The ME 471 is a handheld joystick control unit manufactured by Metrologic Group — now part of Sandvik — for manual operation of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). It serves as the operator's primary physical interface for jogging the CMM axes, controlling touch-trigger and motorized probe heads, and initiating measurement sequences through 16 programmable function keys. The large color LCD provides at-a-glance machine status, probe configuration, and diagnostic information without requiring the operator to look at the host computer monitor.

What are the advantages of the wireless ME 471?

The Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR version eliminates the cable tether between operator and CMM, reducing cable fatigue at the connector — a common failure point on wired CMM pendants. The lithium-ion battery delivers approximately 20 hours of continuous operation per charge and is rated for roughly 2,000 charge cycles, equivalent to about 3 years of daily use before battery replacement. A smart charging circuit only initiates charging when the battery is genuinely depleted, avoiding the memory effect that shortens Li-Ion service life. The transmitter/receiver pair features improved signal sensitivity over the previous generation, maintaining a stable connection across the full CMM work envelope.

How does the ME 471 interface with Renishaw probe heads?

A dedicated processing menu provides quick access to Renishaw PH10 motorized indexing probe head functions — head angle selection, probe qualification routines, and stylus change commands — directly from the handheld unit. This reduces the number of trips between the CMM and the host computer during part setup and probe configuration changes. The 16 function keys are freely assignable, allowing metrology programmers to map application-specific measurement macros (e.g., "Measure Bore Pattern," "Align to Datum Plane") to dedicated hardware buttons for repetitive inspection workflows.