Manufacturers employ different CNC machining surface finishing measuring methods to determine if the achieved degree of surface finish allows the parts to meet the specific surface finish requirements and performance criteria. Each technique provides insights into the surface irregularities, texture, and overall quality. These measuring methods include:
- Visual Inspection: Although subjective, visual inspection of machined parts helps quickly identify significant surface flaws.
- Profilometers: Profilometers involve tracing a stylus over the part’s surface to produce a detailed profile that can be evaluated to assess surface properties.
- Surface Roughness Testers: These devices quantify the micro-irregularities on the surface of machined parts, indicating a quantitative roughness value.