New Surface Meter

Abstract

New surface meter is designed with the analogous principle to measure the resolving power of lens. The images of test pattern reflected by polished surfaces diffuse according to their roughness. If the clearness of the images (the degree of diffusion of reflected light) is determined with certain measure, the surface roughness can easily be classified numerically.
Two methods are considered to realize the surface meter based on above principle. One of them is to vary the distance between the test pattern and reflecting surfaces and the other to adopt the test pattern with variable pitch of black and white stripes at a constant distance from reflecting surfaces. To simplify the mechanism of the apparatus logarithmic variable pitch is adobted to the practical purpose because it needs no moving part. As the results of experiments, electropolished surfaces, grinding or cutting ones, etc. are measurable, especially the direction of polishing is easily and clearly determined. This new surface meter is considered to be suitable for quick determination of polished surfaces, etc., in plating shops.