AbstractThis article presents a new tilting atomic force microscope (AFM) with an adjustable probe direction and piezoresistive cantilever operated in tapping-mode. The AFM is based on two rotational axes, which enable the adjustment of the probe direction to cover a complete hemisphere. The whole setup is integrated into a nano measuring machine (NMM-1) and the metrological traceability of the piezoresistive cantilever is warranted by in situ calibration on the NMM-1. To demonstrate the capabilities of the tilting AFM, measurements were conducted on a step height standard.