Should I choose a stationary or spring-loaded probe?

MaxxTooling generally recommends a stationary probe when a rigid reference is appropriate. A spring-loaded probe is useful when the measurement routine needs overtravel protection, but that protection has a limited travel range and does not prevent every possible collision or bent tip.

For the MaxxMacro 54 spring-loaded probe covered by the instructions, the protection travel is 1 mm in X/Y and 0.5 mm in Z. Choose the probe to suit the machine's sensing method and probing routine, and check its concentricity before relying on the result.