Scattered Light Measuring Technology

Measuring surfaces with the scattered light method offers speed, high precision and an areal evaluation of functionally important parts.

OptoSurf has developed a novel sensor on the basis of this principle, which captures the back-scattered light from surfaces using precision optics and a high-resolution detector. From the distribution of this light statistical roughness parameters and form deviation can be derived.

During the measurement, an LED light source beams an approximately 1 mm diameter spot of light at the material surface. Imagine the surface as a microscopic mountain range, scattering the reflected light farther or nearer from the centre of incidence depending on the steepness of the mountains. If the range is all parallel-sided (ground structure), then the light beam is scattered further by the mountain sides in the sidewise direction than by the ridges in the lengthwise direction.

From the distribution of the back-scattered light can be derived information about the height and character of the microscopic mountains.