A configuration for coupling a chromatic range sensor optical probe to a coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes an electric auto connection and a free-space fiber optic coupling with first and second coupling elements. The first coupling element has a first fiber optic connector configured to couple to wavelength detector and light source elements of a CMM through a first optical fiber, and is configured to mount to a probe head of the CMM. The second coupling element has a second fiber optic connector configured to couple to an optical pen of a chromatic range sensor (CRS) optical probe through a second optical fiber, and is configured to mount to the CRS optical probe. One of the first or second coupling elements includes a pair of optical lenses configured to collimate light received via the first optical fiber and focus the collimated light into the second optical fiber.