Caliper Designs, Inc. has been in business since the summer of 1991.  Our first product was PC-DRO, a DOS based computer package that could be retrofitted to any CMM.  In order to connect to the given CMM however, an understanding of the particular position encoder technology was required.  There is still no standardization among CMM manufacturers regarding encoder technology or connector types.

CDI was unique in that it had personnel with the necessary skills to tackle the problem.  So, in order to increase sales of PC-DRO software, we ended up developing a line of interfaces and computer counter cards that could be connected to any CMM.  This has been a very good business for us in terms of market penetration.  Over the years there have been a number of CMM software developers who have developed very good software for retrofitting older CMM’s Usually these organizations don’t have the means to get the information from the CMM to the software.  In the USA we supply approximately 80% of the hardware used in this market.

In 1995 we developed the first LCD based geometric readout for the comparator market, which includes measuring microscopes, called GEO-Dro 2.  Up to that time all the readouts were based on Nixie tube or LCD digital displays.  It is difficult to convey a lot of information with only 8 0r 16 character displays.  LCD displays however are a natural.  There is more information available and the ability to show the measurements graphically is present.  For example, showing the relationship between a number of circles arranged in a bigger circle (usually called a bolt hole pattern) is very easy to see.  There is no visualization required. 

The unit we designed in 1995 is contained in a sheet metal box.  We sold 500 to 600 of this flavor.  In 2006 we redesigned the unit so that it could be housed in an ABS housing which looks much more modern and is a lot easier to assemble.  Although we are selling some of these, it has not really taken off at this point.

In 2002, we were connected to a startup comparator and measuring microscope manufacturer in France called Orama.  Orama ended up selling the business to a company called TESA in Switzerland who initially used our products for their measuring equipment.  TESA bought a lot of readouts from us over the next few years, but then decided that they were capable of providing their own electronics, which they did.

Last year we decided that the actual machine business would be more lucrative than the accessory business.  Caliper Designs designed and built prototypes of a Video Measuring Micro-Scope.  We are currently evaluating possible dealers and demonstrating the Magellan V-200 micro-scope.