Probes, styli, systems incorporating same and methods of manufacture

Abstract

A probe for use with measuring equipment, such as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) or a profilometer includes a shaft and a probe tip coupled with the shaft. At least a portion of the probe tip comprises a superabrasive material such as polycrystalline diamond. The probe tip may exhibit a variety of different geometries including, for example, substantially spherical, substantially cylindrical with a high aspect (length to diameter) ratio, or substantially disc-shaped. In other embodiments, the tip may include a converging portion leading to a fine-radiussed end point. The tip may be manufactured by forming a body using a high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) process and the shaping the body using a process such as electrical discharge machining (EDM), grinding or laser cutting.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.