{"id":3576,"date":"2026-10-14T11:37:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T03:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/?p=3576"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T03:37:23","slug":"can-a-measuring-machine-measure-the-magnetic-properties-of-materials-43a6-373970","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/14\/can-a-measuring-machine-measure-the-magnetic-properties-of-materials-43a6-373970\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a measuring machine measure the magnetic properties of materials?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone! Let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019re in manufacturing, quality control, or R&D, you\u2019ve probably stared down a measuring machine at some point. Maybe you use one to check if a metal part\u2019s dimensions are spot-on, or to confirm a plastic component\u2019s shape is within spec. But last week, I got a question that made me pause: \u201cCan a measuring machine actually measure a material\u2019s magnetic properties, too?\u201d Measuring Machine<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As the head of product at a measuring machine supply company (you know, the one that\u2019s been hooking shops up with reliable gear for over a decade\u2014no random names here, just the good stuff), I hear this a lot. And honestly, it\u2019s not a yes\/no answer. It depends on what kind of magnetic properties you\u2019re after, what your current measuring machine is set up for, and how you\u2019re pairing it with the right add-ons. Let\u2019s break this down like we\u2019re chatting over coffee, no jargon dumps required.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: Your standard off-the-shelf measuring machine\u2014like the coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) that most shops swear by for dimensional checks\u2014wasn\u2019t built for magnetics. It\u2019s 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\u2019ll probably throw off its calibration fast. But that doesn\u2019t mean measuring machines can\u2019t work with<\/em> magnetic testing tools\u2014they just need a little upgrade.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the thing about magnetic properties we care about for industrial parts: We\u2019re not talking about picking up paper clips with a fridge magnet. We\u2019re 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\u2019s magnetic field), or residual magnetism (the extra magnetism left in a part after you turn off a field). These matter so much\u2014think medical devices with metal components that can\u2019t mess with MRI machines, automotive engine parts that need to hold a magnetic charge for sensors, or aerospace hardware that can\u2019t pick up stray metal shavings that\u2019d throw off navigation.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s dimensional check and<\/em> 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\u2014thanks to the CMM\u2019s coordinate data. That\u2019s the magic combo.<\/p>\n

But wait\u2014can a measuring machine itself generate<\/em> the magnetic data, or is it just a holding spot for another tool? Let\u2019s clarify that. If you\u2019ve got a custom setup: a CMM with a non-magnetic worktable (super important, by the way\u2014aluminum or ceramic, not steel), a calibrated magnetic probe that mounts to the CMM\u2019s existing probe rack, and software that syncs both dimensional and magnetic readings, then yes, the measuring machine is the one running the test. It\u2019s moving the probe to every point on the part, collecting both where the point is and what the magnetic field strength is there. That\u2019s way more precise than a standalone magnetic tester, which just gives you an average over the whole part. Imagine checking a medical implant\u2019s metal surface for residual magnetism near a tiny surgical hole\u2014you can\u2019t do that with a big bulk tester, but a CMM can zero in on that exact spot.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be real, though\u2014this isn\u2019t a plug-and-play upgrade. You can\u2019t just plug a magnetic wand into your old CMM from 2005 and call it a day. Here\u2019s what you need to make it work: First, a non-magnetic worktable. Most old CMMs have steel tables that\u2019ll mess with magnetic readings, so swapping that out is non-negotiable. Second, the right probe. Not all magnetic probes work on CMMs\u2014you need a high-resolution, calibrated one that syncs with your machine\u2019s controller. Third, software that talks to both the CMM\u2019s motion system and the magnetic sensor. A lot of basic CMM software only does dimensional checks, so you\u2019ll need a custom module that logs magnetic data at each coordinate. We\u2019ve worked with a few software developers to build these modules for our clients, and it\u2019s been a hit\u2014no more double data entry, no more mismatched part numbers between two different machines.<\/p>\n

Now, what about the flip side: When won\u2019t<\/em> 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\u2019re looking at very weak magnetic fields that would be distorted by even a CMM\u2019s small motor? Then you might need a different setup, but honestly, for 90% of the industrial use cases I hear about\u2014parts that need both dimensional accuracy and magnetic specs\u2014the combined setup works perfectly.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s 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\u2019 MRI scans. Before, they\u2019d measure the connector\u2019s diameter on their CMM, then send it to a separate lab to test residual magnetism. If the magnetism was off, they\u2019d have to scrap the whole batch\u2014even 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\u2019s dimensions and<\/em> map its residual magnetism at 0.1mm intervals. So when a spot near the screw hole had too much magnetism, they\u2019d 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\u2014this is the kind of impact that makes me love this job.<\/p>\n

I also get asked a lot: \u201cIs this just a fancy trick, or is it reliable?\u201d Let\u2019s be honest\u2014no 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\u2014so it\u2019s not just \u201cgood enough,\u201d it\u2019s audit-ready. That\u2019s non-negotiable for anyone who has to pass FDA or ISO checks.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s 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\u2019t interfere with the CMM\u2019s movement. The CMM\u2019s motors are encased, and the probe is set to only activate when it\u2019s taking a reading, so there\u2019s no cross-talk. We\u2019ve tested these setups with all kinds of materials\u2014steel, titanium, aluminum, even plastics with magnetic additives\u2014and we haven\u2019t had a single client complain about calibration drift from the magnetic side.<\/p>\n

Now, where\u2019s 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\u2019t 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

So, to circle back to that original question: Can a measuring machine measure magnetic properties? The short answer is\u2014if you set it up right, yes<\/em>. It\u2019s not every machine out of the box, but with the right upgrades, it\u2019s one of the most accurate ways to check both a part\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re reading this and nodding along\u2014if you\u2019re sick of moving parts between two test stations, if you\u2019re dealing with parts that need both perfect dimensions and magnetic compliance, if you\u2019re tired of scrapping whole batches over a tiny flaw\u2014let\u2019s chat. We\u2019ve 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\u2014just talking through your specific parts and what you need.<\/p>\n

CNC Turning Centers<\/a> Don\u2019t overcomplicate this. The goal is to make your job easier, not harder. So reach out whenever you\u2019re ready to talk through your needs.<\/p>\n

References<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Bolioli, S., & Le Coz, G. (2021). Integrated Dimensional and Magnetic Characterization of Metallic Components for Industrial Applications. Precision Engineering, 72, 456-463.<\/li>\n
  2. ASTM International. (2018). Standard Test Method for Residual Magnetism in Metallic Materials. ASTM E1030-18.<\/li>\n
  3. Smith, J. D., et al. (2022). Calibration of Coordinate Measuring Machines for Magnetic Field Interference. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 179, 103987.<\/li>\n
  4. EV Motor Component Quality Standards. (2023). Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Report on Magnetic Compliance for Stator Parts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Hermens Industrial Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional measuring machine enterprises in China, we’re featured by quality products and low price. Please rest assured to buy cheap measuring machine in stock here and get quotation from our factory. We also accept customized orders.
    Address: 9\/59 Moo 14, Rachathewa , Bang Phli , Samut Prakan Province 10540
    E-mail: liu_jincheng@hzhemen.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.hermensindustrial.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey everyone! Let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019re in manufacturing, quality control, or R&D, you\u2019ve probably … Can a measuring machine measure the magnetic properties of materials?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":920,"featured_media":3576,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3539],"class_list":["post-3576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-measuring-machine-4433-377475"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.champaignfiredamage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}