A coordinate measuring machine system comprising: an articulated arm comprising a plurality of transfer members and a plurality of articulation members connecting at least two transfer members to each other, a base at a proximal end, and a mounting portion at a distal end; a contact probe configured to be mounted to the mounting portion such that the articulated arm can measure a position contacted by the contact probe; a portable measuring unit comprising one or more non-contact measuring devices configured to be mounted to the mounting portion; wherein: the portable measuring unit comprising the one or more non-contact measuring devices is configured to be removed from the mounting portion as a single portable measuring unit; the portable measuring unit is configured to measure a position of the portable measuring unit while not mounted to the articulated arm; the portable measuring unit is configured to measure the position of the portable measuring unit simultaneous to the portable measuring unit gathering data regarding the coordinates of an object and while the portable measuring unit is not mounted to the articulated arm; the portable measuring unit is configured to process the data regarding the coordinates of an object at a lower precision than the precision available from the data to provide immediate feedback to a user; and the data is stored by the portable measuring unit or transferred from the portable measuring unit for full precision processing of the data. an articulated arm comprising a plurality of transfer members and a plurality of articulation members connecting at least two transfer members to each other, a base at a proximal end, and a mounting portion at a distal end; a contact probe configured to be mounted to the mounting portion such that the articulated arm can measure a position contacted by the contact probe; a portable measuring unit comprising one or more non-contact measuring devices configured to be mounted to the mounting portion; wherein: the portable measuring unit comprising the one or more non-contact measuring devices is configured to be removed from the mounting portion as a single portable measuring unit; the portable measuring unit is configured to measure a position of the portable measuring unit while not mounted to the articulated arm; the portable measuring unit is configured to measure the position of the portable measuring unit simultaneous to the portable measuring unit gathering data regarding the coordinates of an object and while the portable measuring unit is not mounted to the articulated arm; the portable measuring unit is configured to process the data regarding the coordinates of an object at a lower precision than the precision available from the data to provide immediate feedback to a user; and the data is stored by the portable measuring unit or transferred from the portable measuring unit for full precision processing of the data. the portable measuring unit comprising the one or more non-contact measuring devices is configured to be removed from the mounting portion as a single portable measuring unit; the portable measuring unit is configured to measure a position of the portable measuring unit while not mounted to the articulated arm; the portable measuring unit is configured to measure the position of the portable measuring unit simultaneous to the portable measuring unit gathering data regarding the coordinates of an object and while the portable measuring unit is not mounted to the articulated arm; the portable measuring unit is configured to process the data regarding the coordinates of an object at a lower precision than the precision available from the data to provide immediate feedback to a user; and the data is stored by the portable measuring unit or transferred from the portable measuring unit for full precision processing of the data.