Traditional surface metrology mainly focuses on measuring distances between the sensor and the workpiece to characterize the surface topography and gain insights into geometric properties of the workpiece. This involves quantifying features like roughness using standardized surface texture parameters of ISO 25178 and ISO 21920. However, these parameters may not always offer a comprehensive understanding of a surface's functional aspects. For certain applications that require a highly sensitive process monitoring, the distribution of the surface gradient can provide complementary information about the functionality of the surface. We present a study to establish a direct correlation between the angular-resolved scattering light distribution and the functional characteristics of surfaces. While the sensor principle is commonly used for process monitoring, the relationship between the angular distribution and the functional characteristics like wear, friction, and lubrication has not been widely examined. As a case study, cylinder liner surfaces representing a diverse range of surface topographies with high functional requirements are examined. Functional surface texture parameters are determined as a benchmark using both tactile and optical surface topography measuring instruments. The results emphasize the importance and opportunities of directly connecting the angular distribution data with functional characteristics.
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