3D Surface Roughness and Wear Measurement, Analysis and Inspection

Which feature size scales matter for coating adhesion?

November 21, 2023

When it comes to coatings, the amount of surface area matters. We know that increasing the surface area can improve adhesion, and that “roughing up” a surface increases surface area.

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Are you relying on average roughness (Ra) to control your surfaces? We made this short animation using data from Digital Metrology Solutions, Inc. to show that very different surfaces can all have the same Ra value...and that Ra alone can't tell you which one you've manufactured!

Average Roughness

November 16, 2023

If you rely on average roughness (Ra) to control your surfaces, check out this short animation. It shows that very different surfaces can all have the same Ra value…and Ra

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medical device surface roughness and surface texture for bearing surfaces, bonding surfaces, blood flow

What surface finish does a medical device need?

November 14, 2023

For a medical device to function over a long lifespan, we need to accurately specify, measure, and control its surface finishes. Yet, most surface finish specifications rely on parameters that

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My surface got shinier…but the average roughness stayed the same!

October 31, 2023

I have a surface with a certain average roughness value. When I polish the surface, it gets shinier…but the measured number hasn’t changed.! What’s going on? Here’s an example to

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Average Roughness—in surface texture measurement, it's one of the most frequently specified surface roughness parameters. In this video we look at how average roughness (Ra, or Sa) is calculated for 2D (profile) and 3D (areal) measurements. We look at what Ra can — and can't — tell us about a surface. And, we discuss the differences between Ra and Sa, and some similar parameters that you may encounter in surface texture analysis software.

How Do We Define Average Roughness?

October 17, 2023

Average Roughness—in surface texture measurement, it’s one of the most frequently specified surface roughness parameters. In this video we look at how average roughness (Ra, or Sa) is calculated. We

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Honing Plates (Sharpening Stones)

September 26, 2023

Hone plates, or sharpening stones, are used to produce a fine edge on knives, scissors, and other tools. A kit of stones provides progressively finer grit sizes and spacings to

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How Do We Define “Roughness?”

September 13, 2023

“Roughness” can mean a lot of things, but in surface texture analysis, it has a very specific meaning. In this short video we look at how 2D and 3D surface

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Noise May be Hiding in the Waviness

September 5, 2023

Abrasive wear can greatly impact the performance of engines and machinery. This kind of wear can be caused by excessive roughness on either of the contacting surfaces. However, just looking

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We know that measuring surface roughness is important for performance, quality, and durability. But how

How “Rough” is Roughness?

August 21, 2023

We know that measuring surface roughness is important for performance, quality, and durability. But how “rough” are the typical “average roughness” values that we see on prints and specifications? In

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Friction and surface roughness, Real Area of Contact and Apparent Area of Contact, how the difference affects frictional force, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michigan Metrology

Friction and the Real Area of Contact

July 25, 2023

If I need to push a long, heavy block, it seems like it should be easier if I stand the block up rather than laying it flat on its face…and

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