, allows the standard to evolve with technological advancements, ensuring its relevance for new measurement platforms developed by companies like Nikon Metrology and Faro Technologies.

Key concepts and definitions

Central to the series are defined metrological characteristics such as probing error, size error, and form error. A fundamental concept is the maximum permissible error, which establishes the error limits a machine must not exceed during testing to be deemed acceptable. The standards also operationalize the principle of measurement uncertainty in the context of CMMs, linking performance verification to the international system of units maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Terms like test artefact and reference standard are precisely defined to ensure unambiguous test execution.

Verification and acceptance tests

The verification process involves performing specific tests using calibrated gauge blocks, reference spheres, or specialized ball plate artefacts traceable to national metrology institutes like the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Tests typically measure characteristics like bi-directional length measurement error and probing system performance. The results, often presented in a standardized test report, allow a user at a facility like the Fraunhofer Society or Toyota to determine if a machine's performance conforms to the manufacturer's specifications and the requirements of the standard.

Impact and industry use

The widespread adoption of ISO 10360 has fundamentally shaped quality control in precision manufacturing. It provides a common language for procurement contracts between OEMs like Boeing and their supply chain partners. Accreditation bodies such as the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) assess calibration laboratories against these standards, and it underpins the comparability of measurement data in global collaborative projects like those within the European Space Agency. The framework has also influenced the development of related standards, including ISO 15530 for uncertainty evaluation and VDI/VDE 2617, a series of German guidelines that preceded and informed the international standard. Category:ISO standards Category:Dimensional instruments Category:Metrology