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.