We sell these fine Renishaw probes (and others).

Choosing styli for inspection

By choosing from our comprehensive range of genuine Renishaw styli, you can be sure that the design and materials of your stylus will be optimized. However, your choice of stylus configuration can have a significant effect on the accuracy of the measurements you take.

A few simple rules can be applied to maximize accuracy for most probing applications.

Terminology

Stylus terminology A = ball diameter

B = overall length

C = stem diameter

D = effective working length

Overall length

Renishaw uses a standard description of overall length, measured from the rear mounting face of the stylus to the centre of the ball.

Effective working length (EWL)

This is measured from the centre of the ball to the point at which the stem will foul against the feature when measuring the part.

Rules for choosing a stylus

A few simple rules for stylus selection can be applied to maximize accuracy for most probing applications

Keep styli short

The more the stylus bends or deflects, the lower the accuracy. Probing with the minimum stylus length for your application is the best option.

Minimize joints

Every time you join styli and extensions, you introduce potential bending and deflection points. Try, wherever possible, to keep to the minimum number of pieces possible for your application.

Keep the stylus ball as large as possible

There are several reasons for this:

It maximises your ball/stem clearance, thereby reducing the chance of false triggers caused by 'shanking out' on the stylus stem, and increasing the EWL;
A larger ball allows a larger stem diameter, increasing the stiffness of the stylus;
The larger ruby ball reduces the effect of the surface finish of the component being inspected.

EWL can also be affected by assembly tolerances. For this reason Renishaw styli are assembled to exacting standards in controlled conditions.

Recommended touch-trigger probes:

TP2 specification

Specification summary	TP2-5W
Principal application	Universal DCC and manual CMMs.
Sense direction	5-axis: ?X, ?Y, +Z
Unidirection repeatability maximum (2s ?m) (at stylus tip)	0.35 ?m (0.000014 in)
Pre-travel variation 360? (XY plane)	?0.80 ?m (0.000032 in)
Weight *excluding shank and cable	22 g (0.78 oz)
Stylus force range (adjustable)	0.07 N - 0.15 N
Stylus force (set by Renishaw)	0.07 N - 0.08 N
Stylus overtravel (typical)	XY plane: ?14? +Z axis: 4 mm (0.16 in) @ 0.07 N 3 mm (0.12 in) @ 0.15 N
Maximum extension on PH10 series	300 mm (11.81 in)
Mounting method	M8 thread
Suitable interface	PI 4-2, PI 7-2, PI 200, UCC

TP20 specification

Sense directions	All modules except 6W 6W	?X, ?Y, +Z ?X, ?Y, ?Z
Suitable interface		PI4-2, PI7-2, PI200, UCC
Pre-travel variation	LF SF / EM1 / EM2 MF EF 6W	?0.60 ?m (? 0.000023 in) ?0.80 ?m (? 0.000032 in) ?1.00 ?m (? 0.000039 in) ?2.00 ?m (? 0.000079 in) ?1.50 ?m (?0.000058 in)
Unidirectional repeatability	LF / SF / EM1 / EM2 MF EF 6W	?0.35 ?m (? 0.000014 in) ?0.50 ?m (? 0.000020 in) ?0.65 ?m (? 0.000026 in) ?0.80 ?m (? 0.000032 in)
Repeatability of stylus changing	MCR20 Manual	?0.50 ?m (? 0.000020 in) ?1.00?m (? 0.000040 in)
Mounting method		M8 thread

TP6(A) specification

Specification summary	TP6	TP6A
Principle application	Robust universal DCC and manual CMMs.	As TP6 but with fast probe exchange without requalification.
Sense directions	5-axis: ?X, ?Y, +Z	5-axis: ?X, ?Y, +Z
Unidirectional repeatability maximum (2s ?m) (at stylus tip)	0.35 ?m (0.000014 in)	0.35 ?m (0.000014 in)
Pre-travel variation 360? (XY plane)	?1 ?m (?0.00004 in)	?1 ?m (?0.00004 in)
Weight	56 g (1.98 oz)	76 g (2.68 oz)
Stylus force range (adjustable)	0.11 N - 0.3 N	0.11 N - 0.3 N
Stylus force (set by Renishaw)	0.11 N - 0.13 N	0.11 N - 0.13 N
Stylus overtravel (typical)	XY plane: ?22? +Z axis: 5.5 mm (0.22 in) @ 0.11 N 2 mm (0.08 in) @ 0.3 N	XY plane: ?22? +Z axis: 5.5 mm (0.22 in) @ 0.11 N 2 mm (0.08 in) @ 0.3
Maximum extension on PH10 series	200 mm (7.87 in)	200 mm (7.87 in)
Mounting method	M8 thread	Autojoint
Suitable interface	PI 4-2, PI 7-2, PI 200, UCC	PI 4-2, PI 7-2, PI 200, UCC