This paper describes a system that enables a traceable dynamic calibra
tion of probes of roughness testers and roundness testers, for example
. The system is based on a digital piezo translator (DPT). For the cal
ibration of the DPT itself, an interferometric technique was used. Aft
er calibration by laser interferometry, the DPT is used as a transfer
standard that can be driven by signals of various, but exactly known,
form. This time-displacement form can range from square to sinusoidal
or quasi-random with a maximum displacement of 15 mu m and a maximum f
requency of about 300 Hz. From a practical calibration of a roughness
tester, it is shown that, depending upon the profile, roughness parame
ters can be measured with an uncertainty ranging from a few nm to 1%.
(C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1996