Overview
ISO 10360-102:2026, titled Geometrical product specifications (GPS) - Acceptance and reverification tests for coordinate measuring systems (CMS) - Part 102: Grammar of symbols for metrological characteristics and their specifications, is an international standard developed by ISO. This document is an integral part of the ISO 10360 series, which addresses the acceptance and reverification testing of coordinate measuring systems (CMSs).
The purpose of ISO 10360-102:2026 is to define the grammar of symbols used throughout the ISO 10360 series. By specifying how metrological characteristics and their specifications are symbolically represented, the standard ensures consistency and clarity across testing documentation for CMSs. It does not define the meaning of individual symbols or their components-those are provided in the respective ISO 10360 documents introducing them.
Key Topics
-
Grammar of Symbols (G3):
The standard establishes the G3 grammar, outlining how symbols for metrological characteristics and their specifications are constructed. Each G3 symbol is structured from components representing the characteristic, procedure, technology, and specification.
-
Symbol Components:
- Characteristic (V): Identifies the metrological characteristic measured (e.g., probing error).
- Procedure (P): Denotes procedural details of the test.
- Technology (T): Indicates the type or technology of the CMS being tested.
- Specification (S): Specifies the type of permissible limit (e.g., Maximum Permissible Error - MPE).
-
Symbol Construction:
Components are combined in a structured, hierarchical way. Subscripts and punctuation (colons, commas) signal the relationships and sequence between components, ensuring machine readability and consistency.
-
Plain-Text and Reduced Symbols:
The standard supports both traditional symbolic notation and plain-text formatting for cases where technical limitations make symbol rendering challenging. Reduced symbols may omit certain components (e.g., technology), provided the context is clear.
Applications
-
Standardized Test Documentation:
Manufacturers, calibration laboratories, and quality assurance teams rely on uniform symbol grammar to describe testing procedures, results, and CMS performance characteristics accurately.
-
Specification Sheets:
Suppliers use the standardized G3 symbols to communicate technical data on CMS acceptance and reverification, ensuring buyers and regulators can easily interpret compliance and capability.
-
International Consistency:
By following the ISO 10360-102 grammar, organizations ensure that documentation for coordinate measuring systems is consistent and comparable worldwide, supporting audits and verifications across borders.
-
Machine-Readable Records:
The predictable structure of G3 symbols facilitates automated parsing by software, benefiting digital quality assurance and record-keeping systems in advanced manufacturing environments.
Related Standards
-
ISO 10360-1: Geometrical product specifications - Acceptance and reverification tests for coordinate measuring machines (CMM) - Part 1: Vocabulary.
Establishes essential terms and definitions referenced by ISO 10360-102.
-
ISO 14978: Geometrical product specifications - General concepts and requirements for GPS measuring equipment.
Sets out overarching requirements for GPS-equipment specifications.
-
ISO 80000-1: Quantities and units - Part 1: General.
Provides guidelines for the notation and structure of symbols, underpinning the G3 grammar.
-
ISO/IEC Guide 99 (VIM): International vocabulary of metrology - Basic and general concepts and associated terms.
Supplies foundational vocabulary used in GPS and CMS standards.
-
ISO 10360 Series: Additional parts cover specific CMS technologies and tests, referencing ISO 10360-102 for symbol usage.
Practical Value
Adopting ISO 10360-102:2026 benefits organizations by reducing ambiguity in CMS testing documentation, promoting interoperability, and supporting global trade in precision manufactured products. Its clear, rule-based approach to symbol grammar directly enables efficiency, traceability, and confidence in both manual and automated quality processes-critical to modern industrial metrology.