contour to the surface being scanned enhancing the stability of the tester 100 the chassis 102 may also have a platform 103 for mounting a control computer 112 in the present embodiment the control computer 112 is a personal laptop computer but in other embodiments the control computer could be built into the body of the chassis 102 and could be a purpose built machine as will be explained in greater detail below the control computer 112 will control the operation of the electric motors 106 and thus the speed and direction of the tester 100 the various motors of the present disclosure may be open loop ac or dc motors stepper motors servo motors or other motors that satisfy the particular application in one embodiment the tester 100 will have a maximum forward speed of about 1 inches per second this maximum speed may be the same in reverse although it is understood that in operation the tester 100 may not travel this fast the tester 100 may also provide a translation table 114 the translation table 114 provides for movement e g translation or rastering of a carriage 116 in a direction lateral to the direction of travel of the tester 100 in the present embodiment the translation table.