Renishaw PH20 PLUS stretches 5-axis touch-trigger reach to 300 mm

Renishaw is introducing the PH20 PLUS 5-axis touch-trigger system for coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), positioning it as the successor to the PH20 head with more reach rather than a rethink of the measurement method.

The headline figure is access. The PH20 PLUS offers over 50% increase in inspection reach compared to the original PH20 head, with a maximum working length of up to 300 mm using a 50 mm stylus. Renishaw puts the added reach at 107 mm, aimed at features deep inside parts and other hard-to-reach areas.

Reach without abandoning the installed base

The PH20 PLUS features a redesigned kinematic mount that supports longer probe configurations, and the head can use longer and heavier probe configurations. That matters for shops that already built measurement strategies around the earlier platform.

The compatibility story is the practical core of the launch. The system maintains compatibility with existing TP20 modules via the PB20 adaptor, and the PH20 PLUS system is fully compatible with Renishaw's UCC controller. For CMM users, that points toward a replacement path instead of a rip-and-replace cycle.

The underlying pedigree is familiar. The original system was launched in 2010 and utilizes head motion technology from the REVO® 5-axis measurement system. The PH20 PLUS keeps that foundation and pushes the working envelope outward.

"With PH20 PLUS, we've focused on extending capability which we think will appeal to both existing PH20 customers and those with measurement requirements which could previously not be met by the existing head," said Nathan Fielder, Product Manager at Renishaw.

Automation around the head

The hardware story does not stop at the head. A new modular rack system supports automatic and repeatable probe module changing, addressing the throughput side of touch-trigger inspection rather than just nominal reach.

Renishaw is also attaching the launch to the trade-show calendar. The PH20 PLUS will be demonstrated at IMTS 2026 at Quality Assurance booths 134314 and 134524.

The engineering takeaway is narrow but useful: this is an extension of an established touch-trigger ecosystem, not a new measurement philosophy. For plants already standardized on TP20 probe modules and UCC controller integration, the decision is likely to hinge on whether the extra 107 mm and 300 mm working length unlock parts that previously forced awkward setups or compromise fixturing.