Surface texture measurement

Surface texture measurement

Surface texture measurement

with Hommel-Etamic

Surface profiles total height of the

profile

Surface texture is very important where it has a direct influence on the

quality of the part. Therefore, it has to be defined as precisely as possible with the help of standardized surface texture parameters.

Surface profile is measured two-dimensionally using the tracing system.

Measurement conditions

Measurement conditions

This leaflet gives you an overview of the most important definitions,

standards, and parameters of surface texture measurement.

The unfiltered primary profile (P-profile) is the actual measured surface

profile. Filtering it in accordance with ISO 11562 produces the waviness
profile (W-profile) and the roughness profile (R-profile). The variable for
determining the limit between waviness and roughness is the cut-off c.

Hommel-Etamic manufactures a wide range of roughness measuring

systems providing a large variety of evaluation possibilities in the
measuring lab as well as on the production line.

Following ISO 4287, all parameter definitions are valid for both the
roughness profile as well as for the primary and waviness profiles. The
profile type is identified by the capital letters P, R or W.

One particularly important aspect is the continuous monitoring of the

roughness measuring systems for optimum accuracy. Our DKD calibration laboratory can calibrate your standards based on different surface
texture parameters. For parameters not requiring accreditation, we offer
an in-house calibration certificate.
.

The total height Pt, Wt or Rt of the respective profile type is the maximum height between the highest peak and the deepest valley of the
evaluation length profile.

Centre line
Centre line

Periodic profiles
e.g. turning, milling

Measuring conditions

RSm

.
RSm (mm)

Roughness measuring systems

from Hommel-Etamic
Surface texture parameters in practice

Evaluation lengths cut-off

Unfiltered P-profile

Start-up length

Roughness profile

Run-off length

Aperiodic profiles
e.g. grinding, eroding

lr

sampling length

ln

evaluation length

lt

traverse length

cut-off

shortwave profile filter

Rz

X digitization distance1)

1) The digitization distance is also

standardized. This is set automatically by most roughness
measuring instruments.

c = lr (mm

ln (mm)

lt (mm)

rtip (m)

s (m)

Ra (m)

> 0.013

...0.04

0.08

0.4

0.48

2.5

> (0.006)

> 0.04

...0.13

0.25

1.25

1.5

2.5

> 0.02

> 0.13

...0.4

0.8

4.8

2 or 5*

2.5

> 0.1

> 0.4

...1.3

2.5

12.5

15

...4

40

48

10

25

> 1.3

Application example
In a periodic profile the mean width of the profile elements RSm is used.
With an RSm between 0.4 and 1.3 mm the following measuring conditions result:
c = 2.5 mm / ln = 12.5 mm / lt = 15 mm / rtip = 5 m / s = 8 m.

Filtered R-profile

The traverse length (lt) is the total length of the probe movement during
the scanning process. It must be greater than the evaluation length in
order to be able to form the roughness profile with the profile filter. With
the exception of Rt and Rmr(c), the roughness parameters are defined
within an evaluation length ln, which is determined using an average of
five sampling lengths lr.

RSm mean width of the profile elements

Ra is the arithmetic mean roughness value from the amounts of all

profile values. Ra does not differentiate between peaks and valleys
and has therefore a relatively weak information character.

RSm is the arithmetic mean value of the width of the roughness

profile elements within the sampling length and requires the definition of height discriminations (c1, c2) matching the function of
the surface.

Rz (m)
0.02

> (0.025)

0.1

0.1

> 0.1

0.5

> 0.5

10

> 2

10

> 10

50

> 10

80

> 50

200

Rz, Rz1max, Rt
according to ISO 4287

RPc according to EN 10049

Mittellinie

RPc standardized number of peaks

Rz maximum height of profile

Measurement conditions for Motif parame ters according to ISO 12085

The sampling length lr corresponds to the cut-off c.

Ra arithmetical mean deviation

Shortened standard evaluation length

If the actual possible traverse length on the work piece surface is not enough for lt, the number of sampling lengths is reduced accordingly and specified in the drawing.
If the actually available traverse length is less than a sampling length, the total height of profile
Pt of the primary profile is evaluated instead of Rt or Rz.

* At Rz 2 m the stylus tip radius is 2 m, at Rz > 2 m it is 5 m. The distance between two
measuring points is 0.5 m.

Filtered W-profile

RSm according to ISO 4287

length are defined according to standards. Deviations are necessary if

the work piece does not allow the required traverse length. See drawing
entries.

rtip stylus tip radius

Division of a surface

Ra according to ISO 4287

Selection of the cut-off (profile filter) accordi ng to ISO 4288:1998 and ISO 3274:1998
The cut-off is selected depending on the work piece surface either according to the valley spacing, or the expected roughness values. At the
same time the total evaluation length and the corresponding traverse

Surface texture parameters

Surface texture parameters

Average value of the five Rz values.

A*
mm

B*
mm

Traversing length
mm

Evaluation length
mm

s
m

Maximum stylus tip radius

m

0.02

0.1

0.64

0.64

2.5

2 0.5

Greatest Rz value from the five sampling lengths lr.

0.1

0.5

3.2

3.2

2.5

2 0.5

Rt total height of profile

0.5

2.5

16

16

51

2.5

12.5

80

80

25

10 2

Rt is the distance between the highest peak and the deepest valley
of the profile of the total evaluation length ln.

RPc corresponds to the number of local peaks, which successively

exceed an upper section line c1 and a lower section line c2. The
number of peaks is related to a length of 10 mm irrespective of the
evaluation length selected.

Rz1max maximum height of profile

* If not otherwise specified, the default values are A = 0.5 mm and B = 2.5 mm, respectively.

Precision is our business.

DKD-K-02401

Surface texture parameters

Surface texture parameters

Rmr(c) material ratio of the profile

Rmr indicates what ratio the totaled length in the material has
assumed relative to the evaluation length (in %). The comparison
is made in the specified section height c and the total evaluation
length ln. The material ratio curve indicates the material ratio as a
function of the section height.

The primary profile is checked for none, one or two dominant

wavinesses. Narrow band filtering of the primary profile with the
waviness creates the WD-profile that is used for calculating the
parameters. The evaluation length ln is chosen either according to
ISO 4288 (as for surface roughness measurements) or on the basis
of the drawing entry. Period lengths are checked for dominant
wavinesses in the range of 0.02 mm WDSm ln/5. To catch
dominant wavinesses at WDSm > ln/5, it is necessary to enlarge
the evaluation length.

The 16% rule generally applies.

Hm

Material ratio Rmr (c1)

Hm-1

Evaluation length In

Hj

Material
ratio curve

Evaluation

WDSm, WDc, WDt Dominant

waviness according to VDA 2007

The principle of the Motif standard consists of looking for local

peaks and valleys in the primary profile, and associating one valley
with the closest preceding and following peaks in order to create
a Motif. Several iterative combinations of two Motifs each assure
that the most important Motifs, the width of which fall below the
limit A, are considered. If not otherwise specified, the default
value is A = 0.5 mm (see measurement conditions page 4/5).
The limit A has a similar function as the cut-off in the Gauian
filtering.

Hj+1

Section height c1

H2
H3

Reference line
Reference section height c0

Motif according to ISO 12085

H1

Rmr(c) according to ISO 4287

Our global presence.

Surface texture parameters

WDt

According to ISO 4288 the surface measurement should be made where

the highest values are to be expected (visual determination).

Drawing entries according to

ISO 1302:2002

Maximum value rule

The surface is considered good when the measured values of a parameter do not exceed the fixed maximum value. In this case, the parameter
is identified by the suffix max, e.g. Rz1max.

c
e

16% rule

AR1

Special rule VDA

Product range
Roughness measurement
Contour measurement
Form measurement
Optical shaft measurement
Dimensional measurement
Optical surface inspection
Inspection process
In-process
Post-process
PLC
Final inspection
Measuring room

Core

Profile valley section

Evaluation length ln

ARn

P-profile

Mean horizontal value of the profile elements, calculated from

the amplitude spectrum (mean periodic length of the dominant
waviness).

R Mean depth of roughness Motifs

Peak surface
Material ratio
curve
Valley surface

Material ratio

R is the arithmetic mean value of the depths Hj of the roughness

Motifs within the evaluation length.

Rz 4

Rk core roughness depth

The maximum value rule applies generally even without the max index
in the designation.
The use of the s filter is prohibited.
At Rz 2 m the stylus tip radius is 2 m, at Rz > 2 m it is 5 m. The
distance between two measuring points is 0.5 m.

Material removing
machining;
Rz = max. 4 m

AR Mean spacing of roughness Motifs

Specifications for requirements

a surface parameter with numeric value in m
b s econd requirement (surface parameter in
m)
c production method
d specification of valley direction
e machining allowance in mm

L Rz 2.5
Material removing
machining; lower limit
value for Rz demanded;
Rz = min. 2.5 m

U Ra 4
L Ra 1

Rzmax 4

Vertical difference between the highest and the deepest point of

the WD-profile within the evaluation length.

AR is the arithmetic mean value of the lengths ARi of the roughness Motifs within the evaluation length.

Z1

The deepest depth Hj within the evaluation length.

Z2

Z3

ZN-1

Material removing
machining; upper and
lower limit value for Ra
demanded; Ra = min.
1 m and max. 4 m

ZN

Drawing entries according to

VDA 2005 dominant waviness
Case 1: No dominant waviness allowed

WDc 0
Material removing machining; WDc 0 or WDt 0: no
dominant waviness allowed

Case 2: Dominant wavinesses are allowed up

to an upper limit

2.5x5/WDt 2.5

The cone angle is either 60 or 90. If not otherwise specified, the cone
angle is 90.

WDt

Rx Maximum depth of profile irregularity

Service
System solutions
DKD calibration service
Consulting, training and service

WD-profile

WDSm

The most important Motif parameters:

Rk, Rpk, Rvk, Mr1, Mr2

according to ISO 13565
Profile peak
section

ARi

a
d b

If the suffix max is not specified, the 16% rule applies, which states
that the surface is considered good if not more than 16% of the
measured parameter values exceed the fixed maximum value. You will
find further information about this rule in the standard ISO 4288:1997.

The 16% rule is not used. VDA 2006 assumes that the dispersion of the
parameters is taken into account in the definition of the limit values.

Metrology
Tactile metrology
Pneumatic metrology
Optical metrology

Drawing entries

WDSm

Our service range

Material removing
machining; Rz = max. 4 m;
the maximum value rule
applies

Material removing machining;

in the period range up to 2.5 mm,
WDt = max. 2.5 m applies

Case 3: Dominant wavinesses are allowed in a

period length with an upper or an upper and
lower limit

Depth of the roughness core profile.

Evaluation length ln

Rpk reduced peak height Rpk

P-profile

Mean height of the peaks protruding from the roughness profile.

GRUPPE DREI 10/2008 Art-Nr. 10037109

WD-profile

2/Pt 4

WDc

Rvk reduced valley depth

Mr1, Mr2 material ratio

Material removing
machining; P-profile,
traverse length = 2 mm;
Pt = max. 4 m

Smallest and greatest material ratio (in %) at the limits of the

roughness core area.

0.008-2.5/Rz1

Mean value of the peaks of the profile elements within the

evaluation length.

Mean depth of the valleys reaching into the material from the core.

www.hommel-etamic.com

Evaluation of measurement results

Drawing entries

10

11

12

13

Material removing machining;

transmission characteristic does not
comply with standard case (cf. table)
Rz = max. 1 m; filter selection
s = 0.008 mm and c = 2.5 mm

0.8x16/Rz 3
0.2-2.5x5/WDc1.5
Material removing machining;
Rz: the evaluation length is 12.5 mm and
c = 0.8 mm, Rz = max. 3 m;
WDc: in the period range of 0.2 to 2.5 mm,
WDc = max. 1.5 m applies

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