Dominik Malara
Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Kielce University of Technology
Published: April 1, 2026
Abstract
The development of modern manufacturing technologies requires the adaptation of measurement methods, which generates the problem of developing a new measurement strategy and an in-depth analysis of known measurement methods. The paper presents the results of an investigation into the measurement of the surface topography of models manufactured by Material Extrusion Technology (MEX). The measurement was carried out using three optical methods: – confocal, the interferometric, focus variation. The curved surface was analysed in its central part and in the rounded area, both concave and convex. The results showed significant differences in both measurement reliability and measurement errors. The results of the research showed that interferometry was the least effective method, characterised by the highest number of non-measured points regardless of the measurement location and sample shape. In contrast, the focus variation method showed the highest number of noise – spikes/ghost points located mainly at the edges of the measured area, which has a direct impact on the calculated value of the surface parameters. On average, the differences in the number of non-measured points for interferometric measurements were roughly four and a half times greater th
Keywords
surface metrology; 3D printing; MEX; non-measured points