Waviness is the measurement of the more widely spaced component of surface texture.
It can occur from machine or work deflections, chatter, residual stress, vibrations, or heat treatment.
[1][2] Waviness should also be distinguished from flatness, both by its shorter spacing and its characteristic of being typically periodic in nature.
There are numerous measurement settings which influence these resultant parameter values, which are mentioned below.
A waveometer uses a plastic tip that is connected to an electronic pickup which then measures the surface variations.