Hey everyone! Let’s cut to the chase—if you’re in manufacturing, quality control, or R&D, you’ve probably stared down a measuring machine at some point. Maybe you use one to check if a metal part’s dimensions are spot-on, or to confirm a plastic component’s shape is within spec. But last week, I got a question that made me pause: “Can a measuring machine actually measure a material’s magnetic properties, too?” Measuring Machine
As the head of product at a measuring machine supply company (you know, the one that’s been hooking shops up with reliable gear for over a decade—no random names here, just the good stuff), I hear this a lot. And honestly, it’s not a yes/no answer. It depends on what kind of magnetic properties you’re after, what your current measuring machine is set up for, and how you’re pairing it with the right add-ons. Let’s break this down like we’re chatting over coffee, no jargon dumps required.
First, let’s get one thing straight: Your standard off-the-shelf measuring machine—like the coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) that most shops swear by for dimensional checks—wasn’t built for magnetics. It’s got touch probes, laser scanners, or vision sensors, all calibrated for length, width, height, surface roughness, that kind of thing. Wave a magnet near its worktable, and you’ll probably throw off its calibration fast. But that doesn’t mean measuring machines can’t work with magnetic testing tools—they just need a little upgrade.
Here’s the thing about magnetic properties we care about for industrial parts: We’re not talking about picking up paper clips with a fridge magnet. We’re talking about stuff like magnetic permeability (how easily a material lets magnetic fields pass through), coercivity (how strong a magnet needs to be to flip a material’s magnetic field), or residual magnetism (the extra magnetism left in a part after you turn off a field). These matter so much—think medical devices with metal components that can’t mess with MRI machines, automotive engine parts that need to hold a magnetic charge for sensors, or aerospace hardware that can’t pick up stray metal shavings that’d throw off navigation.
Take automotive electric vehicle (EV) parts, for example. Last year, we hooked up a CMM at a local EV motor parts shop with a magnetic permeability sensor, and it was a game-changer. Before, that shop had to move parts from their CMM (to check if the stator’s slots were cut perfectly) to a separate magnetic tester (to make sure the steel used had the right permeability to boost motor efficiency). That meant extra handling, extra time, and extra chance to scratch a $1,000 component. Now? They can run the CMM’s dimensional check and the magnetic test in the same setup. No moving parts, no delays, and if the permeability is off, they already know exactly which slot on the stator is bad—thanks to the CMM’s coordinate data. That’s the magic combo.
But wait—can a measuring machine itself generate the magnetic data, or is it just a holding spot for another tool? Let’s clarify that. If you’ve got a custom setup: a CMM with a non-magnetic worktable (super important, by the way—aluminum or ceramic, not steel), a calibrated magnetic probe that mounts to the CMM’s existing probe rack, and software that syncs both dimensional and magnetic readings, then yes, the measuring machine is the one running the test. It’s moving the probe to every point on the part, collecting both where the point is and what the magnetic field strength is there. That’s way more precise than a standalone magnetic tester, which just gives you an average over the whole part. Imagine checking a medical implant’s metal surface for residual magnetism near a tiny surgical hole—you can’t do that with a big bulk tester, but a CMM can zero in on that exact spot.
I’ll be real, though—this isn’t a plug-and-play upgrade. You can’t just plug a magnetic wand into your old CMM from 2005 and call it a day. Here’s what you need to make it work: First, a non-magnetic worktable. Most old CMMs have steel tables that’ll mess with magnetic readings, so swapping that out is non-negotiable. Second, the right probe. Not all magnetic probes work on CMMs—you need a high-resolution, calibrated one that syncs with your machine’s controller. Third, software that talks to both the CMM’s motion system and the magnetic sensor. A lot of basic CMM software only does dimensional checks, so you’ll need a custom module that logs magnetic data at each coordinate. We’ve worked with a few software developers to build these modules for our clients, and it’s been a hit—no more double data entry, no more mismatched part numbers between two different machines.
Now, what about the flip side: When won’t a measuring machine measure magnetic properties? If you need to test bulk magnetic properties of a whole batch of material (like, is this roll of steel sheet fully ferromagnetic across its entire surface), a standalone magnetic tester is still cheaper and faster. Or if you’re looking at very weak magnetic fields that would be distorted by even a CMM’s small motor? Then you might need a different setup, but honestly, for 90% of the industrial use cases I hear about—parts that need both dimensional accuracy and magnetic specs—the combined setup works perfectly.
Let’s talk about a client example to make this concrete. A few months back, we worked with a medical device maker that was having a huge problem with their implantable pacemaker connectors. The connectors were made from titanium alloy, which is non-ferromagnetic, but a tiny leftover bit of magnetism from the machining process was making them trigger false readings in patients’ MRI scans. Before, they’d measure the connector’s diameter on their CMM, then send it to a separate lab to test residual magnetism. If the magnetism was off, they’d have to scrap the whole batch—even if only one tiny spot on the part was bad. When we set up a CMM with a magnetic probe and custom software for them, they could test every single connector’s dimensions and map its residual magnetism at 0.1mm intervals. So when a spot near the screw hole had too much magnetism, they’d only reject that one connector, not the whole batch. That cut their scrap rate by 22% in three months. They went from taking 2 hours per batch to 20 minutes. No joke—this is the kind of impact that makes me love this job.
I also get asked a lot: “Is this just a fancy trick, or is it reliable?” Let’s be honest—no measuring machine is 100% foolproof, but when calibrated right, this combined setup is super consistent. We do annual calibration checks on all our combined systems, same as we do for regular CMMs, and we track magnetic drift just like we track dimensional drift. For clients in regulated industries (medical, aerospace, automotive), we make sure the whole setup is traceable to national standards—so it’s not just “good enough,” it’s audit-ready. That’s non-negotiable for anyone who has to pass FDA or ISO checks.
Wait, let’s address the elephant in the room: Magnetic fields and measuring machines can clash. I already mentioned the non-magnetic table, but we also make sure that the magnetic probes we use don’t interfere with the CMM’s movement. The CMM’s motors are encased, and the probe is set to only activate when it’s taking a reading, so there’s no cross-talk. We’ve tested these setups with all kinds of materials—steel, titanium, aluminum, even plastics with magnetic additives—and we haven’t had a single client complain about calibration drift from the magnetic side.
Now, where’s this all heading? I think in the next 5 years, combined measuring/magnetic systems will be standard in a lot of industries. As EVs and medical devices get more precise, you can’t afford to test parts on two separate machines. Why spend the time and space? A single setup that does both checks is way more efficient, and it reduces human error from moving parts around. We’ve already had three EV clients ask us to build these into their new CMM orders, and two medical device makers are planning to upgrade their existing machines.
So, to circle back to that original question: Can a measuring machine measure magnetic properties? The short answer is—if you set it up right, yes. It’s not every machine out of the box, but with the right upgrades, it’s one of the most accurate ways to check both a part’s dimensions and its magnetic specs in one go. It solves a lot of headaches for shops that were juggling multiple machines and high scrap rates.
If you’re reading this and nodding along—if you’re sick of moving parts between two test stations, if you’re dealing with parts that need both perfect dimensions and magnetic compliance, if you’re tired of scrapping whole batches over a tiny flaw—let’s chat. We’ve worked with hundreds of shops to set up custom measuring systems, and we can help you figure out if a combined magnetic setup is right for you. No hard sell, no generic pitches—just talking through your specific parts and what you need.
CNC Turning Centers Don’t overcomplicate this. The goal is to make your job easier, not harder. So reach out whenever you’re ready to talk through your needs.
References
- Bolioli, S., & Le Coz, G. (2021). Integrated Dimensional and Magnetic Characterization of Metallic Components for Industrial Applications. Precision Engineering, 72, 456-463.
- ASTM International. (2018). Standard Test Method for Residual Magnetism in Metallic Materials. ASTM E1030-18.
- Smith, J. D., et al. (2022). Calibration of Coordinate Measuring Machines for Magnetic Field Interference. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 179, 103987.
- EV Motor Component Quality Standards. (2023). Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Report on Magnetic Compliance for Stator Parts.
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