BAXTER, Minn. – – October 21, 2026 -- Metrology Parts has released "All About Video Measuring Machines," a guide covering six topics: how the systems operate, illumination and edge detection, differences from coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), benefits of optical systems, industry applications, and the shift to multi-sensor technology.
Video measuring machines measure the image of a part, not the part itself
The guide describes a video measuring machine as a robotic system engineered to eliminate physical variables that could cause measurement error. It uses three programmable illumination types: profile, surface and coaxial lighting.
Unlike contact-based CMMs, which use a mechanical probe, video measuring machines are entirely non-contact and rely only on light.
Four manufacturing sectors rely most on non-contact measurement
The top industries using video measuring machines are medical device manufacturing, aerospace and defense, microelectronics and semiconductors, and plastics and extrusions. According to Metrology Parts, non-contact measurement has become "indispensable" in high-stakes sectors where precision is non-negotiable.
Industry trend moves from strictly optical to multi-sensor systems
Traditional video measuring machines are strictly optical. The current trend is toward multi-sensor systems that combine optical measurement, tactile probing and lasers in a single coordinate system.