CMM Health

your step bar can be traceable, since you measured it with a calibrated CMM that is traceable to NIST.

That is false. There is a lot more to traceability than just the equipment. Also, traceable to NIST is not a thing; it must be traceable to the SI Units. It is possible NIST was the NMI that happened to inspect some ancestor of your equipment but often times that is not true either.

...
If you get audited about the validity of your step bar, you can show them the results from the cmm and then show them the calibration certificate for the CMM, you shouldn't have any more questions after that.
...

That is extremely unlikely. If I was an auditor you would find yourself with a NC *if* that step bar was used for anything involving inspection or treated as a calibration standard for something else. I am assuming your company is not 17025 accredited with step bar measurements listed on your scope.

Matthew D. Hoedeman does more than most people in his position I believe. He created a step bar for internal use as part of his own interim or sanity check of his equipment. I know another company that does this as well. If you keep it at that level there is no issue.

i send out my spheres to a 17025 accredited calibration lab.

they simply measure it on their CMM, and state what they measured.

states its measurements are traceable to NIST, NCR, and NMI/SI

If i created a step gauge, why cant i do the same thing if my equipment is calibrated?
why can't i certify it with the correct paper trail / paperwork?
should be no different than calibrating a OD mic with certified gauge blocks that are traceable, my gauge blocks provide to traceability for the Mic why cant the CMM provide the traceability for the Step gauge?

aside from the paperwork i agree with you there is a lot more behind the scenes of how the step gauge was programed measured etc could create many different results.

not trying to argue, this is part of what i do everyday is interpret the requirements for the standards we are bound to, mainly API requirements, i guess what i'm trying to say is i enjoy getting other points of view

but strictly looking at the paperwork why not?

i send out my spheres to a 17025 accredited calibration lab.

they simply measure it on their CMM, and state what they measured.

states its measurements are traceable to NIST, NCR, and NMI/SI

If i created a step gauge, why cant i do the same thing if my equipment is calibrated?
why can't i certify it with the correct paper trail / paperwork?
should be no different than calibrating a OD mic with certified gauge blocks that are traceable, my gauge blocks provide to traceability for the Mic why cant the CMM provide the traceability for the Step gauge?

aside from the paperwork i agree with you there is a lot more behind the scenes of how the step gauge was programed measured etc could create many different results.

not trying to argue, this is part of what i do everyday is interpret the requirements for the standards we are bound to, mainly API requirements, i guess what i'm trying to say is i enjoy getting other points of view

but strictly looking at the paperwork why not?