A scanning probe microscopy (SPM) inspection and/or modification system which
uses
SPM technology and techniques. The system includes various types of microstructured
SPM probes for inspection and/or modification of the object. The components of
the SPM system include microstructured calibration structures. A probe may be defective
because of wear or because of fabrication errors. Various types of reference measurements
of the calibration structure are made with the probe or vice versa to calibrate
it. The components of the SPM system further include one or more tip machining
structures. At these structures, material of the tips of the SPM probes may be
machined by abrasively lapping and chemically lapping the material of the tip with
the tip machining structures.