Blog Article

Parameters Primer: ACF (Autocorrelation Function)
August 16, 2020The autocorrelation function (ACF) is a measure of how random or periodic a surface is. ACF is found by creating a duplicate of the surface, then shifting the duplicate relative

Analyzing steel clutch reaction plates
July 15, 2020Applying 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

Surface texture measurement – Ra, Rz, Rmax, Rz1max, Maximum Height
June 22, 2020This 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

Surface finish for medical devices
June 14, 2020Artificial 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

Parameters Primer: Stylus(X,Y) Parameters
May 12, 2020The 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

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

How many measurements?
March 3, 2020Multiple 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

What wear measurement may and may not show you
March 10, 2019One 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

Parameter Primer: Sds (Summit Density)
February 9, 2019Sds, 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

Surface texture measurement – did you set the cutoff lengths properly?
January 21, 2019Along 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