Optical shape measurement
Roughness, shape, and topography.
In one scan.
Roughness, cylindrical shape and surface topography of rotationally symmetrical precision parts — non-contact via white light interferometry, with 100 nm accuracy, in a single measurement run.
The challenge
All critical dimensions — even in bores from 0.5 mm.
Roughness, shape, and topography of small precision parts are currently usually captured using separate systems. This requires multiple setups; internal geometries below 1 mm are very difficult to access by touch alone.
If that applies to you
- Tactile systems are too slow for you.
- You cannot access internal geometries smaller than 1 mm.
- Today, you need several measuring devices for one task.
- Their optical surfaces are too sensitive to be touched.
Tactile measurement
Probing systems capture the surface point by point or line by line. Collecting full-surface shape and roughness data for a precision part requires correspondingly long measurement times per component.
Access to internal geometries
Inner diameters below 1 mm are difficult to access for probes and many optical processes — even though they contain functionally crucial dimensions, e.g., of lens mounts and micro-bores.
Separate measuring systems
Capturing roughness, shape, and topography on separate devices means multiple setups. Each change introduces a new reference point and makes it more difficult to compare the results.
Sensitive surfaces
Optical functional surfaces must not be touched. Touch measurements carry the risk of scratches and marks on surfaces that must remain pristine.
The procedure
Shape, roughness and defects in a non-contact measurement run.
White light interferometry captures rotationally symmetrical precision parts across their entire surface and delivers in a single pass the measured quantities that are otherwise distributed across separate systems.
All measurements in one scan
Roughness (Ra, Rz, Sa), cylindrical shape and roundness, surface topography and defects — in a single measurement run, without re-clamping.
Internal geometry from 0.5 mm
Access to internal diameters from 0.5 mm — an area inaccessible to tactile systems and coordinate measuring machines.
Full-surface 3D topography
No single line, no sample profile: the entire area is captured — shape, waviness and local defects in the same data set.
Turnkey testing solutions
Based on white light interferometry, developed in Aachen. Service and support from a single source — from measurement concept to operational system.
Serial testing
In use during measurements.
We measure rotationally symmetrical precision parts with internal geometries from 0.5 mm — shape, roughness and defects contactlessly in a scan, with documented proof for each part.
Evaluations based on real measurements.
Three example evaluations — shape deviation, defect analysis, and internal surface inspection. The components are intentionally anonymized.
Shape deviation, shown unfolded.
The cylindrical shape is unfolded and applied against the target geometry — deviations across the entire surface become visible at a glance, not just along individual lines.
- Measured variable
- Cylindrical shape / roundness
- accuracy
- from 100 nm
- recording
- full surface
Micro-defects in the elevation profile.
Local defects are located in the same data set and quantified in the elevation profile — separately from the overall shape, without a second measurement.
- Measured variable
- Defects / Topography
- resolution
- from 20 nm
- principle
- contactless
Scratches on the inner surface.
Even in internal geometries from 0.5 mm upwards, scratches and structures on the surface are detected — where tactile methods have no access.
- Measured variable
- Surface defects
- Inner diameter
- from 0.5 mm
- roughness
- Ra · Rz · Sa
What previously required several systems can now be captured in a single WLI measurement run.
Tactile systems
- Point-by-point probing — slowly for each part
- Challenging access to internal geometries below 1 mm
- Touching sensitive optical surfaces
Coordinate measuring machines
- Form, but roughness not integrated
- Individual setup for each measured quantity
- Interior access is limited at small diameters
MABRI · WLI
- Shape, roughness and defects in one scan
- Internal geometries accessible from 0.5 mm
- Non-contact — in 30 seconds to 2 minutes
REFERENCES
AR / Smart Glasses
CA · US
EUV Semiconductors
NL
Tier-1 Automotive
Munich · DE
MedTech Implants
Boston, MA
Diagnostic chips
Hilden · DE
Drug Delivery
Massachusetts · US
MV.BRIX — modular platform
Configure instead of developing from scratch
Our MV.BRIX platform consists of proven hardware and software modules — automation, vision, software, inspection. We configure your customized system from these building blocks. Reduced risk. Shorter delivery times. Lower total cost of ownership.
- Scalable · maintainable · future-proof
- 100% perfectly tailored to your requirements
- Time to first measurement 4-8 months
Industries
Medical technology and optics are the focus.
The focus is on rotationally symmetrical precision parts whose function depends on microstructures on internal and functional surfaces.
Precise internal geometries
Microbores and cylindrical functional surfaces, whose shape, roughness and freedom from defects determine the function — tested without contact and across the entire surface.
Lenses & Lens Frames
Sensitive optical functional surfaces and mounts that must be measured without touch — shape, topography and surface quality in one data set.
Inquire now
Request a feasibility study - free of charge.
30 minutes online, starting with a concrete component description. Together we'll determine whether a vision-driven cell is suitable for your application — objectively, without sales pressure.