Dr. Mark Malburg is the president of Digital Metrology Solutions. With over 30 years in surface metrology, he is the chief architect of a range of standard and custom software for surface texture and shape analysis. Dr. Malburg has consulted in numerous industries ranging from optics to aerospace. He is a frequent participant in standards committees and has helped shape many of the standards that govern surface specification and control.
It’s common to hear “surface roughness” described as a number that can be measured on a gage. But describing surface texture with a number is a lot like describing a concert in decibels: loudness is just part of the story. A rock band, an orchestra, and a chainsaw can all produce 100 decibels, but the full picture is much more complex and interesting.