The shield on these probe spheres is provided to protect the Master Sphere from mechanical abuse and to keep coolant from degrading the strength of the adhesive holding the ball on the base.

The shielded calibration spheres are designed for use in applications where the spheres are more or less permanently attached to the machine.

The shielded calibration spheres are used as monuments that define exact positions of all three axii in the X, the Y and the Z.

They find application for use with robots on the tables of machine tools and on Coordinate Measuring Machines ( CMM ).

One or more of these shielded master balls are mounted on the machine and periodically probed to validate the ball’s true position and the machine’s ability to measure the true diameter and position of the ball or balls.

We offer two standard off the shelf versions of the Shielded Calibration Spheres.

The smaller diameter version of the Shielded Calibration Sphere is our Part number SHD-PM-PB-100 which has a one inch (1.00”) [25.4mm] diameter master, Grade 5 sphere. The grade 5 designation means that the sphere is perfectly round within less than 5 millionths of an inch (0.0000127mm) and has a surface texture of less than 0.7 microinches Ra.

The diameter of the base of this part is one and one quarter inch ( 1 1/4”, 1.250”) [31.75mm].

The annular ring that forms the bottom of this part is flat lapped within micro inches to provide the most stable design possible.

The distance from the bottom of the base to the top of the ball is xxxx inch (xxxx mm).

There is a five sixteenths of an inch ( 5/16”, 0.3125”) [7.94mm] hole drilled at right angles through the body of the base. A cylindrical pin or the shank of an allen wrench can be used to rigidly attach these artifacts to the machine, or to remove the calibration sphere from the machine

The shield is a two inch (2.00”) [50.8mm] diameter, screw on cap. It is made of Aluminum with an attractive anodized finish. This xxx inch (xxx mm) tall cap has a coarse knurled ring around the top to facilitate instillation and removal.

In order to extend the elevation of the shielded Probe Sphere, we have available one and one quarter inch ( 1 1/4” 1.250”) [31.75mm] diameter

Our three inch [3.00”] (76.2mm) tall extension is part number P-EP-3.

Our six inch (6.00”) [152.4mm] tall extension is part number P-EP-6.

The bottom of both of these extensions are threaded for an M10x1.5 hold down screw.

The Big One version of the shielded calibration sphere is Part number SHD-PO-PM-B200.

It has a two inch (2.00”) [76.2mm] diameter master sphere that is grade 5 quality. The grade 5 designation means that the sphere is perfectly round within 5 millionths of an inch (0.0000127mm) and has a surface texture of less than 0.7 microinches Ra.

The base diameter of this part is two and one quarter of an inch (2.250”) [57.15MM].

The shield is a three inch (3.00”) [76.2mm] diameter screw on cap.

This cap is made of aluminum with an attractive anodized finish.

This xx inch (xxx mm) tall cap has a coarse knurled ring around the top to facilitate installation and removal.

The annular ring that forms the base, is lapped flat within microinches, to provide the most stable possible connection to the machine.

The standard probe sphere sizes can be altered to fit special customer needs.

Satin finished balls can be supplied for compatibility with optical probes.

More exacting quality spheres can be supplied for ultra precise applications.

Several types of ceramic master spheres as well as tungsten carbide are also available.

The base is made of tough mild steel that is black oxided to reduce rust.

The base is drilled and threaded for an M10-1.5 hold down screw.

We manufacture a broad line of dual threaded adapter screws to facilitate the part's connection to almost any English ok metric thread.

In order to extend the elevation of this 2 inch [50.4mm] diameter shielded Probe Sphere, we have available two inch (2”) [50.8mm] diameter extensions.

Our three inch (3.00”) [76.2mm] high extension is part number P-EP-3.

Our six inch (6.0”) [154.4MM] high extension is Part number P-EP-6.

There is a five sixteenths of an inch (7.94 mm) hole drilled at right angles through the body of the base. A cylindrical pin or the shank of an Allen wrench can be used to rigidly tighten these artifacts down on the machine or to remove the calibration sphere from the machine.

The master spheres are manufactured from an ultra fine grained, Martinsetic stainless steel. This steel is hardened to 58HRC minimum and three cycle cold stabilized. This heat treat and cold stabilizing assures that the exact diameter of the sphere will be maintained indefinitely.