3D Surface Roughness and Wear Measurement, Analysis and Inspection

Analyzing steel clutch reaction plates

July 15, 2020

Applying the Material Ratio parameters — case study In our post of a few weeks ago we discussed the Stylus (X,Y) parameters, which are derived from the 2D Bearing Ratio

Read more »

Surface texture measurement – Ra, Rz, Rmax, Rz1max, Maximum Height

June 22, 2020

This article discusses several key surface texture measurement parameters: average roughness (Ra), average maximum surface height (Rz), maximum of all per-sampling-length peak-to-valley heights (RMax), and the Maximum Height (Rz1max). We

Read more »

Surface finish for medical devices

June 14, 2020

Artificial medical devices prolong life and preserve quality of living. To design devices that will function reliably and safely for decades requires careful attention to materials and surface finish. Accurately

Read more »

Parameters Primer: Stylus(X,Y) Parameters

May 12, 2020

The Stylus (X, Y) parameters (Rk, Rpk and Rvk) are derived from the Bearing Area Curve, based on the ISO 13565-2:1996 standard. The Bearing Area Curve, (also called the Bearing Ratio Curve, or

Read more »

Nanometer-scale roughness

April 11, 2020

“Nanometer-scale” surface roughness may seem rare and specialized. But, in fact, many components and common products require nanometer-scale, or sub-nanometer-scale, average roughness (Sa) in order to function properly. The ability to

Read more »

How many measurements?

March 3, 2020

Multiple surface texture measurements made in different locations over a surface will generally demonstrate some variation in the texture parameter being assessed, such as average roughness (Ra) or peak-to-valley height

Read more »

What wear measurement may and may not show you

March 10, 2019

One of the great challenges of product design is accurately assessing how a component will wear in order to maximize its useful lifetime. Wear is, of course, caused by a

Read more »

Parameter Primer: Sds (Summit Density)

February 9, 2019

Sds, the Summit Density, is one of the so-called “Hybrid” surface texture parameters. Sds counts the number of summits per unit area of the surface. The summits are derived from

Read more »

Surface texture measurement – did you set the cutoff lengths properly?

January 21, 2019

Along with specifying the surface roughness with Ra (average roughness), one must establish the cutoff lengths used to measure the surface. A specification of Ra alone is inadequate, since measurement

Read more »

Take a hike! Understanding form, waviness and roughness in terms of a good walk

January 8, 2019

The terms “roughness,” “waviness” and “form” are used everywhere in discussions of surface texture. But do we really understand how they are defined? For many years I have used an

Read more »