Last month, the 33rd annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference took place at the Snowbird Meeting and Conference Center in the spectacular mountains of Snowbird, Utah. This signature event attracted the Who's Who in 3D portable metrology, from elite presenters to workshop instructors to national laboratory scientists. The weeklong conference also catered to novice practitioners looking for the latest developments and technologies, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Keith Bevan of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom, who served as 2017 conference chair and led a dedicated team of elected and appointed volunteers to organize the event.
Metrology professionals and scientists from 12 countries around the world were on hand to experience the topical and interesting talks, as well as the most up-to-date market innovations.
This year's Exhibition Hall was filled with the leading metrology original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), software and service providers, and industry trade publications. The popular activities and information found in the Measurement and Education Zones have become the pinnacle of the Coordinate Metrology Society’s educational mandate. The Measurement Zone had something for everyone, novice or advanced user, including a laser tracker competition, a metrology-guided automation station, and a hands-on metrology equipment zone.
The Education Zone featured an expanded version of the CMS Metrology Quiz game with qualifying rounds and a grand finale. The competition was fierce and highly entertaining, but most importantly, participants had the opportunity to test their core knowledge of metrology. Another big hit was the all-new “Ask the Experts” program, a daily event in the Education Zone in which conference attendees posed a variety of metrology application questions to a carefully orchestrated panel of metrology experts. E-learning stations also provided support for delegates interested in furthering their metrology knowledge or for those interesting in taking the CMS Level-One certification examination.
The Coordinate Metrology Society has continued to develop its CMS Level-Two certification program during 2017. These device-specific, hands-on performance assessments for laser trackers and portable arms were conducted by CMS-authorized proctors during the conference. Applicants taking CMS Level-Two certification examinations must have a Level-One certification, two years of experience (minimum 400 hours) using a laser tracker or arm, and a completed application with two references who can confirm the applicant’s hands-on expertise. CMS Level-One certification applicants must meet eligibility requirements, sign the CMS code of ethics, and pass a peer review. All candidates must complete the application process and qualify to take either examination. Click here for more information.
Although our educational activities are an extremely important part of the CMSC, the high-level expertise provided by more than 20 original technical papers and presentations resides at the heart of the event. The diverse slate of speakers hailed from NASA–Johnson Space Center, Triumph Aerostructures–Vought Aircraft Division, IK4-TEKNIKER (Spain), Idaho Virtualization Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, UNC Charlotte, University College London, Academy of Opto-Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin University, and other leaders in the field.
This year’s technical presentations covered a wide berth of applications, from close-range photogrammetry in space to metrology-guided wing join automation to point cloud measurements of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) artifact using a laser scanner. Why not take the opportunity to submit an abstract for next year’s conference, CMSC 2018, at the Grand Sierra Hotel and Conference Center in Reno, NV? If accepted, your weekly conference registration fee will be waived and your technical paper will be considered for publication in the prestigious Journal of the CMSC. In the meantime, visit our website at www.CMSC.org and consider becoming a member or rejoining the Coordinate Metrology Society.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Confalone
Gary Confalone is the president and CEO of ECM Global Measurement Solutions.He has worked in the metrology industry for the past 20-plus years, including stints at Sikorsky Aircraft, SpatialMetrix Corp., and Laser Projection Technologies. In 2001 Confalone started East Coast Metrology, an engineering and service provider for the 3D metrology industry. He has been an active member of the Coordinate Metrology Society’s certification committee, which was formed to help qualify technical personnel in the various disciplines of 3D metrology.
