Why Measure Roundness?

The component may appear round to the eye and apparently have a constant diameter when measured with a vernier or micrometer, but is it round? It is clear that the lobing can affect the function. Lobes at 'A' will carry the load whilst the lubrication film will be greatest at 'B'.

The Reason?

The bearing shown here could have a race that is not truly circular. This would probably function for a short time but the undulations around this bearing race would start to cause vibrations. This would result in premature wear and cause the race to perform less efficiently than intended.

How is roundness measured?

To measure roundness, rotation is necessary, coupled with the ability to measure change in radius. This is best achieved by comparing the profile of the component under test to a circular datum. The component is rotated on a highly accurate spindle which provides the circular datum. The axis of the component is aligned with the axis of the spindle, usually using a centering and leveling table. A transducer is then used to measure radial variations of the component with respect to the spindle axis.

Results?

It is convenient to represent the out-of-roundness output from the gauge as a polar profile or graph. Evaluating this pictorial representation can be subjective and time consuming, therefore we need some means of processing the information to give us accurate and repeatable answers. As we are trying to assess departures from true circularity and require a reference from which to measure, it makes sense to try to fit a reference circle to our profile and relate all our calculations to it.