[1] While bearing some resemblance to a coordinate-measuring machine (CMM), its usage and accuracy envelope differs significantly.
[1] A CMM provides a rapid method for inspecting absolute points, but geometric relationships, such as runout, parallelism, perpendicularity, etc., must be calculated rather than measured directly.
By aligning an accurate spindle with an electronic test indicator with a geometric feature of interest, rather than using a non-scanning cartesian probe to estimate an alignment, a universal measuring machine fills this need.
[1] The indicator can be accurately controlled and moved across a part, either along a linear axis or radially around the spindle, to continuously record profile and determine geometry.
This gives the universal machine a very strong advantage over non-scanning measuring methods when profiling flats, radii, contours, and holes, as the detail of the feature can be at the resolution of the probe.