Precise roughness measurement
Surface texture parameters
according to ISO 21920
Surface texture measurement
Efficient surface texture measurement
Surface texture is very important where it has a direct influence
on the quality of the part. Therefore, it has to be defined as
precisely as possible with the help of standardized surface
texture parameters.
This leaflet provides an overview of the most important
terms and parameters of surface metrology according to
ISO 21920.
We manufacture a wide range of roughness measuring systems
providing you with a large variety of evaluation possibilities – in
the measuring lab as well as on the production line.
A particularly important aspect in metrology is continuous
monitoring for the best possible accuracy. In our DAkkS-DKD
calibration laboratory, we calibrate your supplied standards for
various roughness parameters. For non-accredited parameters
we issue a simpler factory calibration certificate.
Breakdown of a surface
Filtered P profile
Pt
Filtered W profile
Wt
Filtered R profile
Rt
le
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Surface texture measurement
Surface profiles – total height of the profile
The profile of a surface is recorded two-dimensionally using
the tracing system method.
In contrast to ISO 3274, in ISO 21920 the stylus tip radius is
calculated from the recorded profile by morphological erosion
before this mechanical profile is then used for the calculation
of the parameters.
The primary profile (P profile) is the measured surface profile
after the stylus tip radius has been removed and filtered with the
profile S filter. Further filtering according to ISO 16610 produces
the waviness profile (W profile) and the roughness profile
(R profile). The determining parameter for the boundary between
waviness and roughness is typically the nesting index Nic.
The profile type is identified by the capital letters P, R or W.
In accordance with ISO 21920, all parameter definitions, except
for Rxxk and Pxxk, apply to the roughness profile as well as to
the primary and waviness profile.
Evaluation lengths – cut-off
Start-up length Run-off length
le
lsc lsc lsc lsc lsc
lsc*nsc
lt
The traverse length lt is the total length of the probe movement
during the scanning process. It is greater than the evaluation
length le in order to be able to form the roughness profile with
the profile filter.
Only for Rpt, Rvt, Rp, Rv, Rz applies: le = lsc * nsc
(section length times number of sections).
New in ISO 21920: for Ppt, Pvt, Pp, Pv and Pz also applies
nsc = 5 and lsc = le/nsc. For P parameters, typically only the
length of the workpiece section (= le) is dimensioned.
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Surface texture parameters
Ra
Z (x)
Ra
Z
Center line
le
Ra – arithmetic mean height
Ra is the arithmetic mean roughness value from the amounts of
all profile values. Ra does not differentiate between peaks and
pits and has therefore a relatively weak information character.
Rk, Rpk, Rpkx, Rvk, Rvkx, Rmrk1, Rmrk2,
Rak1, Rak2
Rak1
Rpkx
Rpk
Profile peak section Material ratio curve
Core
Rak2
Rk
Rvkx
Rvk
Profile pit section Material ratio
0 40 60 % 100
Rmrk1 Rmrk2
Rk – core height
Height of the roughness core profile
Rpk – reduced peak height
Reduced height of the peaks protruding from the roughness profile
Rpkx – maximum peak height
Rvk – reduced pit depth
Reduced depth of the pits reaching into the material from the core
Rvkx – maximum pit depth
Rrmk1, Rmrk2 – Material ratio of hills or of dales respectively
Rak1, Rak2 – Area of hills or dales respectively
Rpc
Rpc – peak count parameter
Rpc indicates the number of mean spacings of profile elements
per unit length L and is calculated with the formula Rpc = L/Rsm.
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Surface texture parameters
Rz, Rp, Rv, Rpt, Rvt
Rt Rz Rz1 Rz2 Rz3 Rz4 Rz5
lsc
lsc*nsc
Rz – maximum height
Mean value of the individual Rz values from the section
lengths lsc
Rp – mean peak height
Mean value of the largest peak heights of all section
lengths lsc
Rv – mean pit depth
Mean value of the largest pit depths of all section
lengths lsc
Rpt – maximum peak height
Largest peak height of all section lengths lsc
Rvt – maximum pit depth
Largest pit depth of all section lengths lsc
Rzx, Rzx(l)
l Rzx
Z
le
Rzx, Rzx(l) – maximum height per section
Rzx(l) corresponds to the maximum value of the difference
between the highest and the lowest ordinate values within a
section of length l moving over le. When the default value l = lsc
is used, the specification of the length l is not required (Rzx).
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Copyright © JENOPTIK Industrial Metrology Germany GmbH. All rights reserved. Subject to change without notice.
2022-06
JENOPTIK Industrial Metrology Germany GmbH | Drachenloch 5
691 354
78052 Villingen-Schwenningen | Germany | P +49 7721 6813-0
F +49 7721 6813-444 | metrology@[Link] | [Link]
Surface texture parameters
Rmc(c), Rmr(dc), Rmr(p,dc)
Ml1(c) Ml2(c) Ml3(c) Ml4(c) Ml5(c) Reference line
Reference section level c0
c
Section level c
Z(x)
Rt
Material
ratio curve
0 20 40 60 80 100
le
Material ratio Rmc(c)
Rmc(c) – material ratio
Rmc indicates what ratio the totaled length in the material
has assumed relative to the evaluation length (in %). The
comparison is made in the specified section level c and the
evaluation length le. The material ratio curve indicates the
material ratio as a function of the section level.
c
Reference section level
c0
cp Material ratio curve
dc
cp+dc
Mr
p Rmr(p,dc)
0% 100 %
Rmr(dc), Rmr(p,dc) – relative material ratio
Rmr indicates the material ratio at a section level cp + dc,
where cp refers to the material ratio p and dc is a relative
profile depth, usually less than 0. The specification of the material
ratio p is not required if the default value p = 0 % is used.
Rsm
Xs1 Xsi Xsm
C1
C2
Center line
le
Rsm – mean profile element spacing
Rsm is the arithmetic mean value of the width of the profile
elements of the roughness profile. Default values for the
height discrimination for detecting the profile hills and dales
in ISO 21920 are 10 % of Rp and Rv, respectively.
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Evaluation
Tolerance acceptance rules
According to ISO 21920 the surface measurement should
be made where the highest values are to be expected
(visual determination).
Tmax
The maximum tolerance acceptance rule Tmax is set as a
standard and does not need to be specified in the drawing
entries. The surface is accepted as good if the measured values
of a parameter do not exceed the specified maximum value.
T16 %
If the 16 % tolerance acceptance rule is to apply, this must
be indicated in the drawing entries with the T16 % symbol.
The surface is accepted as good if no more than 16 % of the
measured values of a parameter exceed the specified maximum
value. Further information on this rule can be found in the
ISO 21920 standard.
Selection of the measurement conditions
ISO 21920 does not distinguish between a periodic and an
aperiodic profile. The selection of the measurement conditions
is based on the type of tolerance limit: upper tolerance limit,
lower tolerance limit, or bilateral tolerance limits.
The first parameter mentioned in the drawing specification
determines the measuring conditions used. In the simplest
case, the tolerance is sufficient.
In the Evovis software, the measurement condition
tables are used automatically.
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Drawing entries
Drawing entries according to ISO 21920
L Ra 2 T16 % / S 0.0015 –
Material removing R parameter: Profile S filter type: Spline
machining Ra, limit value 2 µm filter; Nesting index
Nis = 0.0015 mm
Tolerance type: 16 % tolerance
Lower limit acceptance rule
Minimum information in drawings
ISO 21920 Parameter
profile standard
Rz 2.5
Limit value [µm]
The minimum specification is only allowed for the following
parameters with defined defaults: Rz, Ra, Rp, Rv, Rq, Rzx,
Rt and Pt.
Information on the machining process
Any machining process allowed
Material removing machining
No material removing machining allowed
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Drawing entries
RG 0.6 (15) LSC 25 / EP OR(1)
Additional
requirements
Evaluation length Profile acquisition method:
le = 15 mm Electromagnetic profile
Profile L filter type: Profile F operator type: Circle
Robust Gaussian filter Method: LS
Nesting index Nic = 0.6 mm Nesting index: Circle radius r = 25 mm
Examples
Rz 4 L Rz 2.5
Material removing Material removing machining;
machining; lower limit value for Rz
Rz = max. 4 μm demanded; Rz = min. 2.5 µm
U Ra 4
Rzx 4 / Sc3
L Ra 1
Material removing Material removing machining;
machining; upper and lower Rzx = max. 4 μm; Sc3 determines the
limit value for Ra demanded: measurement and filter conditions
Ra = min. 1 µm and max. 4 µm (deviating from the default values
determined by the tolerance)
Pt 4 / (2) Rz 1 / 0.008 -2.5
Material removing Material removing machining;
machining; P profile; Rz = max. 1 μm; filter selection Nis = 0.008 mm
traverse length = 2 mm; and Nic = 2.5 mm (the remaining measurement
Pt = max. 4 μm and filter conditions are derived from Nic)
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