Measurement of influence function using swing arm profilometer and laser tracker

We present a novel method to accurately measure 3D polishing influence functions by using a swing arm profilometer (SAP) and a laser tracker. The laser tracker is used to align the SAP and measure the parameters of the SAP setup before measuring the influence function. The instruments and the measurement method are described, together with measurement uncertainty analysis. An influence function deliberately produced with asymmetric form in order to create a challenging test is measured, and compared with that of a commercial 3D profilometer. The SAP result is 48.2 mu m in PV, 7.271mm(3) in volume. The 3D profilometer result is 48.4 mu m in PV, 7.289mm(3) in volume. The forms of the two results show excellent correlation. This gives confidence of the viability of the SAP method for larger influence functions out of range of the commercial instrument. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America