Surface metrology solutions

High-quality surfaces enable performance, efficiency, and reliability. This hub brings together typical measurement tasks, industry applications, and recommended approaches for R&D and for production.

Surface metrology in various industries

Different industries impose distinct surface specifications for function, reliability, and compliance. The pages below summarize common applications and parts, typical parameter targets, and suitable metrology approaches and systems.

Surface solutions in various working areas

Requirements for metrology systems vary by environment and job function. Manufacturing focuses on throughput and ease of use; universities, R&D, and quality labs require flexibility and precision. 

Related articles and stories

How CSI technology retrieves superior topography, form & roughness measurement data

Read how the optical technology of Coherence Scanning Interferometry (CSI) analyzes topography, form & roughness, where are sweet-spots, benefits and applications compared to related optical surface inspec…

Biology & medical
4+

Characterizing surface texture, roughness, imperfections and scratches

Optical polishing is a fabrication technique developed specifically to achieve minimal defects and smooth micro-roughness values. Polishing is a process that involves the use of free grains, usually suspen…

3 min
Mechanical & precision engineering
1+

Interview with Prof. Dr. Albert Weckenmann about optical and tactile surface measurement technology

We talked with Prof. Dr. Albert Weckenmann of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, about the limitations of tactile surface measurement technology and the opportunities of non-contact methods.

5 min
Micro & nanotechnology

Confirm flatness, roughness and step height – TopMap quality control on the factory floor

Consistently producing high-quality precision parts is better achieved when the supporting metrology is tightly integrated with the manufacturing process. By combining Polytec’s TopMap optical metrology wi…

3 min
Production, process & quality

Overview of optical methods for surface metrology

For applications where tactile surface measurement techniques have shortcomings, non-contact optical instruments have been developed to overcome these shortcomings. Especially with the development of compu…

5 min
Electronics, semicon, solar
2+

How surface metrology reveals the finest forensic details

Forensic science plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by providing scientifically based information through the analysis of physical evidence. During an investigation, evidence is collected at…

3 min
General R&D
1+

Discuss your demands with our experts

Let’s start with a short discussion about your parts, tolerances, and workflow — and, if useful, we can add a feasibility study, PolyMeasure (contract measurements), or a PolyRent trial as optional next steps.

Schedule your surface profiler demonstration