Patent ID: 8001697

Claim:
A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement device (AACMM) for measuring coordinates of an object in space, comprising: a base; a manually positionable articulated arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm segment including a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; a measurement device attached to the first end; an electronic circuit for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device; a rotation assembly coupling the second end to the base, the rotation assembly having a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation; a biasing member operably coupled between the rotation assembly and the second end to apply a force to the second end about the second axis of rotation the biasing member having at least one projection thereon; and an adjuster having a threaded portion, the threaded portion being arranged to engage the at least one projection, wherein the force applied by the biasing member to the arm portion changes in response to movement of the adjuster.