Fine Tubes manufactures high quality metal tubing for a range of applications where surface finish is critical to the correct functioning of the product. Whilst a surface can feel smooth to touch, when examined under a microscope the true story may be quite different. The qualities of the actual surface are the result of various manufacturing technologies, lubricants and cleaning processes.
Controlling and measuring the surface texture or roughness of precision tubing is an intrinsic part of our production process. We use values for roughness (R), waviness (W) and form (F) to categorise engineered surfaces.
Typical Standards
The following industry standards provide guidelines for roughness that our products meet, and exceed:
BS |
Assessment of surface texture - guidance and general |
1134:2010 |
information |
ISO 4287-1 |
Surface Roughness Terminology Part 1 |
ANSI B46.1 |
Surface texture, surface roughness, waviness and lay |
Useful Definitions
Ra |
Roughness average is the universally recognised and most used international parameter of roughness. It is the arithmetic mean of the absolute departures of the roughness profile from the mean line. Ra is reported in microns. |
Rq
or
RMS |
Rq is the Root Mean Square parameter corresponding to Ra. |
Rp |
The roughness peak is the maximum height of the profile above the mean line within the sampling length. |
Rt |
Roughness total is the maximum peak to valley height of the profile in the total assessment length (L). |
Rz |
Rz = (Rp +Rp) within the sampling length. |
Rv |
The maximum depth of the profile below the mean line in the sampling length. |
AA |
Arithmetic average |
CLA |
Centre Line Average, this is Ra expressed in micro inches. |