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.

Thickness measurement is the gauging of coatings or films on surfaces—such as paint on metal parts. Manufacturers are increasingly using thinner and higher-performance coatings these days, with tighter applied thickness tolerances and an increasing need for more accurate and precise tools.

This well-known adage doesn’t just apply to the design of systems; it also applies to the systems themselves. In systems designed for automated precision measurement, users are typically balancing accuracy of measurement, speed of operation, and cost to purchase and operate.

Nexview™, Zygo’s next-generation non-contact profiler, now measures even more surfaces.

The right choice of inspection hardware and software for Computer-Aided Inspection (CAI) can reduce inspection times by up to 90% while improving repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) variances by up to 50%.