Learn core best practices for accurate 3D Phase Measurement, including inspector qualification, correct tip selection, system verification, and proper probe handling to reduce measurement errors.
Understand how tip orientation, measurement distance (MTD), and surface alignment directly impact depth accuracy—especially on narrow, shiny, or complex geometries in remote visual inspection.
Discover why using the 3D point cloud view, depth maps, and data quality indicators is critical for validating results and avoiding unreliable measurements.
What are the general guidelines for performing a 3D phase measurement?
Ensure the inspector is qualified to perform measurement.
Use in-house procedures and the selector tool on this page to choose the appropriate measurement technology and type for your application.
Ensure that your measurement tip and probe optics are clean and that the tip is securely attached. If using a stereo tip, be sure to correctly identify the tip serial number when first entering measurement. 3D Phase Measurement tips are automatically recognized by the system.
For best results when measuring on a narrow surface using 3DPM, orient the tip such that the long dimension of the surface is perpendicular to the projected pattern lines. With forward view black, orange, and yellow and side view green tips, the projected lines are horizontal in the image, so narrow surfaces are best oriented vertically. With side view blue and red tips, the projected lines are vertical in the image, so narrow surfaces are best oriented horizontally.
With Stereo and Real3D Stereo Measurement, lines or part edges should be oriented vertically rather than horizontally to help the system more precisely identify matching point positions in the horizontal direction.
Verify that the system measures accurately with the Waygate Technologies NIST traceable verification block before and after performing measurements.
Position the tip as close as possible to the measurement area (a high Index or low MTD value). Stereo and 3D Stereo require the image to be in focus, but with 3D Phase Measurement, small depth measurements (< 0.010”) are generally most accurate when close enough for the image to be somewhat out of focus. Measuring from too far away is the most common cause of inaccurate measurements.
Pay attention to advisory messages displayed by the system during measurement, which may signal improper setup or inappropriate MTD for the measurement performed.
Check and adjust the measurement setup and cursor placement with the 3D point cloud view. Many issues are difficult to recognize using the 2D white light image alone but are obvious in the 3D point cloud.
When performing small depth or depth profile measurements, use the 3D point cloud view with depth map enabled to verify that the indication clearly stands out from the data noise. If not, capture another image from a closer distance or different orientation.
When measuring the depth of a feature such as a pit or dent, use the point cloud view to verify that you are measuring at its deepest point and that the measurement reference plane is accurately aligned with the reference surface.
With 3D Phase Measurement, reflections or shadowing can create regions of lower-quality data, which are highlighted in yellow. Avoid measuring in these areas whenever possible, especially for depth, depth profile, or area depth profile measurements.. Performing another capture from a different orientation may eliminate the yellow regions.
When using 3D Phase Measurement, off-perpendicular views yield the best results for depth measurements, especially when measuring objects with shiny surfaces.
Areas where the system was unable to determine 3D coordinates are highlighted in red. Measurements cannot be taken in these red areas. Measurement data around these unmeasurable areas should be closely evaluated for data validity.
For best data quality, keep the probe as still as possible during image capture. This is particularly important with 3D Phase Measurement due to the large number of images captured.
With 3D Stereo, adjust image brightness, dark boost levels and viewing orientation to minimize glare in the area of interest prior to capturing a measurement image.
Straight lines or edges on viewed objects often appear curved in the 2D image due to the viewing perspective and optical distortion. As all measurements are performed in 3D, the straight 3D measurement lines are drawn on the 2D image as they would be seen by the camera, which is often curved. This helps with alignment to straight edges and more accurately indicates measurement location.
Use 3X Zoom window for more precise cursor placement.
Utilize 3D surface mask to optimize cursor placement
Apply Inverse+, HDR Variable and Dark Boost image transforms to aid in indication analysis