The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), part of the United Kingdom’s National Measurement Office, has developed a new range of 3D standards for verifying freeform coordinate measurement machines (CMMs). The standards allow the verification of portable and fixed noncontact coordinate measuring systems, such as those employing laser scanning and fringe projection technologies, as well as those employing tactile sensors. The standards also help evaluate the surface measurement capabilities of new scanning measurement technologies.

Items that are freeform are unconventional in shape or design, especially in being asymmetrical and irregular, but with a flowing outline. Freeform manufacturing projects include the development of more efficient engines for airplanes, drag reduction for cars, longer lasting prosthetics, and reverse engineering of archaeological finds to learn about their provenance.

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