Surface metrology courses in video


This page provides a series of educational videos in English (or French with English sub-titles on some of them), on surface texture analysis methods, instrumentation and other topics.
The YouTube channel is available on:  Surface metrology courses.




Introduction to surface texture specification and verification

This video introduces the reasons why surface texture is specified and verified on engineered products, and gives the basic concepts you should know before using surface texture analysis.
Duration: 10 min 58. [Fully in English]

Indications of surface texture on drawings

This video introduces the graphical language used to indicate surface texture specifications on technical drawings, according to ISO 1302. Changes introduced by the new ISO 21920-1 are also discussed.
Duration: 15 min 04 [Fully in English]



Introduction to filtration

This video introduces the bases of filtration in surface texture and explains how filters act on the spectral content of profiles and surfaces.
Duration: 19 min 57 [Fully in English]

Preparation of optical measures

This presentation discusses the preparation and cleaning of surface data measured with a 3D optical profiler, in order to remove outliers and fill-in non-measured points. This operation is mandatory before any metrologic analysis in order to get sound results.
Duration: 10 min 49 [Fully in English]


Differences between ISO 21920 and ISO 4287

This video explains the modifications introduced to surface texture parameters in the new ISO 21920 standard, compared to former standards ISO 4287, ISO 4288, ISO 1302, ISO 13565, etc.
Duration: 13 min 27 [Fully in English]

Amplitude parameters of ISO 4287

This video introduces amplitude parameters calculated on profiles, Ra, Rq, Rsk, Rku, Rz, Rt, Rp and Rv, as defined in ISO 4287 and ASME B46.1 standards.
Duration: 8 min 50 [Fully in English]


Introduction to stylus profilometers

Introduction to the general principles of contact stylus profilometers that are used to measure surface texture.
Duration: 11 min 34. [Fully in English]

Quiz on profilometry: test your knowledge

Test your knowledge of profilometry and profile parameters with a quiz in 10 questions. Answers are provided after each question. A fun way to learn more about surface metrology.
Duration: 13 min 28. [Fully in English]




Videos from Digital Surf metrology seminar


Multiscale analysis of surfaces (Part 1)

Presentation given by Professor Christopher Brown, WPI, during a seminar organized by Digital Surf in Paris. The first part explains the concepts of observation and interaction scales and introduces multiscale analysis of surfaces.
The slides of the presentation can be downloaded in PDF:
Slides of the presentation.
Duration: 34 min 03 [French only]


Multiscale analysis of surfaces (Part 2)

Presentation given by Professor Christopher Brown, WPI, during a seminar organized by Digital Surf in Paris. The second part explains fractal methods such as length-scale, area-scale and filling-scale, initially developed in Sfrax by Chris Brown and nowadays available in MountainsMap.
The slides of the presentation can be downloaded in PDF:
Slides of the presentation.
Duration: 22 min 46 [French only]


Bandpass filtering

Presentation on bandpass filtering, which is obtained from two Gaussian filters, in order to limit the analysis bandwidth and carry-out a multiscale analysis of surfaces. It also allows functional correlations.
The slides of the presentation can be downloaded in PDF:
Slides of the presentation.
Duration: 22 min 23 [English sub-titles available]


Functional correlation

Presentation given by Professor Christopher Brown, WPI, during a seminar organized by Digital Surf in Paris. This presentation explains how to determine functional correlations between the multiscale analysis of a surface and the function or performance of a part.
The slides of the presentation can be downloaded in PDF: Slides of the presentation.
Duration: 25 min 10 [French only]



Areal parameters of ISO 25178-2 (part 1)

This presentation introduces height parameters and functional parameters related to the material ratio curve, including Sk and volume parameters.

The slides of the presentation can be downloaded in PDF: Slides of the presentation.
Duration: 21 min 12 [French only]


Areal parameters of ISO 25178-2 (part 2)

This presentation introduces hybrid parameters and feature parameters calculated from the segmentation of surface features.
The slides of the presentation can be downloaded in PDF:
Slides of the presentation.
Duration: 19 min 48 [French only]






Series on surface texture measuring instruments


Part 1 - Contact profilometers

Description of the components: traverse unit, sensor, pivot, stylus. Corrections and calibration. Workshop profilometers (with skid), tabletop profilometers with column, low-force profilometers.
Duration: 21 min 50 [French only]


Part 2 - Non-contact profilometers

Architecture of a 3D non-contact profilometer. Confocal chromatic sensor, point autofocus sensor. Measuring transparent surfaces.
Duration: 16 min 35 [French only]


Part 3 - 3D confocal microscopes

Confocal optical principle. Optical slices obtained by vertical scanning. LSM, Nipkov disk, DLP matrices. Main manufacturers.
Duration: 9 min 48 [French only]


Part 4 - White-light interferometers

Principles of interferometry. From interferograms to height map. Different types of objectives. Main manufacturers.
Duration: 8 min 45 [French only]


Part 5 - Multifocus microscopes

Principle of the measurement. Advantages and drawbacks.
Duration: 3 min [English sub-titles available]


Part 6 - Scanning probe microscopes

Principle of scanning probe microscopes. Atomic-force microscope, Tunneling force. Multilayer measurement.
Duration: 14 min 18 [French only]