Star Probe straightness check

[[Lu...]]

Hello,

We recently had an issue with parts failing when using the Star Probe, but calibration would pass using the sphere.

After investigating we found that the probe was slightly angled and not straight. We loosen the probe and rotated it until we felt it looked straight in XandY. 

Question : is there a way to check the physical alignment/straightness on this probe ?? Does a fixture exist or any regular maintenance recommended (other than the daily calibrations with spheres).

[[No...]]

Zeiss offers a universal probe assembly aid called FixAssist, but in my opinion this is expensive luxury. I always adjusted my straight probes either through eyesight (by lining up - with one eye closed - the probe shaft with the edge of a magnetic chuck mounted on the granite) or with a simple "homebrew" fixture consisting of a milled probe plate holder and a vertical movable v-block in a sliding groove to center the tip. Here's a design draft:

 

[[Ri...]]

I use an indicator running it along the shaft of the Stylus and align the stylus to one of the axes (X or Y) within .001" per 1 inch of stroke.

If you are using two or more styli in two or more axes, just indicate one of them. Otherwise, you will be chasing them all day.

Edited 5 hours ago

[[Ch...]]

Lucas,

you can move the star probe parallel to the component and then check the gap to see whether it is parallel.