Surface Texture: It is the variation in the surface in the form of roughness, waviness, lay, and flaws.

Roughness: It refers to the finest of the irregularities in the surface. They are caused by the process(es) used to smooth the surface.

Figure 2.1 Surface texture characteristics Roughness Height: It is the average deviation from the mean plane of the surface (micrometers, or micro inches). Roughness Width: It is the width between successive peaks and valleys of the roughness. Roughness width cutoff: It is the largest spacing of irregularities including average roughness height.

Waviness: It is the widely spaced variation (millimeters, or inches) exceeding the roughness width cutoff. It is assumed that the roughness is superimposed on a surface that is wavy in nature. Waviness height: It is the crest to trough height variation of the waves. Waviness width: It is the wave length i.e. distance from crest to crest or from trough to trough. Lay: It is the orientation of the surface pattern. This is determined by the manufacturing processes used. Flaws: These are defects, or irregularities, that occur more or less at random over the surface. These defects can be such things as cracks, blow holes, ridges, scratches etc. Contact Area: It is the surface that will make contact with a mating surface. The Surface Texture Symbol: It is shown in figure 2.1 at the bottom indicating where one may indicate the magnitude of the different surface texture characteristics plus the orientation of the Lay. Figure 2.2 shows, in the upper left hand corner, the way the surface texture symbol should be drawn relative to the text's character height. How one may indicate different surface finish requirements is indicated by some the other versions of the symbol:
The Basic Surface Texture Symbol indicates that the surface may be produced by any method.

Material Removal by Machining: Symbol (with the horizontal bar closing the V opening) indicates that machining is required to achieve the desired surface finish. This means that a material allowance has to be made to make this possible. Material Removal Allowance: Symbol indicates the amount of stock that one should remove by machining. A tolerance on this number may be indicated in a note.

Material Removal Prohibited: Symbol with circle in the V, indicates that the surface must be produced by processes like casting, forging, hot finishing, cold finishing, die casting, injection molding, or powder metallurgy. The maximum roughness may also be specified right next to the Lay symbol. The lay symbol may be: 1. Perpendicular symbol shown in figure 2.1 indicating that the lay direction is perpendicular to
the line to which the symbol is applied; 2. The = symbol which indicates that the lay direction is parallel to the line; 3. The X symbol indicates that the Lay is angular in two directions relative to the line representing the surface;

Figure 2.2 Surface control symbols 4. The M symbol indicates a multidirectional Lay; 5. The C symbol indicates that the lay is approximately circular relative to the centre of the surface;

6. The R symbol indicates that the lay is approximately radial relative to the centre of the surface; 7. The P symbol indicates that the Lay is particulate, non-directional, or protuberant.
Reference: http://www.engr.mun.ca/~dfriis/cadkey/program/textappi.html 7:37 am 19/11/2012