An Entry-Level System for High-Resolution Roughness and Contour Measurement

Mahr Federal’s MarSurf UD 130 offers high-speed, high-resolution measurement.

The MarSurf UD 130. (Image courtesy of Mahr Federal.)

The MarSurf UD 130. (Image courtesy of Mahr Federal.)

The MarSurf UD 130 is a new “entry-level” measuring system capable of generating surface and contour measurements simultaneously in a single pass. Mahr Federal’s new system replaces the MarSurf UD 120, offering a number of improvements over the previous model.

The UD 130 has measuring speeds of up to 5 mm/second and a traveling length of 130 mm. It has a maximum Z-axis measuring range of 20 mm and a maximum resolution of 2 nm.

It also uses an interferometric probe system, which provides better technical data than an inductive probe system.

Photo diodes register probe movement and evaluate it electronically. This allows the system to achieve a high resolution over a large range. The probe arms use a bridge-truss design to maximize rigidity and reduce vibration.

Mahr Federal offers different probe tip geometries for different measuring tasks. Diamond tips with 2-µm and 5-µm radii can be used for roughness measurements, while ruby balls or carbide tips with 25-µm radii can be used for contour measurements.

The UD 130’s magnetic mounting systems is designed for quick probe changes. Its ball stop assembly and an embedded electronic chip in the probe arm are intended to ensure a repeatable mounting position and reliable recognition, respectively.

The system also includes Mahr’s XCR 20 CNC software package for automatic measurement operations. Built on the modular MarWin platform, the software features a number of functions, including:

  • Line Form Evaluation
  • Nominal/Actual Comparison
  • Creating Auxiliary Reference Points

The drive unit and measuring stand axes of the UD 130 can be controlled either by joystick or an automated measuring program.

“We call the MarSurf UD 130 an “entry-level” system because it is a more economical version of our high-end MarSurf LD 130,” said Kevin Akin, product manager for form and surface metrology. “It’s designed for applications in industries such as automotive or bearings that require high resolution, but which may not have the very high tolerance requirements of some optical or aerospace applications.”

For more information, visit Mahr Federal’s website.

Written by

Ian Wright

Ian is a senior editor at engineering.com, covering additive manufacturing and 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. Ian holds bachelors and masters degrees in philosophy from McMaster University and spent six years pursuing a doctoral degree at York University before withdrawing in good standing.