Blog Article

Paint Finish and Spatial Wavelengths
March 14, 2023Two lots of steel pass inspection for surface roughness. Yet, when we paint a panel from each lot, one looks great, and the other…does not. How can it be, when

How do I calibrate my fingernail?
February 28, 2023Tactile gages (comparator strips) can aid in quick assessment of a process, but they have limitations for process control. We look at their strengths and weaknesses in this blog post.

Which surface textures & materials make good bearings? Pt. 3
February 13, 2023In this 3-part series we look at the case of dry, sliding friction and discuss how surface roughness and materials impact the surface as a bearing. PART 3 Plasticity Last

Which surface textures & materials make good bearings? Pt. 2
February 7, 2023In this 3-part series we look at the case of dry, sliding friction and discuss how surface roughness and materials impact the surface as a bearing. PART 2 Material Properties

Which surface textures & materials make good bearings? Pt. 1
January 30, 2023In this 3-part series we look at the case of dry, sliding friction and discuss how surface roughness and materials impact the surface as a bearing. PART 1. Real area

Curling again! Applying the lessons of micro-texture to the macro texture of curling ice
January 23, 2023We’ve had a lot going on related to ice lately! It is that time of year… A few months ago, we posted an article about the sport of curling, which

Ice and friction – there’s a lot going on!
January 19, 2023Want to maximize your fun while skating? Make sure that the ice temperature is -7°C! For many years I thought that concentrated pressure is what melts the ice when you

When is “non-contact measurement” important?
January 9, 2023For surface roughness measurement, it would seem like “non-contact” methods would always be preferable. After all, being able to measure a surface with no possibility of contact damage would always

Seasons Greetings from Michigan Metrology
December 20, 2022We wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a great season and happy new year. We’d like to express our gratitude for making it through all of the “peaks

Capillarity and Wetting Phenomena: Drops, Bubbles, Pearls, Waves
December 12, 2022Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Françoise Brochard-Wyart, David Quéré, 2003 When I started the Surface Roughness, Texture and Tribology class some 20 years ago I searched for good descriptions of the physics