Depth profile measurements on the Mentor Visual iQ+ VideoProbe 

In this article:

• Explains depth profile measurement capabilities of the Mentor Visual iQ VideoProbe, showing how inspectors quantify surface depth variations relative to a reference plane for defects and wear.
• Highlights typical applications, including corrosion pits, erosion, foreign object damage (FOD), weld height, and wear groove depth across industrial inspections.
• Shares best‑practice guidance to improve accuracy using 3D surface masks, point cloud views, and proper cursor placement for reliable depth analysis.

What depth profile measurements are available on the Mentor Visual iQ+ VideoProbe?

From any viewing angle, maps the perpendicular distance from a reference plane along a line between two selected points and automatically identifies the deepest or highest point.

Example Applications:

• Depth of isolated corrosion or erosion pits
• Depth of FOD impact damage
• Weld height or wear groove depth
• Quick assessment of surface contours

3D Surface Mask:

When enabled in Settings, surface points very close to the reference plane are shown in green. Surface points the same distance from the reference plane as the measurement result are shown in light blue. If the result is negative, a color gradient also highlights regions deeper than the measurement point with red indicating the deepest points.

Best Practices to Improve Measurement Accuracy:

• Position the measurement tip as close as possible to the indication to increase measurement accuracy.
• Position the cursors to maximize the coverage of 3D Surface Mask green pixels on the reference surface. If measuring a recessed point, use the color gradient to ensure that the measurement is taken at the deepest point. If measuring height or depth to a flat surface, try to maximize the amount of light blue shown on that surface.
• Enable depth map mode in the point cloud view to better see surface contours and ensure that you are measuring the desired point—often the highest or lowest on an indication—and that the indication clearly stands out from the 3D data noise.
• The green Surface Mask visible when a cursor is moved indicates points very close to the reference plane. Adjust the cursor positions to maximize the amount of green on the reference surface. The 3D point cloud view can also be used to verify that the reference plane, indicated by a blue square, is accurately aligned with the reference surface.
• If the cursor turns red, this indicates improper placement.
• As the reference plane is determined by fitting to all the surface data within both cursor perimeters, ensure that the two cursors are fully positioned on the same plane of interest—not overlapping an edge, or on offset or curved surfaces that could cause measurement error.
• If measuring on a curved surface, such as inside a small pipe, space the cursors apart in a direction parallel to the curvature to keep them on the same plane. In the point cloud view, the blue reference-plane square should appear tangent to the reference surface.
• The Depth Profile view may be used to help visualize the surface contours along the
  profile slice.
• In applications seeking the deepest or highest point, Area Depth Profile or Depth may be preferred over Depth Profile as they automatically identify the deepest or highest point in an area.