Surface topography measurements are becoming more and more popular and complement the 2D analysis of surface texture. The selection of the measurement area is not yet included in the standards, and the size of this area affects the values of the determined parameters. The article presents the results of research on determining the measurement area based on the smooth-rough crossover scale (SCR) and mean profile element spacing (Rsm) parameters. The tests focused on measuring the surface topography of random and directional types of polymer parts produced by various additive manufacturing techniques. The measurements were conducted using the focus variation method. Surface topography parameters were determined for large evaluation areas determined based on the cut-off filter length Lc and for small areas defined based on the SCR and Rsm parameters. The values of parameters determined from large areas constituted the reference values to which the values determined from small areas were compared. In the case of random-type samples, it was shown that the values of the parameters calculated from smaller areas determined based on the SCR significantly differed from the reference values. For both types of samples, determination of the evaluation area based on the Rsm yielded good results. In most cases, the greatest differences between the values of parameters calculated for small and large areas were noted for the Ssk and Smr1 parameters. Based on the test results, it could be advantageous to replace the measurement of a larger area with the measurement of several smaller areas located at different places on the sample.
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing branch of manufacturing techniques used, among others, in the medical industry. New machines and materials and additional processing methods are improved or developed. Due to the dynamic development of post-processing and its relative novelty, it has not yet been widely described in the literature. This study focuses on the surface topography (parameters Sa, Sz, Sdq, Sds, Str, Sdr) of biocompatible polyamide 12 (PA12) samples made by selective laser sintering (SLS) and multi jet fusion (MJF). The surfaces of the samples were modified by commercial methods: four types of smoothing treatments (two mechanical and two chemical), and two antibacterial coatings. The smoothing treatment decreased the values of all analyzed topography parameters. On average, the Sa of the SLS samples was 33% higher than that of the MJF samples. After mechanical treatment, Sa decreased by 42% and after chemical treatment by 80%. The reduction in Sdq and Sdr is reflected in a higher surface gloss. One antibacterial coating did not significantly modify the surface topography. The other coating had a smoothing effect on the surface. The results of the study can help in the development of manufacturing methodologies for parts made of PA12, e.g., in the medical industry.
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