Our 3D calibration specimens are manufactured exclusively by us for the UK National Physical Laboratories (NPL) and include 8 physical material measures (calibration artefacts). They allow users to calibrate the metrological characteristics of areal surface topography measuring instruments. These also enable the adoption of good measurement practice and prepare for the forthcoming ISO standards for determination of 3-
They include 2 areal star patterns (for testing resolution) and the following NPL calibrated samples – optical flat, 3 different pitch areal cross gratings, 5 step heights and 2 irregular samples.
The eight NPL areal calibration specimens and their physical material measures are shown in the table below.
Type Number | Artefact | Description |
600 | Flat | Optical flat |
601 | Type ACG-2.1 μm height | areal cross grating, with five different pitches –400 μm, 160 μm, 100 μm, 40 μm, 16 μm |
602 | Type ACG-1.2 μm height | |
603 | Type ACG-0.5 μm height | |
604 | Type ACG-0.03 μm height | |
610 | Type AIR-B40 (40 nm autocorrelation length) | areal irregular – |
611 | Type AIR-B70 (70 nm autocorrelation length) | |
615 | Type ASG-0.2 (200 nm height) | areal star pattern |
Influence parameters and metrological characteristics
The metrological characteristics of an areal surface texture instrument that will be defined in the forthcoming ISO standards for 3-D surface topography are shown in the table. The areal calibration artefacts have been designed to directly address each of the metrological characteristics.