The Ideal Stylus System
Choosing the right components and construction impacts
your measuring result

Stylus systems
Searching for perfection

Be it point measurements for exceptional accuracy or the scanningof certain materials, we have the right stylus system for any
measuring task. Many factors influence the selection of different
components, which is why there’s no standard solution for people
looking for the perfect stylus system. This white paper provides thebasics for selecting the right components in a way that’s matchedto each measuring task and environment.

1234

Stylus system components

13Styli

Extensions

form the heart of the stylus systemenable you to probe deep andand establish a link to thehard-to-reach measuring points.

component.

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Connecting elements

Adapter plates

are needed to construct complex

form the interface between thestylus systems.

stylus and measuring machine.

21 The stylus
The first point of contact to your workpiece

The stylus is the “tip” of the stylus system and is the first pointof contact to the workpiece. Even the construction of the stylus,
which comprises the adapter, shaft and stylus tip, impacts thestylus system and thus the measurement result.

Adapter

Shaft

Stylus tip

DKDG
MLL

Probe components

Specifications

Abbreviation

Dimensions in mm

Stylus tip

DK

Sphere diameter

Shaft and stylus tip

ML

Measuring length

Shaft

DS

Shaft diameter

Adapter

DG

Diameter of body

Adapter, shaft and stylus tip

L

Total length of the stylus

3Stylus tips
Three factors must be taken into account when choosing
a stylus tip: the stylus specifications, and the shape andmaterial of the tip. All features influence each other, whichmeans some stylus shapes are not available in all materials.

ShapesBall-tip styli have the widest field of

Disk styli are used primarily to measure

Cylinder styli are used for 2D

application as they exhibit the same

inner and outer cylinders of boreholes, tomeasurements and are especially wellprobing behavior in every direction. Notemeasure undercuts, and to localize deep

suited for narrow workpieces such as

the size of the stylus tip: the bigger it is,grooves and large boreholes. However,thin sheets. Even narrow workpiece edges

the bigger the mechanical filter will be.

this usually results in strong filtering of thecan be measured using cylinder styli.

This means the profile of the workpiecesurface roughness. As calibration is very

It is important to ensure that the stylus

will be smoothed. This is often desirable

complicated and time-consuming, disk

axis is mechanically and very precisely

during form measurement.

styli are rarely used.

aligned with the feature axis on theworkpiece. Otherwise, you may end up
with incorrect measuring results.

Spherical cylinder styli have a field of

Half-sphere styli are well suited forStar styli enable you to probe yourapplication similar to that of cylinder

measuring undercuts. They are also

workpiece from any direction and arestyli. The sphere-shaped tip helps

used when large sphere diameters arethus frequently used for measuring

determine surface flatness.

needed for a measuring task. Due toside surfaces. They measure in four

the limit value for the weight of thedimensions, meaning they are particularlyprobe, the spheres are halved andsuitable for measuring boreholes.

even cut out in the XXT area.

4Materials

Ruby

Silicon nitride

Diamond

The standard for almost all applications.

Suitable for the same applications andEspecially well suited for measurements

The advantage is that very small spheres

ruby-tipped styli. Minimal materialon hard surfaces like ceramic or softcan be produced, from a diameter ofdeposits are built up when scanningaluminum alloys. The sphere will not

0.12 mm and up, however ruby is notaluminum or other soft materials.

wear out and soft material will not buildup on the surface during scanning.

as strong as certain other materials
when it comes to permanent scanning.

Ceramic

With extremely soft materials madeVery light material that is used primarilyof aluminum, for example, workpiece

for large reference sphere diameters

Diamond coating

deposits may collect on the ruby surface.

(up to 45 mm) and disk styli as well as

Ceramic spheres with a diamond coating

However, materials with very hardfor scanning rough surfaces. To comply

have a roundness below 150 nm – whichsurfaces will result in wear. The highlywith the limit values of the probe in

makes them even more precise.

precise sphere shape will change andterms of weight, half-spheres are madebecome less accurate.

of ceramic.
Zirconium oxide

SteelHard metal

Compared to ruby, this is a rather soft

Mainly used for disk styli.

Makes it possible to manufacture styli inmaterial that is used for styli of manually

Diameters up to 100 mm are possible.

special sizes.

operated measuring machines.

Stylus specifications
Depending on the measuring task,

the actual surface roughness. The larger

there may be different specification

the stylus tip, the larger the filter will be.

requirements for the stylus. TheThis should be taken into consideration

mechanical filtration effect must thereforewhen selecting the sphere size and, if

be considered when selecting the spherenecessary, a smaller sphere should bediameter. Compared to the fine structures

selected.

of the workpiece surface, the stylus tip isrelatively large and can thus hardly capture5Stylus shafts and their setup
There are two types of stylus structures: with a steppedor straight shaft.

Stepped shafts

Styli with a straight shaft

have the advantage that the shaft

have a larger measurement length

diameter is reduced at the stylus tipand thus a larger measurement range.

and thus help achieve better flexural

It is therefore sometimes necessary tostrength. The drawback is the small

use straight styli to reach all points.

usable measurement range.

DSEDS

DSF

MLF
MLE

DG

DG

DSMLMLLL

The stylus shaft material
When selecting a shaft material, youneed a perfect balance between rigidity,
weight and thermal linear expansion.
The stylus rigidity is influenced by thechoice of material and by the crosssection of the shaft. Shafts made ofsolid material are more rigid than thoseMaterial

WeightExpansion

Deflection

UseHard metalSmall, thin and stepped stylus
shaftsCeramic

Stylus shaft, longThermoFit

Long, thick stylus shafts

made of tubes.

62 Connecting elements
Constructing stylus systems

There are a range of different connecting elements forconstructing stylus systems. These can be fixed cubes,
angle pieces or end angles.

The standard connecting element is thecube as it allows attachment of several
styli in different directions. But there arealso freely adjustable rotary elements thatenable rotation around the longitudinal
axis and support the backlash-free angularadjustment of the stylus system. Thismeans any angle can be set. There aremany ways of combining elements. Pleaseobserve the following:• A stylus system should have as few• Moveable elements like knuckle joints• Combining connecting elements thatconnecting elements as possible asincrease the flexibility of a stylus

become thinner as they move to theevery interface, especially in batchsystem. In contrast to set angle pieces,stylus are more rigid and more stable.

measurement mode, can loosen.

any angle can be set repeatedly withThis can lead to a loss in rigidity.

the knuckle joint. An integrated cone

It is preferable to combine several

receiver also enables the rotary setting

connections like milled angle pieces areelements in a single element, such as anof space angles. This ensures the stylus

preferable because the angles do notextension and a cube, when possible.

system remains flexible.

shift during continuous operation.

• For batch measurement mode, fixed7

3 Extensions
General Properties

As a rule, all extensions should be as rigid and light as possible.

Extensions help set up complex stylus

extensions is based on the permissiblesystems. They enable the setup of longweight, rigidity and thermal stability

styli to measure hard-to-reach features

requirements.

on a workpiece. Extensions can also

Please also bear in mind the guiding

be connected directly on the adapter

principle “Thickest to thinnest.” This

plate to construct the stylus system in z

means the most rigid extension shoulddirection. Both extension options support

always be selected for the adapter plate,the construction of complex system

i.e. a thick one. Thin extensions are only

configurations, which reduces the number

recommended once accessibility close toof stylus changes.

the workpiece becomes important.

The selection of suitable stylus and plate

Scanning speed

Form error on the ring diameter. 15 mm

To achieve the highest possible scanning024speed with low form error, select2 mm/s scanning speed

6Stylus DK=4 mm, Z=100 mm, Y=500 mm

8µm 10121416180.7
1.2ThermoFit D=20 mm
Aluminum D=20 mm
0,5Titanium D=20 mm
0.5 CFK standard D=20 mm
1.3Titanium D=11 mm

extensions with a large diameter, lowweight and high rigidity.

8 mm/s scanning speed
1.7
2.2

ThermoFit D=20 mm
Aluminum D=20 mm
3.7
Titanium D=20 mm
5.8 CFK standard D=20 mm
7.3
Titanium D=11 mm
12 mm/s scanning speed
2.4
ThermoFit D=20 mm
4.1
Aluminum D=20 mm
6.4
Titan D=20 mm
10.1 CFK standard D=20 mm
13.0
Titanium D=11 mm

8Extensions and their material properties

Aluminum

Titanium

Stainless steel

is relatively light. With a thermal

is very light. Compared to aluminum,

has a high weight and a very high thermal

expansion coefficient of 23.4 μm / °C / m,titanium extensions have higher rigidity

expansion coefficient of 16.0 μm / °C / m.

the material is thermally unstable.

and lower thermal expansion. The

Such extensions should only be used in

Such extensions should only be used

extensions should only be used inwell-climatized measuring labs.

in well-climatized measuring labs.

well-climatized measuring labs.

ZEISS ThermoFit
is particularly light and therefore
particularly well suited to sensors
with high requirements regarding
weight. In addition, this material
is thermally very stable and does
not expand at fluctuating
temperatures. Unlike traditional
carbon-fiber extensions, they exhibit
practically no thermal torsion. The
wrapped carbon-fiber extensions
can thus be used in production
environments,
too.

MaterialWeightExpansion

Deflection

Use

Stainless steel

Stylus extensions, precise
measuring tasks

Aluminum

Stylus extensions

ThermoFit

Stylus shaft, long stylus
extensions

Titanium

Stylus extensions Base94 Adapter plates
Central interface to the probe

Adapter plates are the central interface

ZEISS adapter plates feature a

between stylus and measuring machine.

programmed ID chip. The software

They are selected to match a particular

options “Fast stylus change” and “Flystylus. Adapter plates from differentscan” only work with this ID chip.

providers differ only in terms of functions

These functions mean you can save up

and quality.

to 70 percent of your measuring time.

Conclusion
The perfect stylus system always depends on themeasuring task at hand.

A rule of thumb is: A good stylus system
has few joints, is as rigid and temperatureresistant as possible and weighs as little
as possible. It’s important that the stylussystem can record all probing points safely.
Many sensors also have strict requirements
in terms of the weight and length of thestylus system. Some of them can only bear
EN_60_025_0017I CZ-03/2018

stylus systems that weigh up to 15 g. In
that case, ensure you use materials thatare as light as possible. What’s more, theweight should be distributed as evenly as
possibly as the limit values of the pull-out
torque must not be exceeded.
Selecting the right stylus system is aneasy way to reduce the measuring time.
Constructing complex stylus systemsreduces the number of styli and systems
you need. This means fewer stylus
changes, which saves a lot of time andtherefore money, too.
Carl ZeissIndustrielle Messtechnik GmbH73446 Oberkochen
Germany

Phone:
Fax:+ 49 (0)7361 6336 0+ 49 (0)7361 6336 29

Email: accessories.metrology@zeiss.com
www.zeiss.de/messtechnik

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