WHY USE A SILICON NITRIDE BALL INSTEAD OF A RUBY BALL?
When used to measure certain soft materials – for example, aluminum & cast iron – ruby balls tend to accumulate tiny bits of the material on their surface, rapidly leading to errors in measurement. The ball and stylus must then be discarded and replaced. When used in scanning applications, ruby balls are susceptible to wear, particularly on hard or abrasive surfaces. If the ball wears, the tool must be discarded.
