Honing Technology, Measurement Services

Honing Technology: Measurement Services

Solve Metrology provides part measurement and evaluation services for our honing and grinding customers.

We have comprehensive metrology and metallurgy capabilities including one of the largest cylindricity measurement machines in North America. We specialize in surface finish and roundness measurement and specific metallurgical analysis to support our precision machining customers

Our capabilities encompass the three basic components of a honed or ground part; geometry, surface roughness, and surface metallurgical integrity. We develop special measurement procedures and technologies specific to the honing industry with emphasis on accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency. Solve Metrology has been a leader in developing evaluation technologies for the honing industry for over 20 years.

Our measurement capabilities include:

Surface Finish Analysis
3D Surface Finish Analysis
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Metallurgical Analysis
Fax Film Surface Analysis
Torn and Folded Metal Analysis
Graphite Pullout Analysis
Form Measurement
Roundness Measurement
Cylindricity Measurement
Concentricity Measurement
Flatness Measurement
Straightness Measurement

Geometry 3D Cylindricity measurements give you a complete picture to evaluate your honing process and identify design weaknesses. We can even perform these measurements with torque plates or at elevated temperatures to evaluate your product under simulated operating conditions.

Surface Roughness Our state of the art surface finish analysis software provides advanced parameters for evaluation of "stratified" plateau honed surfaces, bearing raceways, and any load bearing surface. We have worked with the ANSI B46.1 Surface Texture standards committee and instrument manufacturers for two decades developing techniques for measuring load bearing surfaces. The oil carrying capacity of a power cylinder bore wall is an important factor for any engine or compressor where oil economy and hydrocarbon emissions are to be controlled

Surface Integrity

Replicating materials such as fax film have been used to evaluate cylinder bore surface integrity for more than 50 years. Torn and Folded metal, graphite pullouts, and open graphite counts are attributes evaluated with fax film analysis. A replica of the surface is formed by applying the replicating tape (fax film) to the bore surface. After curing, the replicate is flattened and analyzed under a microscope. Some automated evaluations can be preformed using image analysis software but in most cases the images are visually compared to standard photos

Modern bore scopes are slowly replacing this ancient technology but they do not provide a better picture than a good fax film photo. Speed is their advantage over fax film analysis. An SEM (scanning electron microscope) provides the best results available but requires destruction of the part and is relatively expensive. We often use an SEM in the initial phases of a development process to "calibrate" the bore scope and fax film evaluation process.

We also used these techniques for evaluation of nodular iron crank and cam shafts where open graphite nodules are an indicator of clean cutting grinding process

Customers use our measurement services to solve manufacturing problems, develop product specifications, perform failure analysis, and augment current inspection capability. We can set up temporary inspection facilities at your shop if necessary.