Institute of Engineering

Department Of mechanical Engineering

Paschimanchal Campus
Lamachaur, Pokhara
Metrology (ME 503) II/I
6. Surface measurement
Surface measurement
• Surface measurement is a term which covers more specific types of
measurements such as surface shape, surface finish, surface profile roughness
(Ra), surface texture, and structural characterization.
• Smooth surface is comparative term, the degree of surface roughness desired
depends upon the quality of the product demand.
Instrument for Surface measurement
1. Straight Edge

2. Surface Plate
Surface measurement
• Surface Plate
• A surface plate is a solid, flat plate used as the main horizontal reference plane for precision
inspection, marking out (layout), and tooling setup.
• The surface plate is often used as the baseline for all measurements to a work piece,
therefore one primary surface is finished extremely flat with accuracy up to 0.00001 in or
250 nm for a grade AA or AAA plate.
• Surface plates are a very common tool in the manufacturing industry and are often
permanently attached to robotic-type inspection devices such as a coordinate-measuring
machine.
• Plates are typically square or rectangular. One current British Standard includes
specifications for plates from 160 mm × 100 mm to 2500 mm × 1600 mm.
Advantage and disadvantage of surface plate (Granite)
• The granite surface plates are high accuracy and easy maintenance, for the following reasons:
• Uniformity in Hardness
• Easy To Clean
• Wear resistance
• Anticorrosion
• Accurate Under Load Conditions
• Non-magnetic
• Thermal Stability
• Low Porosity
• Low maintenance cost
Disadvantages
cannot withstanding impact and beating, High humidity brings about granite deformation
Hygroscopicity (to react to the moisture content of the air by absorbing or releasing water vapor) is 1%.
Surface measurement
Straight Edge
• Straightedges are used in the automotive
service and machining industry to check
the flatness of machined mating surfaces.
• A straightedge or straight edge is a tool
with a straight edge, used for drawing
straight lines, or checking their straightness.
If it has equally spaced markings along its length,
it is usually called a ruler.
• The along side table is the available straight
edge size with dimension.
ThankS