ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dimensional instruments

Imagine that you are holding a toy car in your hand. The car has three important measurements: length, width, and height. You can measure each of these dimensions with a ruler or tape measure, which tells you how big the car is.

Now, think about bigger things like buildings or airplanes. It's not easy to measure all the dimensions of these objects with just a ruler or tape measure. This is where dimensional instruments come in handy.

Dimensional instruments are special tools that help engineers or technicians measure and inspect the size and shape of complex objects. They use advanced technology and precise sensors to measure things like angles, distances, and surface finishes.

One example of a dimensional instrument is a laser scanner. It sends out a beam of laser light that bounces off the object being measured and creates a 3D image. This allows engineers to see every detail of an object's shape and size.

Another example is a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). This machine is like a big robot that can move around an object and measure it with a probe. The probe is like a tiny finger that touches the object and sends measurements to a computer, which creates a digital 3D model of the object.

Overall, dimensional instruments help us understand the shape and size of objects that we can't easily measure with a ruler or tape measure. They are important tools for building and designing things like airplanes, cars, and even buildings.