Specifications.pdf

SPECIFICATIONS

Stylus Profilometer System

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Material Science and Engineering Division is responsible for maintaining the national scale realizations used for hardness measurements traceability. Hardness testing is of prime importance to industry as it enables the estimation of a material’s ability to resist deformation, wear, and durability.

For example, in the metals industry, hardness values are extensively used during material specification and for quality control assurance. During the course of hardness testing, an indenter is typically impelled into the material under test, using a prescribed amount of force for a specified length of time, and subsequently estimating the amount of deformation by measuring, for example, the distance between opposing edges of the created indentation. Traditionally, optical microscopy has been used to quantify the size of the deformation; however, it is now recognized that this method is susceptible to errors caused by operator subjectivity, material reflectivity, varying lighting conditions, and the challenge of the detection of the edge of the indentation. On the other hand, advanced surface profilometric techniques have proven to overcome many of these deficiencies, yielding higher accuracy, and improved repeatability of the measurements. In addition, surface profilometry can also be used to characterize the degradation of the indenters used for testing due to wear over time.

The metrological challenge intended to be addressed is one of surface (topography) and geometrical (shape) characterization. The use for the instrument will primarily focus on the measurement of spatial features of surfaces, including its roughness, waviness, and overall shape. The instrument shall enable the quantification and analysis of surface texture irregularities, such as surface roughness (average roughness (Ra), maximum peak-to-valley height (Rz), root mean square roughness (Rq), arithmetic mean height (Sa), and root mean square height (Sq)), in addition to geometrical characterization, such as shape, size, waviness, curvature, form, spatial arrangement, depth profiling, surface inclination, and face angles. Although instruments based on optical methods offer non-destructive, non-contact methods preventing surface deformation and increased speed of data acquisition, an instrument based on a contact method (stylus profilometry) is being sought due to its increased accuracy and resolution, lower measurement uncertainty, applicability on translucent materials, highly reflective surfaces, and steep sloping faces.

II. SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall provide one (1) stylus profilometer system that meets the minimum technical requirements below.

System Requirements:

• The instrument shall be a stylus profilometer;

• Shall be supplied with an active vibration isolation supporting base;

• Shall be supplied with an environmental enclosure chamber;

• Shall be capable of greater than or equal to 100 mm x-travel (length of stylus trace measured);

• Shall be capable of greater than or equal to 100 mm y-travel, sample travel, & computer controlled (direction normal to the direction of the line measured);

o The stage that enables the y-travel shall be capable of handling a sample weight of at least

2 kg, plus the weight of the rotary stage.

• Shall be capable of greater than 10 mm z-travel

• Shall have a 360° rotary stage and be computer controlled through software;

o The rotary stage that enables the 360° spinning of the sample shall be capable of handling a sample weight of at least 2 kg.

o Two options will be considered for the stage. The rotary stage shall be integrated into the part of the instrument that enables the y-travel or it shall consist of a separate unit affixed to the top of the y-travel component.

• Calibration standards shall be provided with the instrument. These standards shall be accompanied by certificates traceable to a National Metrology Institute (minimum, one of each of the three listed types below; values listed in parenthesis are nominal and provide insight of the primary region of interest);

Type 1. Line height, width, or spacing (step height, 250 µm, 500 µm, 1 mm; and line width or spacing, 1mm, 5mm, 10 mm)

Type 2. Roughness (at least providing certified average roughness; Ra 0.8 µm, Ra 0.4 µm, Ra 0.1 µm)

Type 3. Sphericity (calibration spheres; 200 µm radius, 750 µm radius, 5 mm radius)

• Controlling computer and high-resolution monitor (24” min);

o Windows 11 Professional OS o Drivers and software to control the instrument

• The system shall include an operations and maintenance manual (or manuals) covering, the installation of all the software and required drivers, proper operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting for the instrument and controlling software (in English);

o The manual (or manuals) will be supplied in hard copy, electronic format (preferred), or both.

o Drivers and software installation media may be CD, DVD, or memory stick

• Compatible with USA 120 V supply voltage and 60Hz.

Installation:

The Contractor shall install the instrument in Building 223, Room A116, at NIST Gaithersburg, MD.

Installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of all equipment, start-up, demonstration of the software installation and the instrument’s compliance with specifications, and the removal of all trash. Instrument will operate to manufacturer’s specifications upon installation. Installation will take place during normal business hours, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays, and will be coordinated with the NIST Subject Matter Expert (SME). Installation is to occur within 120 days of award.

Warranty:

The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, a one-year warranty for the equipment. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor and travel. The warranty shall commence upon Government acceptance of instrument specifications.

Training:

The Contractor shall provide training at NIST for up to two (2) NIST personnel covering software and driver installation, normal operation, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance. Training will be provided during normal business hours, between 8:30am and 5:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays, and will be coordinated with the NIST SME to ensure maximum availability of NIST personnel. Training is to occur within 10 days of installation. The training may be completed on-site at NIST immediately after installation and demonstration of specifications.

III. DELIVERY

Delivery shall be 120 days of award to Building 223, Room A116 NIST. Gaithersburg, MD between the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

IV. DELIVERABLES

Description Quantit y Due Date Analytical instrument One (1) 120 days after award of this requirement.

Calibration Standards One (1) 120 days after award of this requirement.

Calibration Certificates Three (3) 120 days after award of this requirement.

Installation of the analytical instrument Once 120 days after award of this requirement.

Operations and maintenance manual for the analytical instrument

One (1) 120 days after award of this requirement

Training of NIST personnel at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD

Once 10 days after installation.

V. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

The Contractor shall demonstrate that all performance specifications are met. The NIST Contracting Officer Representative (COR), in coordination with the Subject Matter Expert (SME), will provide government acceptance.