Characteristics of surfaces includes surface texture, surface integrity, it also takes care of
relationship between manufacturing processes and characteristics of generated surfaces.
A surface is generally examined by a magnified cross-section of the surface of the part
produced.
The bulk of the part referred to as substrate has a grain structure that depends on
previous processing of the metal. The exterior of the machine part is called surface
whose topography is pre-decided. The surface may have roughness, waviness and flaws.
It may also have some pattern or directional pattern depending on the process used. All
these are described as surface texture. The elements of surface texture are defined below
and shown in Figure 3.1.