Many use the phrase surface metrology interchangeably with roughness measurement, but it actually has a much wider meaning that includes measurement and quantification of periodicity; geometry; size; shape and number of discrete features and shapes; height or spacing based statistics; etc. In short, surface metrology includes any and everything that can be calculated from an X, Y, Z dataset that represents the measured surface.
Surface finish is a critical component of the engineering process as it affects how a part will fit, reflect light, transmit heat, wear, distribute lubrication, accept coatings and more. The proper analysis of these engineered surfaces relies heavily on choosing the right measurement procedure.