SURFACE ROUGHNESS

Consider the surfaces of machined parts that you see all around you. These surfaces come in a
wide variety of surfaces, from shiny and smooth to rough and matte. These outer differences are
because of the different surface roughness of each part.

Surface roughness is defined as the shorter frequency of real surfaces relative to the troughs. If
you look at machined parts, you will notice that their surfaces embody a complex shape made of
a series of peaks and troughs of varying heights, depths, and spacing. Surface roughness is
greatly affected by the microscopic asperity of the surface of each part.

Differences in surface roughness obviously lead to visual differences, however, they also have an
effect on a variety of other characteristics. Examples include: the amount of wear, the ability to
form a seal when a part makes contact with another surface, and the thickness of the paint needed
to coat a part. This is why it is necessary to quantify surface roughness, that is, the microscopic
asperity of surfaces.

There are countless methods that can be used to quantify microscopic asperity. Some examples
include finding the level difference between the highest and lowest points within a 1
mm 0.04" square area or finding the difference between the average of 5 high points and the
average of 5 low points on a straight line 2mm 0.08" in length. However, if standards are
determined in this sort of arbitrary fashion, inconsistencies may occur.

When a part from company A is assembled together with a part from company B to form a final
product, these component parts must have the same surface roughness. If they don't, the ability to
form a seal will be compromised. In this situatoin, it is a major problem if companies A and B
manage surface roughness using different standards. The International Organization of
Standardization (ISO) regulates standards in order to define surface roughness.

Understanding Surface Roughness Symbols

Understanding surface roughness symbols
Symbols that indicate the surface texture of machined and structural parts are used in industrial
diagrams. The pictorial representation using these symbols is defined in ISO 1302:2002.

This section will explain how to write these symbols to indicate surface textures.
Terminology explanation

This is a general term for factors such as the roughness, necessity of removal
machining, crease direction, and waviness of the surface of machine parts and
Surface texture structural parts.

This refers to the removal of surface layers from parts by way of machining or
similar methods.
Removal machining

This is the direction of clear creases that are formed during removal
machining.
Crease direction

Symbols indicating target surface and the position of these symbols

When pictorially representing the surface texture, the symbol that indicates the target surface is
expressed with two lines having different lengths with an angle of 60° between them.

This surface roughness indication method pictorially displays information such as the surface roughness
value, cutoff value, sampling length, machining method, crease direction symbol, and surface waviness
on the surface indication symbol as shown below.
• a: Passband or sampling length and surface texture parameter symbol and value
• b: Indications of the second and subsequent parameters when multiple parameters are required
• c: Machining method
• d: Crease and its direction
• e: Machining allowance

The descriptors shown below are used when pictorially representing surface roughness. However,
generally speaking, the standard conditions, which are shown in red, are omitted, and the indications
shown in blue are included only when necessary.

Symbol Meaning Explanatory diagram

The creases made by an

edged tool during machining
are parallel with the surface
captured in the diagram in
which the symbol is written.
ExampleShaped surface
The creases made by the
edged tool during machining
are perpendicular to the
surface captured in the
diagram in which the symbol
is written.
ExampleShaped surface
(turned on a lathe; seen
from the side),
cylindrically ground
surface

The creases made by the

edged tool during machining
are at an angle and cross
each other on the surface
captured in the diagram in
which the symbol is written.
ExampleHoning finished
surface

The creases made by the

edged tool during machining
cross multiple times or have
no set direction.
ExampleLapped surface,
super-finished surface,
face-milled or end-
milled surface that has
been cross fed

The creases made by the

edged tool during machining
form mostly concentric
circles in relation to the
center of the surface on
which the symbol is written.
ExampleFaced surface
 The creases made by the
edged tool during machining
form mostly a radial pattern
in relation to the center of
the surface on which the
symbol is written.

"What is line roughness?" page list

•
o What is Surface Roughness?
o Surface Roughness Terminology
o Understanding Surface Roughness Symbols
o Measuring Procedure for Stylus-type Surface Roughness Instruments
o Surface Roughness Parameters

Other Pages

STEP1 Position the measurement target.

Remove any oil or dust on the measurement target's surface.

If the measurement direction is not indicated, position the target so that the measurement direction will give the
maximum parameters in the height direction (Ra, Rz).
STEP2 Visually inspect the surface of the target.

Judge whether the surface texture of the target (creases, roughness profile) is periodic or non-periodic.

STEP3-1 When the sampling length is represented pictorially

When the sampling length is indicated on the figure or in the requirements of the product’s technical information, set
the cutoff value, λc, to the indicated sampling length.

STEP3-2 When the roughness profile is periodic

1. For target surfaces that have a periodic roughness profile, estimate parameter RSm from the measured primary
profile.
2. Determine the corresponding sampling length (cutoff value λc) from Table 1 by using the estimated RSm.

Sampling length of Evaluation length of

RSm(mm inch) the roughness profile the roughness profile
(mm inch) (mm inch)
0.013 < RSm ≤ 0.04 0.08 0.4 0.02"

0.04 < RSm ≤ 0.13 0.01" 0.25 0.01" 1.25 0.05"

0.13 0.01" < RSm ≤ 0.4 0.02" 0.8 0.03" 4 0.16"

0.4 0.02" < RSm ≤ 1.3 0.05" 2.5 0.1" 12.5 0.49"

1.3 0.05" < RSm ≤ 4 0.16" 8 0.31" 40 1.57"

Table 1. Sampling lengths for measurement of the parameters of periodic roughness profiles and for measurement of the RSm of periodic/non-periodic
profile curves

3. Use the determined sampling length to measure the RSm value.

When the measured RSm is within the RSm range estimated from Table 1, use the cutoff value. When the measured
result is outside the estimated RSm range, change the cutoff value to the sampling length of the corresponding RSm.
5. Use the sampling length that you have determined with the steps up to this point to measure the required
parameters.

STEP3-3 When the roughness profile is not periodic

1. For target surfaces that have a non-periodic roughness profile, estimate the unknown parameter Ra, Rz, or RSm
from the measured primary profile.
2. Determine the corresponding sampling length (cutoff value λc) from Table 1 to Table 3 by using the estimated
unknown parameter Ra, Rz, or RSm.

Sampling length of the Evaluation length of the

Ra (μm Mil) roughness profile roughness profile
(mm inch) (mm inch)

(0.006) < Ra ≤ 0.02 0.08 0.4 0.02"

0.02 < Ra ≤ 0.1 0.004 Mil 0.25 0.01" 1.25 0.05"

0.1 < Ra ≤ 2 0.8 0.03" 4 0.16"

0.004 Mil < Ra ≤ 0.079 Mil

2 < Ra ≤ 10 2.5 0.1" 12.5 0.49"

0.079 Mil < Ra ≤ 0.39 Mil

10 < Ra ≤ 80 8 0.31" 40 1.57"

0.39 Mil < Ra ≤ 3.15 Mil

Use the determined sampling length to measure the values of the roughness parameters.
4. When the measured result is within the estimated Ra or Rz range from Table 1 to Table 3, use the cutoff value.
When the measured result is outside the estimated Ra or Rz range, change the cutoff value to the sampling length of
the range corresponding to the measured Ra or Rz.
5. Use the sampling length that you have determined with the steps to this point to measure the required parameters.

STEP4 Judge whether the parameters are within the threshold limit values from the measured
results.

Use the visual inspection from step 2 to determine whether the target’s surface texture is uniform (periodic) or is
different in various locations (non-periodic).

Case.1 The target’s surface texture is uniform.

Compare the parameters measured from the entirety of the target surface against the required values
indicated on the figure or in the product’s technical information. Then, judge whether the parameters are
within the permissible ranges according to the 16% rule or the maximum value rule.

Case.2 The target’s surface texture is different in various locations.

Compare the parameters determined from various locations on the target against the required values
indicated on the figure or in the product’s technical information. Then, judge whether the parameters are
within the permissible ranges according to the 16% rule or the maximum value rule.

16% rule

When the required values are indicated as the upper limits of the parameters, measure the location that
has the maximum parameters in the height direction (Ra, Rz) as judged by a visual inspection. Those
parameters calculated from the entire sampling length cut from the obtained roughness profile (one
evaluation length) that exceed the required values by 16% or less are judged as passing.
When the required values are indicated as the lower limits of the parameters, those parameters that are
calculated from the entire sampling length, cut from one evaluation length, that are smaller than the
required values by 16% or less are judged as passing.
In more detail:
- The initial measured value does not exceed 70% of the indicated value.

. Use the determined sampling length to measure the values of the roughness parameters.
4. When the measured result is within the estimated Ra or Rz range from Table 1 to Table 3, use the cutoff value.
When the measured result is outside the estimated Ra or Rz range, change the cutoff value to the sampling length of
the range corresponding to the measured Ra or Rz.
5. Use the sampling length that you have determined with the steps to this point to measure the required parameters.

STEP4 Judge whether the parameters are within the threshold limit values from the measured
results.

Use the visual inspection from step 2 to determine whether the target’s surface texture is uniform (periodic) or is
different in various locations (non-periodic).

Case.1 The target’s surface texture is uniform.

Compare the parameters measured from the entirety of the target surface against the required values indicated on the
figure or in the product’s technical information. Then, judge whether the parameters are within the permissible
ranges according to the 16% rule or the maximum value rule.

Case.2 The target’s surface texture is different in various locations.

Compare the parameters determined from various locations on the target against the required values
indicated on the figure or in the product’s technical information. Then, judge whether the parameters are
within the permissible ranges according to the 16% rule or the maximum value rule.

16% rule

When the required values are indicated as the upper limits of the parameters, measure the location that
has the maximum parameters in the height direction (Ra, Rz) as judged by a visual inspection. Those
parameters calculated from the entire sampling length cut from the obtained roughness profile (one
evaluation length) that exceed the required values by 16% or less are judged as passing.
When the required values are indicated as the lower limits of the parameters, those parameters that are
calculated from the entire sampling length, cut from one evaluation length, that are smaller than the
required values by 16% or less are judged as passing.

In more detail:
- The initial measured value does not exceed 70% of the indicated value.

Maximum value rule

When the required value indicated on the figure or in the product’s technical information is the maximum
value, all the parameter values determined from the whole area of the target surface pass if they are less
than or equal to the required value.