Probe length

[[Ke...]]

Recently I had a crash and when I checked out the probe the shaft had push back into the area for the pin wrench everything else looked fine. Is it possible to use this probe with the new length if it calibrates ok?

I personally want to just get rid of it but if I am asked if it could work by my higher ups I would like to have confidence in answering them.

[[Ow...]]

I don't know what type or brand of probe you're using but, I believe your options are:

1. If it repeatably calibrates good several times without moving, I don't see why not.

2. It appears that the shaft is glued-in and depending on the manufacturer, you may be able to replace it under warranty for coming unglued. However, if it didn't come unglued, then it would have probably broken.

3. Can you re-glue it?

4. Ask the manager what the cost would be if the probe was giving bad results that lead to producing bad parts and if he would be willing to be held accountable for that cost.

[[To...]]

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DIdn't you used to have a quote in your signature similar to #4?

[[Ow...]]

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I had something along the lines of "You seldom improve customer satisfaction by cutting cost but, you often cut cost by improving quality" so, yeah I guess it's similar.
One thing is for sure, I've been around long enough to know "***" rolls down hill and to cover myself...lol

[[SH...]]

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You should not use that probe, it may have shorten again during your running, quality first.
Remember I had broken one probe, that was 0. 5 mm, my manager keep it under his hat, so I have no issue....

[[To...]]

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KC, Shabu has a point. It could move in between your qualifications. If you insist on using it, it is better to verify your probe instead of qualifying it. Just create a program, preferably using an artifact other than you reference sphere, to check that your stylus is still working correctly. Every time you qualify your stylus, it corrects any changes that may have occurred since the last qualification. This is actually a good practice for all of your stylus systems though many people don’t do it. This process is similar to running a “gold master part” in between machine calibrations, especially after collisions.

[[Ro...]]

Tell your boss "I think this will hold for a little bit, but we will need a backup ASAP"
Then the moment the new one arrives, throw the old one in the trash.

Then go around your boss and get the guy who orders your drill bits and end mills to keep a supply of Zeiss Styli on hand in whatever sort of a KanBan system you have in your facility.

[[Ro...]]

And then...........
Every month or so go into your tooling crib and grab a Styli or 2, not enough to get anybody's attention, and put those into a secret container hidden away in the lab in a nondescript box in the bottom shelf that holds old lathe parts that says "Sample parts, do not throw away".
Do this every month or 2 and after a year you'll have a nice little supply of styli on hand and you never have to go thru the hassle of begging your boss, who obviously doesn't have a clue that Styli are perishable tools.

Do this for 5 years and you'll have about $5K of rubys that nobody but you knows exists.

(Note: i did this because our tooling system refuses to keep enough styli on hand. The amount i requested that would cover us in the case of a grand mal catastrophe. they only want to stock 2 or 3 of any given size, noting that their records indicate that we don't use very many. but i have 1 star tip with five 2mm styli, and if that gets knocked off we'll be short of a refill. so i took matters into my own hand, for their benefit)

[[Jo...]]

My first job was working in a fab shop. There was a nice 24" Starrett ruler that had been accidentally cut off at the 1" mark. "everyone" knew it was bad, but too nice of a straight edge to throw in garbage can. One day there was an entire job that came back 1" too short..the ruler mysteriously disappeared afterwards. So what did it cost ?

[[Ke...]]

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I am not using the probe. It was a hypothetical question in case I am ever asked.

I have had prior jobs where they insisted something of that nature be used.

[[Am...]]

I've had this happen and had people qualify it without noticing, seemed to work ok, but seriously I wouldn't risk it at all. Just throw it away, tell your boss it didn't work I mean you're saving what $80-90 dollars by keeping it? Its absolutely ridiculous that a manager would want to use 100k equipment to measure the parts and want to skimp out on using broken probes to save less then $100. Whatever the cost is doesn't matter but the only probes ive seen do this are the .8mm and smaller and the 1mm cylinders, you can get those smal probes for 78 on q-mark and even the cylinder is maybe $150. Would it not cost more to deal with a customer return? of a single order?

[[De...]]

I have a phrase I like to use for this situation..

"Don't buy a Ferrari if you can't afford the tires."

[[Mi...]]

The way I look at with the limited info is, the probe shank was damaged a noticeably amount. This means it's damaged. I would put in a new one and toss the damaged one so it doesn't get put back in another machine. If the boss asks if it can be used the way it is I would say "No, it's damaged." If he asks if I'm sure I would "yes, it's damaged."

[[Da...]]

Zeiss Probes do this all the time
Thermal fit does not work every-time

I use Lock tight Super glue works great just be fast the glue drys quickly.

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