Surface Notes

Digital Metrology - comparing surface roughness and texture using apples and oranges

Comparing apples and oranges?

A properly scaled photo or graph can give great insight into surface texture features. An improperly scaled image, however, can get you running in circles. If you are trying to compare process data, an incorrectly scaled image may (incorrectly) suggest a change with your process, or it could mask an actual, lurking problem.

Read more »

Surface texture analysis in the classroom

The majority of students entering machining and design occupations only received a slight introduction to surface texture analysis. Daniele DeFranceschi, a professor in the School of Engineering at St. Clair College in Windsor, Canada, is working to change that. Tools such as OmniSurf and OmniSurf3D help by making it easy to visualize and explore surfaces.

Read more »

What kind of waviness?

For many industries, waviness is a critical aspect of surface texture. The presence of waviness on a surface can be directly connected to functional problems such as noise, vibration, excessive wear and sealing issues. So, if we are going to control waviness, we need to first understand that there are two different interpretations of waviness

Read more »

Understanding that scratched-up calibration patch

In many laboratories and production environments, we encounter surface texture calibration patches that look like this. Hopefully yours don’t look quite this bad, but let’s take a deeper look at this damage. Calibration patch surfaces are typically made of electroformed nickel, so they can be relatively soft.  As a result, we often assume that the

Read more »

Surface texture analysis for the sciences

If you work in manufacturing you likely think of “surface texture analysis” as a tool for quality control or for improving functionality. But there are many applications beyond the factory walls in which surface analysis can lead to new discoveries or new ways of looking at the world. Carrie Rowe is a doctoral candidate in

Read more »
Digital Metrology Crowned Profile Analysis with CrownView Software

Analyzing crowned profiles with CrownView

In many applications, crowned profile geometries are employed to optimize load carrying and durability. As an example, crowned profiles are used in roller bearings to control local contact stresses. As the image below shows, the shape of the roller bearing surface relates to the stress pattern that develops when the bearing is pressed into its

Read more »
Digital Metrology OS3D file format for surface texture analysis

The OmniSurf3D data file format

Digital Metrology wants you to be able to access and explore your data as easily as possible. After all—it is YOUR DATA.  Recently Digital Metrology created the OmniSurf3D  data file format (*.os3d) for efficient storage, reading, and writing of surface topography data. This file format is portable across operating systems and can be coded directly

Read more »
Areal 3D Surface Texture image overlay- Digital Metrology

Image overlays in OmniSurf3D

You’ve heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This is very true in the analysis of 3D (areal) surface texture. While parameters with numerical values offer some degree of understanding… a picture can often be more instructive.*  The false colors in this 3D surface map (from our OmniSurf3D analysis software) indicate the

Read more »
Surface Texture Analysis - Peak Analysis - Digital Metrology

Peak Analysis tool in OmniSurf3D

If you work with coatings, electrical contacts, sliding surfaces, substrates for painting, etc., you know that controlling surface peaks can be the difference between a functional part and a failed one. The Peak Analysis in OmniSurf3D is an interactive tool for visualizing the peak material. Click and drag the cutting plane on the Material Ratio

Read more »