Spatial　cam　is　a　type　of　cam　mechanism　with　three-dimensional　configuration　in　motion　morphology.　The　cam　profile　curve　was　a　groove　curve　generated　around　a　cylinder　which　can　rotate　about　its　longitudinal　axis,　by　which　the　roller　follower　was　driven　to　move　along　the　guided　groove.　Theoretical　profile　of　a　spatial　cam　can　be　considered　as　the　trajectory　surface　left　on　the　cylinder　when　the　roller　follower　moved　along　the　roller　guide.　In　order　to　realize　the　designed　precision　motion,　manufactured　cams　must　be　checked　after　production　to　assure　quality.　How　to　accurately　measure　a　spatial　cam　still　remains　a　puzzle　for　designers　and　manufacturers.　This　becomes　critical,　especially　in　the　inspection　of　high　precision　cams.　As　the　CMM　was　one　of　the　most　reliable　and　accurate　metrological　tool,　a　cam　inspection　method　using　a　universal　CMM　was　developed.　In　this　research,　a　Brown　&　Sharp　coordinate　measure　machine　was　used　to　check　spatial　cams.　Firstly,　according　the　required　motion,　the　desired　cam　profile　was　mathematically　determined　by　using　the　theory　of　envelopes　for　a　one-parameter　family　of　surfaces.　Secondly,　the　cam　coordinate　system　was　related　to　the　CMM　coordinate　system.　Thirdly,　the　sampling　strategy,　that　is　the　moving　point　matrix　of　the　probe,　was　established.　Fourthly,　the　manufacturing　profile　error　of　the　cam　was　evaluated　according　to　the　data　acquired.　Software,　which　was　able　to　communicate　with　the　PC　DMIS,　was　developed　to　assist　this　measuring　task.