Has anyone done accuracy tests on an optical style touch probe versus a mechanical? I've been told there is a small difference which usually shows up in form, but looking for real world numbers. I currently use an HP-THD (now an HP-THe), which is a tp200 I believe. But after replacing 2 probe bodies in the last year and 2 months at over $3k a piece, I'm searching other more robust options. Like the older tp20. Is it worth the switch? am I losing that much accuracy? Occasionally I do get jobs with a +.0005/-0" tolerance which I think may be affected, but could be worked around with deltronics pins. Does anyone else here use tp200 or the newer and have problems? I know the first module may have gone bad due to the previous cmm programmer. I was told when I started my job here that he crashed it a lot. But this new one I've had on for the last year has never been crashed, dropped, even looked at wrong. TIA
About the same size as the SP25, but can handle up to 225mm extensions (straight) or 100mm (cranked i.e. star probe) but without the ball ache of the SM25-1, SM25-2 etc 'modules' and then the SH25-1,SH25-2 stylus holders. Which makes probe changing a much simple and quicker affair.
On a small machine (much like with the SP25) you can struggle for space, but a lot of this can be overcome by using Star/L/T probe configs so you're not indexing the head all the time.
Also worth considering what probe head you have. Does it have the adapter between the head and the TP-THD or is it simply a direct M8 thread?
