Performance Analysis of the Stylus Technique of Surface Roughness Assessment: A Random Field Approach

This paper deals with one of the weak points of surface roughness assessment procedures using the stylus technique—obtaining the signal representative of surface profiles. The stylus geometry, as well as other mechanical characteristics of the stylus system, together with the surface geometry, may cause the signal obtained to be quite different from the real profile. This may affect the statistical characteristics obtained for the surface. The effect on several standard roughness parameters is studied by means of a random field approach. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the surface textures and roughness ranges in which this effect is more important. Experimental results are included.