The importance of surface metrology has long been acknowledged in manufacturing and mechanical engineering, but has now gained growing recognition in an expanding number of new applications in fields such as semiconductors, electronics and optics. Metrology is the scientific study of measurement, and surface metrology is the study of the measurement of rough surfaces. In this book, Professor David Whitehouse, an internationally acknowledged subject expert, covers the wide range of theory and practice, including the use of new methods of instrumentation. · Written by one of the world's leading metrologists · Covers electronics and optics applications as well as mechanical · Written for mechanical and manufacturing engineers, tribologists and precision engineers in industry and academia

The importance of surface metrology has long been acknowledged in manufacturing and mechanical engineering, but has now gained growing recognition in an expanding number of new applications in fields such as semiconductors, electronics and optics. Metrology is the scientific study of measurement, and surface metrology is the study of the measurement of rough surfaces. In this book, Professor David Whitehouse, an internationally acknowledged subject expert, covers the wide range of theory and practice, including the use of new methods of instrumentation. · Written by one of the world's leading metrologists · Covers electronics and optics applications as well as mechanical · Written for mechanical and manufacturing engineers, tribologists and precision engineers in industry and academia

The measurement and characterisation of surface topography is crucial to modern manufacturing industry. The control of areal surface structure allows a manufacturer to radically alter the functionality of a part. Examples include structuring to effect fluidics, optics, tribology, aerodynamics and biology. To control such manufacturing methods requires measurement strategies. There is now a large range of new optical techniques on the market, or being developed in academia, that can measure areal surface topography. Each method has its strong points and limitations. The book starts with introductory chapters on optical instruments, their common language, generic features and limitations, and their calibration. Each type of modern optical instrument is described (in a common format) by an expert in the field. The book is intended for both industrial and academic scientists and engineers, and will be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

The subject of this book is surface metrology, in particular two major aspects: surface texture and roundness. It has taken a long time for manufacturing engineers and designers to realise the usefulness of these features in quality of conformance and quality of design. Unfortunately this awareness has come at a time when engineers versed in the use and specification of surfaces are at a premium. Traditionally surface metrology usage has been dictated by engineers who have served long and demanding apprenticeships, usually in parallel with studies leading to technician-level qualifications. Such people understood the processes and the achievable accuracies of machine tools, thereby enabling them to match production capability with design requirements. This synergy, has been made possible by the understanding of adherence to careful metrological procedures and a detailed knowledge of surface measuring instruments and their operation, in addition to wider inspection room techniques. With the demise in the UK of polytechnics and technical colleges, this source of skilled technicians has all but dried up. The shortfall has been made up of semi skilled craftsmen, or inexperienced graduates who cannot be expected to satisfy tradition al or new technology needs. Miniaturisation, for example, has had a pro found effect. Engineering parts are now routinely being made with nanometre surface texture and fiatness. At these molecular and atomic scales, the engineer has to be a physicist.

The function of a component part can be profoundly affected by its surface topography. There are many examples in nature of surfaces that have a well-controlled topography to affect their function. Examples include the hydrophobic effect of the lotus leaf, the reduction of fluid drag due to the riblet structure of shark skin, the directional adhesion of the gecko foot and the angular sensitivity of the multi-faceted fly eye. Surface structuring is also being used extensively in modern manufacturing. In this way many properties can be altered, for example optical, tribological, biological and fluidic. Previously, single line (profile) measurements were adequate to control manufacture of surfaces, but as the need to control the functionality of surfaces increases, there is a growing need for three-dimensional (areal) measurement and characterisation techniques. For this reason there has been considerable research, development and standardisation of areal techniques. This book will present the areal framework that is being adopted by the international community. Whereas previous books have concentrated on the measurement aspects, this book concentrates on the characterisation techniques, i.e. how to interpret the measurement data to give the appropriate (functional) information for a given task. The first part of the book presents the characterisation methods and the second part case studies that highlight the use of areal methods in a broad range of subject areas - from automobile manufacture to archaeology. Contents Introduction to Surface Topography The Areal Field Parameters The Areal Feature Parameters Areal Filtering Methods Areal Form Removal Areal Fractal Methods Choosing the Appropriate Parameter Characterisation of Individual Areal Features Multi-Scale Signature of Surface Topography Correlation of Areal Surface Texture Parameters to Solar Cell Efficiency Characterisation of Cylinder Liner Honing Textures for Production Control Characterisation of the Mechanical Bond Strength for Copper on Glass Plating Applications Inspection of Laser Structured Cams and Conrods Road Surfaces

This fully updated Second Edition provides the reader with the solid understanding of tribology which is essential to engineers involved in the design of, and ensuring the reliability of, machine parts and systems. It moves from basic theory to practice, examining tribology from the integrated viewpoint of mechanical engineering, mechanics, and materials science. It offers detailed coverage of the mechanisms of material wear, friction, and all of the major lubrication techniques - liquids, solids, and gases - and examines a wide range of both traditional and state-of-the-art applications. For this edition, the author has included updates on friction, wear and lubrication, as well as completely revised material including the latest breakthroughs in tribology at the nano- and micro- level and a revised introduction to nanotechnology. Also included is a new chapter on the emerging field of green tribology and biomimetics.