The measurement technology company Mahr, headquartered in Göttingen, has acquired OptoSurf GmbH from Ettlingen near Karlsruhe. Mahr is thus expanding its portfolio in the field of optical surface measurement technology and opening up greater potential for its customers to assess the tribological properties of objects. OptoSurf's scattered light technology can be used to measure surfaces extremely accurately and efficiently. This minimizes friction, reduces wear and improves the efficiency of systems.
Advantages of scattered light technology
Scattered light technology offers great advantages, especially for finely machined surfaces with high functional requirements. It can be used to measure roughness down to the nanometer range. The surface parameters are not obtained from a height profile as with conventional tactile or optical methods, but from the distribution of the micro-profile angles within the measuring spots. The rougher the surface, the greater the angle distribution and the wider the scattering of the reflected light. This angular information is closely related to the friction behavior of surfaces in tribological systems.
Suitable for a wide range of applications
The scattered light technology is characterized by high vibration and distance insensitivity, which qualifies it for direct use in the production environment. It also measures at high speed, making it possible to measure up to 100 percent of the surfaces to be evaluated. Due to the high accuracy of the sensor system, the technology is ideal for finely machined surfaces with high functional requirements, particularly for applications in electromobility, mechanical engineering, aerospace technology, medical technology and semiconductor technology.