Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy

The topography of surfaces produced by metal additive manufacturing is a challenge for optical measurement systems such as focus variation microscopes. These irregularities can lead to artifacts, such as incorrectly measured protrusions or spikes, hampering reliable topographic characterization. In...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xin Xu, Tobias Pahl, Sebastian Hagemeier, Peter Lehmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11/11/1011
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846152649979723776
author Xin Xu
Tobias Pahl
Sebastian Hagemeier
Peter Lehmann
author_facet Xin Xu
Tobias Pahl
Sebastian Hagemeier
Peter Lehmann
author_sort Xin Xu
collection DOAJ
description The topography of surfaces produced by metal additive manufacturing is a challenge for optical measurement systems such as focus variation microscopes. These irregularities can lead to artifacts, such as incorrectly measured protrusions or spikes, hampering reliable topographic characterization. In order to eliminate this problem, we introduce a new algorithm based on dual convolving a vertical Sobel operator with cross sections of an image stack parallel to the scanning direction of the so-called depth scan. This has proven beneficial in order to distinguish the focus region from out-of-focus areas where outliers are frequently detected. This paper introduces a method for deriving self-adaptive thresholds from the convolution result and compares the effects of different operators in creating self-adaptive thresholds. Additionally, a simulation model of focus variation microscopy is introduced to validate both the measuring system and the proposed algorithm, thereby enhancing the overall performance of focus variation microscopy. Finally, comparisons of measurement results on rough metal additive manufacturing workpieces with and without self-adaptive thresholds are discussed to demonstrate the algorithm’s effectiveness.The utilization of self-adaptive thresholds demonstrably reduces the uncertainty range in roughness parameter calculations. For example, in the case of an additive manufactured metal sample due to outlier elimination, the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>z</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> roughness value reduces from 543 µm to 413 µm.
format Article
id doaj-art-858d06ce0f154adc94a5ab9f2118da2e
institution Kabale University
issn 2304-6732
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Photonics
spelling doaj-art-858d06ce0f154adc94a5ab9f2118da2e2024-11-26T18:18:16ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322024-10-011111101110.3390/photonics11111011Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation MicroscopyXin Xu0Tobias Pahl1Sebastian Hagemeier2Peter Lehmann3Measurement Technology Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kassel, Wilhelmshoeher Allee 71, 34121 Kassel, GermanyMeasurement Technology Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kassel, Wilhelmshoeher Allee 71, 34121 Kassel, GermanyMeasurement Technology Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kassel, Wilhelmshoeher Allee 71, 34121 Kassel, GermanyMeasurement Technology Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Kassel, Wilhelmshoeher Allee 71, 34121 Kassel, GermanyThe topography of surfaces produced by metal additive manufacturing is a challenge for optical measurement systems such as focus variation microscopes. These irregularities can lead to artifacts, such as incorrectly measured protrusions or spikes, hampering reliable topographic characterization. In order to eliminate this problem, we introduce a new algorithm based on dual convolving a vertical Sobel operator with cross sections of an image stack parallel to the scanning direction of the so-called depth scan. This has proven beneficial in order to distinguish the focus region from out-of-focus areas where outliers are frequently detected. This paper introduces a method for deriving self-adaptive thresholds from the convolution result and compares the effects of different operators in creating self-adaptive thresholds. Additionally, a simulation model of focus variation microscopy is introduced to validate both the measuring system and the proposed algorithm, thereby enhancing the overall performance of focus variation microscopy. Finally, comparisons of measurement results on rough metal additive manufacturing workpieces with and without self-adaptive thresholds are discussed to demonstrate the algorithm’s effectiveness.The utilization of self-adaptive thresholds demonstrably reduces the uncertainty range in roughness parameter calculations. For example, in the case of an additive manufactured metal sample due to outlier elimination, the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>z</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> roughness value reduces from 543 µm to 413 µm.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11/11/1011metal additive manufactured surfacesreduction of measurement artifactsfocus variation microscopyprofilometry3D surface topography measurementroughness measurement
spellingShingle Xin Xu
Tobias Pahl
Sebastian Hagemeier
Peter Lehmann
Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy
Photonics
metal additive manufactured surfaces
reduction of measurement artifacts
focus variation microscopy
profilometry
3D surface topography measurement
roughness measurement
title Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy
title_full Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy
title_fullStr Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy
title_full_unstemmed Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy
title_short Adaptive Threshold Algorithm for Outlier Elimination in 3D Topography Data of Metal Additive Manufactured Surfaces Obtained from Focus Variation Microscopy
title_sort adaptive threshold algorithm for outlier elimination in 3d topography data of metal additive manufactured surfaces obtained from focus variation microscopy
topic metal additive manufactured surfaces
reduction of measurement artifacts
focus variation microscopy
profilometry
3D surface topography measurement
roughness measurement
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/11/11/1011
work_keys_str_mv AT xinxu adaptivethresholdalgorithmforoutliereliminationin3dtopographydataofmetaladditivemanufacturedsurfacesobtainedfromfocusvariationmicroscopy
AT tobiaspahl adaptivethresholdalgorithmforoutliereliminationin3dtopographydataofmetaladditivemanufacturedsurfacesobtainedfromfocusvariationmicroscopy
AT sebastianhagemeier adaptivethresholdalgorithmforoutliereliminationin3dtopographydataofmetaladditivemanufacturedsurfacesobtainedfromfocusvariationmicroscopy
AT peterlehmann adaptivethresholdalgorithmforoutliereliminationin3dtopographydataofmetaladditivemanufacturedsurfacesobtainedfromfocusvariationmicroscopy