A system for providing state information for at least a part of a tool positioning machine embodied as manipulating machine or as coordinate measuring machine is provided. The system comprises the tool positioning machine defining a machine coordinate system and having a base and a machine structure. The structure comprises a tool head and structural components for linking the tool head to the base, at least one drive mechanism for providing movability of the machine structure relative to the base, a position determining system for deriving at least one coordinate of the machine structure in the machine coordinate system and a controlling unit adapted for controlling movement of the machine structure. The system comprises a calibration setup. A calibration component is mounted on the machine structure and defines a moveable reference point, another calibration component is arranged with defined spatial relation to the base and provides a nominal calibration position.