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The Physics
While it is not necessary to understand why the light bands are formed to measure flatness,
understanding the principles does provide some insight. The cause of the formation of light bands are
formed lies in a scientific principle. When two waves collide (light waves, ocean waves, etc.) one of two
things will happen. If the waves are in phase, they will reinforce each other and become stronger or
larger. This is called Constructive Interference. If they are out of phase, they will cancel each other. This
is called Destructive Interference. Figure 1 below illustrates this principle.
Figure 2 below illustrates light waves passing through an optical flat onto a work piece. If the work piece
is not perfectly flat, an air wedge will be formed by the gap between the optical flat and the work piece.
Certain rays, (B, D, F, etc.) will fall where the thickness of the wedge is just one, two, three, etc., halfwavelengths. Where this occurs, light waves will be partly reflected from the optical flat, flat and partly
from the work piece. At these points, (because the reflections are waves, the reflection of each of these
particular rays interferes with itself, canceling its own light and appearing from above as a narrow dark
band (destructive interference). Since each dark band is like a contour line, it defines a path across the
wedge wherever its thickness is exactly uniform. The dark bands are thus useful for precise measurement
of work flatness. Other rays, A, C, E, etc., reflect upward without interference and appear as wide
alternate bright bands.
Convex or Concave?
The rule for determining whether a surface is concave or convex is as follows: If the bands curve AWAY
from the point of light pressure, then the surface is convex, as shown in illustration 3a. If they curve
TOWARD the point of light pressure, then the surface is concave, as shown in (Figure 3e)
Irregular Surfaces
When the surface to be measured is irregular, the contact method of flatness testing is recommended.
This is the only case where the count of the number of bands is meaningful. Here, the flat is placed in the
tightest possible contact with the work piece. No attempt should be made to maintain a wedge. A band
pattern such as shown in figure 4 will appear. These bands are to be interpreted like the contour lines on
a map. Each band represents 11.57 millionths of an inch (293.8 nm). In this case, the total flatness error
is equal to half the number of bands between points of contact.
In the figure shown the count of 12 bands between high spots indicate a valley 69.42 millionths deep
between the two high spots. Note that the high spots appear as bulls-eye patterns.