Computer vision profilometer: equipment and evaluation of measurements

This paper describes a new equipment that measures roughness values by a computer vision (CV) technique. Measurements carried out by a CV profilometer are also evaluated. A laser source (power 2 mW), a cylindrical lens and a charge coupled device (CCD) TV-camera with a suitable optical system form an image of the profile of the sample under inspection. This image is then transformed into a binary image by thresholding and the line that divides the bright zone from the dark zone is the sample profile. From this line the characteristic roughness values can be calculated. The roughness measurements are carried out both by the CV profilometer and a stylus profilometer on eight specimens with various degrees of finish. For each investigated parameter, a strong linear relationship exists between CV and stylus measurements.