CMM Fixturing FAQ

Most customers complete initial rail installation and first plate checkout in under one hour. No special tooling or machining is required — you need only basic hand tools to bolt the docking rail to your existing CMM granite.

The Starter Bundle (from $1,525) includes one fixture plate and a docking rail — the minimum to get the Loc-N-Load™ system running on your CMM. The Complete System (from $1,900) adds additional plates, clamps, and work-holding components for a fully operational multi-part setup. For a detailed breakdown, see the product pages or contact us for a bundle recommendation based on your part mix.

Yes — this is the recommended starting point. Download free STEP files for any product and drop them into your CMM programming environment or CAD software to verify fit before committing to an order. No purchase required; create a free account to access all files instantly. Download Free CAD Models →

Book a free 30-minute demo with one of our Applications Specialists. Tell us your CMM brand and table size, your typical part sizes, and your current setup process — we’ll give you a specific product list and bundle recommendation on the call. No obligation. Book a Free Demo →

Individual product prices can be found by clicking on the desired part within each product category on our website or by downloading a PDF of the product catalog from the website.

You can download and print a product catalog by going to the Product Catalog links on the website in the top navigation and click the link or call us at (508) 869-3344.

Please call (508) 869-3344 for consideration to be an Inspection Arsenal® distributor.

No account is required to browse products and pricing. An account is recommended for order history, downloads, and CAD file access. Creating one is free and takes under two minutes.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover) through our secure checkout. For purchase orders and net terms, contact us or purchase through one of our Authorized Distributors.

Purchase orders are accepted through our Authorized Distributor Network. For direct PO processing inquiries, contact us at (508) 869-3344.

Yes. Every product in the Inspection Arsenal® line is available in both Inch (¼-20) and Metric (M6) configurations. Both variants are stocked and ship within 1–2 business days.

In-stock products typically ship within 1–2 business days from our facility in Boylston, MA. Custom-engineered fixtures have longer lead times depending on complexity — contact us for a project-specific timeline.

Both options are available. You can order directly from our online store at any time — immediate pricing, no quote required, secure checkout. For volume pricing, net terms, or if you need to work within an existing vendor agreement, our Authorized Distributor Network can support you. Find an Authorized Distributor →

Yes. For multi-facility purchasing, enterprise inquiries, or orders requiring net terms, contact us directly for pricing. Contact Us for Enterprise Pricing →

Refer to our Terms & Conditions for full return policy details. For product fit or compatibility questions before ordering, our Applications Specialists can help you select the right system — contact us before purchasing if you have any uncertainty.

CAD models for Inspection Arsenal® products can be obtained by searching for the CAD file for the product you are interested in the “Shop Inspection Arsenal” page. Select the file and check out the file through the shopping cart as if you were purchasing. The file has no cost so you will not be billed. You will then recieve a download link at the confirmation page and an email. Files can also be accessed from your “my account” page.

Please contact our sales department with your question using the form on the Contact page, or by calling 508-869-3344. Our technical design department will call or email you to answer your question.

True position test results internally show a deviation within .005″. Internal repeatability tests show deviation of .0000″–.0017″ with an outlier of .0026″ in the Y-axis and almost no movement in X with only .005″ as the highest deviation.

Plates are manufactured using MIC-6® with the following published flatness specification: “Flatness tolerance is maintained within .015″ on ¼”-5/8″ thickness (over a max of 8ft.).”

Yes, send Phillips Precision, Inc. a sample part or a solid model. We will do our best to help to provide you with considerations of Loc-N-Load™ plates and Inspection Arsenal® Work Holding.

The standard hole pattern on the Loc-N-Load plates is 1”. However, due to popular demand, 6×6, 6×12, and 12×12 plates are also made with a .5″ hole pattern.

The slots in the rails make it easy to adapt to different bolt hole patterns on various CMM machines.

Docking rail lengths should be considered to fit the longest axis of the machine and plate sizes should be considered based off the size of the work piece. If you send us the size of your CMM granite and the size of parts you typically measure, we can help recommend some suggestions.

Old School of Thought – “My CMM is ‘this’ big, I need a grid plate ‘this’ big to fit on it.”
Inspection Arsenal School of Thought – “My part is ‘this’ big, I need a grid plate ‘this’ big to fit it on.”

Certain replacement parts are available. Please submit your request through our website contact page or by calling (508) 869-3344.

The screw sizes are 1/4-20 (Inch) or M6 (Metric).

Regarding probe structure and mechanics: The Loc-N-Load™ plate system, and/or the magnetic v-blocks may disrupt the mechanical process of some CMM probe bodies. There are several known solutions if you find that your measurements are inaccurate or that your probe is behaving strangely:

1. Try using a longer probe (possibly with extensions) to keep the magnetic body outside of the field produced by the magnets.
2. Try rotating or reorienting the probe body to increase distance from the magnet(s).
3. Use a probe that is not affected by magnets. Some manufacturers may refer to this as “non-inhibitive.”

Regarding material composition: Carbide probe tip shanks have a somewhat ferrous composition, and are therefore affected by magnets. If measuring a magnet directly, it is to be expected that the probe will not function properly. However, internal tests on site showed differences of less than .001” in measurements between a high magnetism test and a low magnetism test. Carbide and ceramic probe styli were used for this test along with magnetic and non-magnetic v-blocks.

Regarding magnetic pieces: The probability of your pieces becoming magnetic from simply sitting on the magnets is unlikely. If you see that your part has become magnetic, try using a demagnetizer or follow the steps listed above.

In most cases, yes. Loc-N-Load™ docking rails use slotted mounting holes that adapt to a wide range of CMM granite bolt patterns. If you provide your CMM brand, model, and granite table size, our Applications Specialists can confirm compatibility before you order.

No. That is the core value of the Loc-N-Load™ system. The precision-ground locating pins deliver repeatable part location every swap — your CMM program moves with the plate, and you datum once. This is what enables offline setup and eliminates re-run risk between operators and shifts.

Plate selection is based on your part size, not your CMM table size. A common mistake is ordering a large plate to “fill” the CMM table — the correct approach is selecting the smallest plate that fully supports your part’s datum structure. If you share your typical part dimensions, we can recommend the right plate family.

Yes. Multiple plates can be staged on a single docking rail, which is useful for family-of-parts inspection runs. Plate spacing depends on rail length and part size. Contact us if you need help configuring a multi-plate setup.

Fixture plates are manufactured from MIC-6® cast aluminum tooling plate, selected for its consistent flatness, dimensional stability, and machinability. Flatness tolerance is maintained within .015″ on ¼″–5/8″ thickness.

The rails bolt to your CMM granite using the existing ¼-20 or M6 hole pattern. They are designed for long-term installation — the rails stay on the machine while plates are swapped in and out. Most users leave their rails permanently installed.

Yes. Spider-Clamp™ and Skinny-Vise™ are fully compatible with the Loc-N-Load™ fixture plate system. They mount directly to the plate hole pattern using standard ¼-20 (Inch) or M6 (Metric) hardware. Both are available as standalone products or included in bundle configurations.

Yes. The Loc-N-Load™ docking rail is designed as a natural platform for cobot gripper integration. The repeatable snap-in/snap-out plate exchange makes it well-suited for automated CMM loading applications. Contact us to discuss your specific automation configuration.

Lead times vary by project complexity. After receiving your part drawing or solid model, our engineering team will provide a project assessment and timeline. To get started, submit your drawings via the Custom Fixture inquiry page.

Keep locating pin bores and mating surfaces free of chips and debris. Wipe contact surfaces with a lint-free cloth before seating plates. Avoid abrasive cleaners on the aluminum surface. The neodymium magnets in the docking rail require no maintenance but should be kept clear of ferrous swarf that can accumulate over time.

Contact us with your part weight and plate size for a specific answer. For unusually heavy components, our Applications Specialists can confirm whether standard plates are appropriate or whether a custom solution is warranted.

Yes. Phillips Precision, Inc. — the manufacturer of all Inspection Arsenal® products — is ISO 9001:2015 certified. AS9100D certification is currently in progress with an expected completion of Q2 2026.

Yes. The Loc-N-Load™ system is specified in quality labs operating under ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 13485, and IATF 16949. The documented, repeatable setup process supports audit trail requirements in regulated environments. Traceable setup documentation can be established from day one.

Yes. Repeatable part location is a prerequisite for valid gage R&R results. The precision-ground locating pins eliminate operator-to-operator setup variability — a primary source of R&R noise in manual fixturing setups. Many customers adopt Loc-N-Load™ specifically to reduce measurement system variability before a gage R&R audit.

The Open-Sight™ plates are made from 1/2″ thick polycarbonate stock with a scratch-resistant coating. The flatness on this material varies but is within +/- .025″ across a sheet per material specifications. Plates made in the same batch will have similar thicknesses. We cannot guarantee that all of the plates in your order will be from the same batch, so thickness could vary. For critical applications, leveling feet may be added to fixture plates. Please call (508) 869-3344 for details.

The holes for the polycarbonate Open-Sight™ plates are .5″ spacing and 1/4-20 thread.

Yes, the viewing window and the numbering and lettering on the sides are as shown in the picture on the website.

Open-Sight™ plates are made from polycarbonate plastic, and due to the nature of this material, they are not designed or manufactured to be perfectly flat. However, since Open-Sight™ plates are designed primarily for inspection using a vision system — where measurements are taken optically through the transparent plate — flatness is not a design consideration. It should not be a concern or affect the accuracy of inspection for your parts.