What You Need To Know About Surface Roughness Testers

Surface roughness testers measure the surface characteristics of an object. This is important because the surface dynamics determine the usability of that product as well as factors such as durability. For example rougher surfaces are more likely to corrode and be subject to wear and tear than smoother surfaces. On the other hand, smoother surfaces are less likely to adhere to each other than rougher surfaces. During the manufacturing process, these instruments measure the surface characteristics of the manufactured part and compare it to a required ideal. Readings from surface roughness testers are often measured in units symbolized as Ra.