The new W55 roughness measurement system from Detroit Precision Hommel is designed to operate within a production line, acquiring and archiving measured values of roughness, profile and waviness as well as tolerances for any parameter or to continuouly monitor production processes and upload data to the user’s statistics network. According to the company’s press release, the first application is for a North American bearing manufacturer. The W55 can store up to 30 different workpiece programs for different part numbers or different features on each part. Each workpiece program can be identified by text or digital photo on the large 10" display. Within each workpiece program, data can be tagged to identify operation number, machine number, operator and more. Using a LAN interface, the W55 can acquire and save measured roughness data centrally and transfer them to a statistics server. The LAN interface allows the use of central printers. Standard printers, USB memory sticks and other standard peripheral devices can be used via the built-in USB interfaces. These interfaces make it simple to integrate the roughness measuring system into a production line, The USB ports or LAN interface can be used to take advantage of the built-in QS-Stat export function. The W55’s software permits calculations of common roughness, core roughness, profile and waviness parameters and tolerance monitoring, management of up to 30 different measuring programs as well as practice-oriented operation with function keys.The company says the ability to measure dominant waviness of sealing surfaces is new to this instrument class. Best suited for shop floor operation, the W55 includes a rugged, enclosed aluminum housing, an oil and moisture resistant keyboard and can be used to operate skidded or skidless drive units. In either case, the drive units may be held held or fixtured. Measuring results are displayed on the screen numerically or graphically. Settings may be made and the measruement program written through the large touchscreen.