Question

Q1. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using the Zygo versus using the Mahr profilometer.

Q2.Would you use the Zygo or the Mahr in an industrial setting and why?

Answer 1

QUICK OVERVIEW OF PROFILOMETER:- A profilometer is an instrument that measures roughness at the nanometer level. A contact profilometer has a diamond stylus that touches the surface. It is not sensitive to surface color or reflectance. Whereas the Optical or non-contact profilometers scan the surface with light and can determine the surface roughness of the profile. These are more accurate than the contact profilometer

But according to the accuracy needed we have to choose a profilometer,

So indifference with the ZYGO and the Mahrs profilometer. Lets Discuss one after the other

• ZYGO is white light interferometer systems, offering fast, non-contact, high-precision 3D profilometer metrology of surface features.
• Every pixel's height is measured relative to every other by comparing its maximum contrast (point of focus) relative to the pixels around it – producing a very sensitive surface measurement.
• ZYGO surface profilers can measure height difference between two discontinuous planes of up to 20 mm. It is also possible to measure the angle of the surfaces using this technique.
• ZYGO profilers provide complete MEMS metrology on a single platform - with sub-nanometer resolution.ZYGO optical profilers have larger fields of view and more pixels per measurement than typical optical profilers: therefore profilers can measure longer profiles than previously possible in a single optical surface measurement acquisition.
• ZYGO's Nexview 3D Optical Surface Profiler, which is able to measure all types of surfaces, from rough to super smooth, including thin films, steep slopes, and large steps.

Whereas in a Mahr profilometer The below specifications are of Mahrs Profilometer called MarSurf M 400

• Mobile and stationary measuring instrument
• Roughness and waviness measurements
• Traversing lengths up to 26 mm
• Over 50 R, W and P surface parameters
• Automatic choice of cut-off and traversing length in accordance with international standard
• Dynamic calibration function
• Cable and Bluetooth connection between drive unit and evaluation instrument (4 m)
• Magnetic probe holder (breakaway probe) BFW 250
• Motorized probe zero setting (max. 7.5 mm)
• Easy-to-read LCD readout of the measured roughness value, in microinches or micrometers, within half a second after the surface is traversed.
• Can be used to measure any one of four, switch-selectable, parameters: Ra, Rmax/Ry, Rz
• Selectable traverse length 1, 3 or 5 cut-offs of 0.8 mm/.030“

So according to the difference, we can clearly found that the MAhr profilometer is better than the Zygo because it is totally a digital non-contact one, But still it is little weigher than the Zygo one. So according to the user and the application to be used, the profilometer should be preffered