Unit IV – Surface

Finish, Terminology
and Measurements,
Optical Measuring
Instruments
A Presentation By,
Md Fouz Sharif A, Mech III Year.
Surface Finish
• Surface finish refers to the
texture or quality of a surface,
which is critical in engineering
because it affects how parts

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interact and wear over time.

• The surface finish of a material

can impact its strength,
performance, wear resistance,
and aesthetic appeal.

• It is typically categorized by
surface roughness, waviness,
and lay.
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Key Terminologies
Surface Roughness
Roughness is a key component of
surface finish, defined by the
small, finely spaced deviations on

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a surface.
Measured by the average
deviations from the mean line,
commonly noted as Ra
(Roughness Average).
Waviness and Lay
Waviness : Refers to the larger,
widely spaced deviations on the
surface. It often results from
issues like machine vibration.
Lay : The predominant direction 3

of the surface pattern, often due

Surface Texture: The repetitive or
random deviations on a surface.
Rz: The mean of the five highest
peaks and five lowest valleys in a
surface.

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Peak-to-Valley Height (Rz): The
distance between the highest peak
and the lowest valley on a surface.
Material Ratio (Rmr): The
percentage of material present at a
given depth in a surface profile.

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 Importance of Surface Finish in
Measurement Units Engineering
Surface finish is quantified using various Surface finish affects fatigue resistance,

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parameters: Ra (average roughness), Rz lubrication effectiveness, and friction.
(mean peak-to-valley height), Rt (total height of
the profile). It impacts the life span and performance of
components in mechanical systems.
Common units include micrometers (µm) or
nanometers (nm) for precision surfaces.

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Purpose of Optical Measuring
Instruments Optical measuring
instruments are non-contact
tools used to measure

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surface finish, geometry, and
dimensions.

Ideal for delicate or highly

precise surfaces where
traditional contact methods
might cause damage.

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Optical Profiler:
An optical profiler uses light
interference to create a detailed
image of a surface’s topography. It

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scans the surface and captures data
to produce a 3D profile, which shows
both roughness and waviness.

It typically uses white light or laser

light. The light reflects off the
surface and interferes with itself,
creating an interference pattern that
varies based on the surface features.
This pattern is then analyzed to map
out the surface height at different
points. 7
Applications
 Commonly used in industries like aerospace, automotive, and
electronics for examining surface textures.
 Ideal for measuring surfaces that require high precision, like
semiconductor wafers, lens surfaces, and micro-electro-

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mechanical systems (MEMS).

Advantages
 Non-contact and highly accurate.
 Can measure both roughness and waviness in a single scan.
 Generates a 3D model, offering more comprehensive surface
data.
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Interferometer :
Interferometers use the principle of light
interference to measure small distances with
extreme accuracy. They are particularly useful for
measuring flatness, surface height variations, and

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distance.

Types of Interferometers
Michelson Interferometer: Used for measuring
displacement and refractive index.
Laser Interferometer: Uses a laser source for
high-precision distance and position measurements.
White Light Interferometer: Suitable for profiling
surfaces with high-resolution and roughness
measurements.
Michelson
Interferometer
An interferometer splits a beam of light, reflecting 9
one beam off the surface being measured and the
other off a reference mirror. When the two beams
Applications Advantages

 Used in optical manufacturing,  Capable of detecting very fine

calibration of mechanical parts, and surface irregularities.
measuring flatness of surfaces.  Extremely precise, often down to
 Frequently used in laboratory nanometers.
environments for high-precision  Fast, capturing data in a fraction of
research and quality control. a second.

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Laser Interferometer

White Light
Interferometer 10
Confocal Microscope:
A confocal microscope uses a laser
beam to capture images at different
depths, allowing for 3D surface

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profiling. It provides detailed, high-
resolution images, making it suitable
for surfaces with complex
geometries.

In confocal microscopy, a laser beam

scans across the surface, and only
light in focus at a specific depth is
detected by the sensor. The
microscope constructs a 3D image
by capturing multiple layers of data
and stitching them together. 11
Applications
 Widely used in microelectronics, material science, and
biological applications to analyze small or intricate
parts.

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 Ideal for inspecting MEMS, circuit boards, and
biological samples like cell structures.

Advantages
 High-resolution and non-destructive.
 Capable of creating detailed 3D images of surfaces,
which aids in identifying complex surface features.
 Effective for materials with varying optical properties,
such as transparent or semi-transparent surfaces.
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Laser Scanning Micro-meter:
A laser scanning micrometer uses a
laser beam to measure the
dimensions of objects with extreme

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precision. It is especially useful for
measuring outer diameters,
thickness, and edge sharpness.

The device emits a laser beam that

scans across the object, creating a
shadow or profile on the detector. As
the laser beam moves, it records
data points based on the shape and
dimensions of the object, building a
precise profile.
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Applications
 Common in precision manufacturing for measuring
small parts such as wires, fibers, and medical
components.

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 Frequently used in automotive and aerospace
industries to verify component specifications.

Advantages
• Highly accurate and repeatable measurements.
• Fast and capable of measuring small, intricate shapes
with high precision.
• Non-contact, so it does not alter or damage fragile
surfaces.
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Optical Coordinate Measuring Machine
(CMM):
Optical CMMs combine vision
systems and precise measurement
tools to inspect the dimensions of

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components. They are often used in
manufacturing and quality control to
verify that parts meet design
specifications.

An optical CMM uses cameras and

light-based sensors to capture the
dimensions and geometry of a part.
Advanced versions use multiple
cameras and projectors to
triangulate data points, which a
computer then interprets to build a 15

3D model of the part.

Applications
 Used in industries like automotive, aerospace, and
electronics to measure parts and components.
 Suitable for verifying the dimensions of complex

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assemblies and ensuring adherence to design
tolerances.

Advantages
 Highly precise and capable of non-contact
measurement.
 Capable of measuring complex shapes and multi-
featured parts.
 Useful in quality control processes, reducing the need 16
Than
k You
Any Queries?
mohammedfouzsharif@gmai
l.com