When explaining surface finish measurement, it can be helpful to start with the classic metaphor of a desert, as often described by gage maker Taylor Hobson. Imagine grains of sand as roughness, the ripples of sand as waviness, and then the undulating dunes as the surface profile.
Traditionally, metrologists have used a dedicated surface finish gage to measure the three categories, but new tools such as Zeiss’s Rotos roughness sensor are making CMMs an increasingly attractive option for the task. Combining multiple measurement functions into the same machine is beneficial when shop and lab floor space is at a minimum, explains Brett Labadie, applications engineering manager, Zeiss Industrial Metrology. He adds that consolidating efforts into a single machine can also provide faster cycle speeds and cost savings on fixtures.