Conventional methods to verify gears are based on manual measurement instruments, such as vernier caliper gauges, gear pitch micrometers, profilometers, among others. The use of these instruments is widely described in technical literature, while in the actual industrial arena the coordinate measurement machines (CMM) are commonly used to obtain, with the appropriate software, all the parameters including the tooth profile. Commercial software for measuring gears with a CMM is usually based on continuous touch of teeth's flanks. In the educational centres is still common to find single-point probing point to point touch machines. To transform them into continuous touch machines, new software and accessories are required and costs can be excessive for instructional purposes. This paper presents the geometrical and mathematical principles to develop a software application for measuring gears and describes its implementation using general-purpose spreadsheet software. For this purpose, the conventionally used software of the CMM is supported by a spreadsheet that calculates the probe positions and direction of measurement. The communication between the spreadsheet and the CMM software is established by ASCII files. At the end of this process, the spreadsheet displays the measurement results, thanks to its graphical and computing power, making possible to improve the learning process of students or training professionals. (c) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.