Evaluating machining processes – Differentiating form deviation, surface roughness and waviness

What's the difference between surface form, surface roughness and surface waviness? What can multi-sensor approaches offer? By conventional machining processes, three main components of surface topography are generated and they are classified according to their causes.

What's the difference between surface form, surface roughness and surface waviness? By conventional machining processes, three main components of surface topography are generated and they are classified according to their causes. The first component is “the roughness and irregularities” which are inherent in the production process, left by machining (e.g. cutting tool, spark), as a result of the built of edge formation and tool tip irregularities are described with it. Second component is the waviness which results from factors such as deflections (machine or work), vibrations, unbalanced grinding wheel, irregularities in tool feed, chatter or extraneous influences. The third surface component after roughness and waviness is the form or shape, characterizing the exact geometric properties with regard to the form tolerance values defined in technical drawings and designing.

Measuring form deviation and roughness together

Form deviation, waviness or flatness, and roughness or texture are not sharply defined but rather defined close to each other. A surface can be described as a superposition of numerous wavelengths, where the transition within surface components from form (particularly long-wavelength) over waviness to short wavelength roughness components takes place smoothly. Learn about multi-sensor solutions and more from Polytec.

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