Welcome to the Surface Roughness Analysis Blog
Why do brakes squeak? When will a gasket leak? What caused the haziness in my painted finish?
Surface texture and function are tightly linked. Understanding the relationship between texture and function, and sharing that information with engineers and quality professionals, is what Michigan Metrology is all about.
The articles in this blog explore the concepts of surface texture analysis and measurement. We show how you can apply these concepts to solve problems related to leaks, squeaks, appearance, wear, noise, fit, friction, vibration, adhesion, and many other functions.
Looking for more information on specific surface texture parameters? Visit our Surface Texture Parameters Glossary for an introduction to dozens of 3D surface roughness analysis parameters.
And, if you want to learn much more about surface texture consider attending our online and in-person classes for an immersive introduction to the many concepts in surface analysis.
Remembering the early days
January 22, 2024In August 2024, Michigan Metrology will celebrate our 30th anniversary in surface roughness measurement. Over the next months we will be taking a few trips down memory lane to remember
Smart Phones and Space Telescopes
January 9, 2024Q: What do your cell phone and the Webb Space Telescope have in common? A: The surface finish of their optics! The glass surface of most smart phones boasts a
Surface Roughness, Texture and Tribology Short Course
January 4, 2024May 8–9, 2023 Registration is now open for the Surface Roughness, Texture, and Tribology short course, held in Livonia, Michigan, May 8–9, 2024. The 2-day class offers a unique opportunity
Where is the wear?
December 11, 2023A joint post with Digital Metrology Solutions. Download this article as a PDF How would you measure the wear on this porous surface? This friction material was subjected to a
Which feature size scales matter for coating adhesion?
November 21, 2023Download this article as a PDF When it comes to coatings, the amount of surface area matters. We know that increasing the surface area can improve adhesion, and that “roughing
What surface finish does a medical device need?
November 14, 2023For 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
My surface got shinier…but the average roughness stayed the same!
October 31, 2023Download this article as a PDF 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
How Do We Define Average Roughness?
October 17, 2023Average 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
Honing Plates (Sharpening Stones)
September 26, 2023Hone 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
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
Noise May be Hiding in the Waviness
September 5, 2023Download this article as a PDF Abrasive wear can greatly impact the performance of engines and machinery. This kind of wear can be caused by excessive roughness on either of
How “Rough” is Roughness?
August 21, 2023We 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