Blog Article
Why are “incompatible” surfaces better for sliding friction?
September 19, 2022Key concepts in tribology have often been discovered by trial and error…then made more broadly useful through rigorous work that uncovers the broader understanding. Such is the case of material
A little tribology every morning
September 13, 2022Years ago, I’d just completed one of my first major surface roughness measurement projects, and I was considering my next steps to form an actual business. I thought that I
Parameters Primer: Rpc, or Stylus (X,Y) Pc
September 6, 2022Rpc is the Peak Density in the X or Y direction of surface texture data. It is a measure of the number of peaks per unit length (i.e., peaks/mm) in
Scaling and Auto-Scaling
August 29, 2022The vertical scale of most surface roughness data is highly exaggerated so that the detail can be more readily discerned. In reality, the actual slopes are fairly gradual. At 1:1
The work of Osborne Reynolds
August 22, 2022Osborne Reynolds, born August 23, 1842 Many engineers will recognize Osborne Reynolds as a pioneer in the studies of fluid mechanics and air flow. But Reynolds was also a key
What can I expect from a contract measurement lab?
August 15, 2022Accurate measurement keeps processes within specifications, which is, of course, key to producing quality goods. But the equipment required to acquire accurate data can be expensive to purchase and operate.
What are the Void Volume Parameters?
August 8, 2022Fluid retention is a critical function of the surface texture in many applications. These surfaces may need to retain oil for lubrication, for example, or fluids may need to be
Scoring, scuffing, and galling
August 2, 2022So many wear mechanisms…so many definitions “Wear” is the progressive modification to a surface. It may result in a loss, deposit, or redistribution of material[1]. Quantifying different types of wear
Friction and Wear of Materials
July 25, 2022For those of you who have taken my class, you know that this is an important resource for me. Ernest Rabinowicz really pioneered our understanding of friction and wear, both
The “leaks and squeaks” images
July 18, 2022Over the years we’ve shown these images frequently on our website (which has just been updated, by the way!). Taken together, they sum up the kinds of issues we see—and