What is the difference between Ra and RMS?

Ra and RMS are both representations of surface roughness, but each is calculated differently. Ra is
calculated as the Roughness Average of a surfaces measured microscopic peaks and valleys. RMS is
calculated as the Root Mean Square of a surfaces measured microscopic peaks and valleys. Each value
uses the same individual height measurements of the surfaces peaks and valleys, but uses the
measurements in a different formula. The formulas are shown below. One can infer from examination of
the formulas, that a single large peak or flaw within the microscopic surface texture will effect (raise) the
RMS value more than the Ra value.

Equivalent Ra values for Surface Finish Grade Numbers

Older drawings may use roughness grade numbers to indicate Ra values. The following table is given in
ISO 1302:1992.

Roughness
Roughness values CLA (µin.)
Roughness N values Ra Rt
Ra RMS Center Line
ISO Grade Numbers microinches Roughness, microns
micrometers (µm) Avg.
(µin.)

N12 50 2000 2200 2000 200

N11 25 1000 1100 1000 100

N10 12.5 500 550 500 50

N9 6.3 250 275 250 25

N8 3.2 125 137.5 125 13

 Roughness
Roughness values CLA (µin.)
Roughness N values Ra Rt
Ra RMS Center Line
ISO Grade Numbers microinches Roughness, microns
micrometers (µm) Avg.
(µin.)

N7 1.6 63 64.3 63 8.0

N6 0.8 32 32.5 32 4.0

N5 0.4 16 17.6 16 2.0

N4 0.2 8 8.8 8 1.2

N3 0.1 4 4.4 4 0.8

N2 0.05 2 2.2 2 0.5

N1 0.025 1 1.1 1 0.3

 
Traversing length, evaluation length and sampling length
When measuring roughness with a stylus-based system you’ll hear the terms “traversing length,” “evaluation
length” and “sampling length.” It’s important to understand their specific meanings and to adhere to them as
specified on drawings in order to get accurate measurement data.
These three lengths are usually defined from shortest to longest.
A sampling length is defined based on the longest spatial wavelength that will be measured. It is also called a
cutoff length because it equals the spatial wavelength of the “cutoff filter.” The cutoff filter separates shorter-
wavelength roughness from longer-wavelength waviness.
The sampling length will be determined based on the spatial wavelengths that matter for a particular
application. A typical cutoff wavelength (and thus sampling length) is 0.8 mm for roughness measurements.
It’s important to note that this is not a hard-and-fast value; it should be defined based on the roughness
requirements for the particular surface.
The evaluation length, or assessment length, is the part of the stylus trace that will be used to calculate
parameters. The evaluation length is typically specified based on some number of sampling lengths (five
sampling lengths is typical for roughness parameters). It can also be specified as an integral number of
sampling lengths (e.g., “Ra8”  specifies eight sampling lengths) or as an absolute length.
The traversing length, or tracing length, is the entire distance that the stylus must travel in order to complete
the measurement. It includes the evaluation length plus additional lengths at the beginning and end which
often must be discarded in the filtering process and are not included when calculating texture parameters.
The image below shows the sampling, evaluation and traversing lengths on a roughness profile. The
roughness profile is the result after a short cutoff is applied to the primary profile to remove short spatial
wavelength noise, and a long cutoff is applied to remove long spatial wavelength waviness and form. The
evaluation length in this case is five sampling lengths. The traversing length includes an additional sampling
length at either end which will be discarded prior to analysis.

The key piece of information here is that the sampling length, evaluation length, and traversing length should
all be defined based upon the spatial wavelengths that are critical to your part’s performance. This
information should all be conveyed on part drawings to ensure that consistent measurement lengths are
used, to achieve repeatable roughness measurements.
What is a cut-off?
In basic terms, a cut-off is a filter and is used as a means of separating or filtering the wavelengths of a
component. Cut-offs have a numerical value that when selected will reduce or remove the unwanted
wavelengths on the surface. For example, a roughness filter cut-off with a numeric value of 0.8mm will allow
wavelengths below 0.8mm to be assessed with wavelengths above 0.8mm being reduced in amplitude; the
greater the wavelength, the more severe the reduction. For a waviness filter cut-off with a numeric value of
0.8mm, wavelengths above 0.8mm will be assessed with wavelengths below 0.8mm being reduced in
amplitude. 
What are filters?

Electronic or mathematical methods or algorithms which separate out different wavelengths and
allow us to see only the wavelengths we are interested in.
How do we separate Roughness, Waviness and Form

In order to separate the three elements, we use filters. On most surface texture measuring instruments we can select either
Roughness or Waviness Filters. 

Selecting a Roughness Filter will remove waviness elements, leaving the roughness profile for evaluation. Selecting a Waviness
Filter will remove roughness elements, leaving the waviness profile for evaluation. Separating the roughness and waviness is
achieved by using filter cut-offs.

What is a sample length?

After the data has been filtered with a cut ?off, we then sample it. Sampling is done by breaking the data into equal sample
lengths. The sample lengths have the same numeric value as the cut-off. In other words, if you use a 0.8mm cut-off, then the
filtered data will be broken down into 0.8mm sample lengths. These sample lengths are chosen in such a way that a good
statistical analysis can be made of the surface. In most cases, five sample lengths are used for analysis.

What is an assessment length?

An assessment length is the amount of data left after filtering that is then used for analysis.

Surface Finish is a measure of the overall texture of a surface that is

characterized by the lay, surface roughness, and waviness of the surface.
Surface Finish when it is intended to include all three characteristics is
often called Surface Texture to avoid confusion, since machinists often
refer to Surface Roughness as Surface Finish. Another term, analagous
to Surface Texture, is Surface Topology.