Features and Functionality of the Optical Interference Meter for Measurement of Surface Displacements of Control Objects
Sulaymon L. Eshkabilov
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Accurate measurement of surface roughness (or displacement as called in the manuscript) is crucial and have broad engineering applications.
The manuscript has several weaknesses:
(1) Introduction is too long that should be reduced
(2) Scientific novelty is not sound as elaborated
(3) Research methodology is not adequately explained
(4) Obtained results and their discussions need to be improved
(5) Summary has to be revised after updating the above indicated sections.
Author Response
Dear colleague,
The authors are grateful you for your comments and recommendations to improve the quality of the paper.
Currently, the paper has been supplemented in accordance with your comments and the recommendations of other reviewers.
It should be noted:
- the displacement meter described in the paper, in comparison with the known analogues described in Section 1, is characterized by simplicity of design, compactness, convenience and ease of operation, which is very much in demand when diagnosing the condition of various objects in operation in stationary, and especially mobile diagnostic stations;
- an extended overview in the Introduction, as usually, defines the background (the methods developed and the results obtained in this area of optical research), the features of the proposed "luminous point" method and the aim of the study presented in the paper;
- preliminary estimates of its cost have been carried out, but the proposed displacement meter is currently manufactured in the form of prototypes, protected by Russian patents for inventions, is undergoing research on its characteristics and trial operation, i.e. there is no complete comparative analysis yet, and, accordingly, we believe that it is premature to talk specifically about the combination of "price-quality";
- our paper presents the results of an experimental study of the proposed displacement meter in the interests of creating new devices for measuring displacements based on the proposed method and the design implementing this method;
- the proposed method makes it possible to measure not only linear displacement, but also linear and angular, as well as linear and two angular components of the displacement of the control object surfaces. Prototypes of such displacement meters based on our developments already exist and are undergoing a stage of research of their technical and functional characteristics. They are also currently undergoing the Russian patenting procedure. The results of these developments will be presented in our next studies.
In accordance with your comments, corrections, explanations and clarifications have been made to the materials of the paper, the abstract has been supplemented, explanations to Figure 1 have been made, Figure 2 has been changed, etc.
The authors ask you to consider publishing the paper.
Sincerely, on behalf of the authors, Dr. I. Miroshnichenko.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
This article is almost a review paper at its introduction section. The new measurement method for non-contact surface displacements of the object will be interested among the field of research people. This paper is well organized of its purpose and methodology.
Author Response
Dear colleague,
The authors are grateful you for attention to our paper and positive estimation of the presented results.
Sincerely, on behalf of the authors, Dr. I. Miroshnichenko.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments to authors:
The manuscript presents laser interferometry technique to determine the 1-Dimensonal linear displacement based on the interference intensity pattern shift. Since the laser and optical interferometry technology are well established and capable of measuring micron and nano-scales in 3-Dimensions, I am not sure about the significance of this study. The manuscript does not present the reasons or need of a new technique such as this one either. Is it the lower cost? better resolution? high signal-to-noise ratio? etc. or does it have superior prospects over existing interferometry technique? Can you make it capable of measuring 3D displacements? When you compare compactness of this set-up, it would be only fair comparison if you weigh in all the pros and cons with others. The writing of the manuscript needs to be improved with more relevant information included, just so the articles read well.
I have following comments/suggestions to hopefully help improve the manuscript.
- The abstract should include the conclusive findings of the experimental results too. The potential application suggestions are vague and subtle. Please make the usefulness of this technique more specific with real-world cases of metrology.
- There are many sentences in the manuscripts which must be re-structured.
For example, these sentences in line-59-60 and line 70-71 do not make any sense and hard to interpret what you are trying to say:
“Instruments using this design are suitable for a number of near infrared applications due to this interferometer combines signal-to-noise with high spectral resolution very good”.
In line 70 -71:
“In based on Michelson interferometer the optical wavelength meters, the scanning of interference fringe is carried out by mechanical scan of the disposition of one from two mirrors.”
- Please also label the optical components used in the schematic of the set-up in Fig.1.
- Is ∆y0 annotation in Fig.1 same as ∆ys the one in line 288 ? if it is a typo, correct it. If not, please define what ∆ys is for?
- What is the “OPTICAL DEVICE” used here as the test object? Is it simple plane structure or a structure with patterns? If it is a plane structure, I would expect symmetric/concentric rings of interference pattern. Please explain why the interference pattern of Figure 2 is not concentric rings?
Does this set up capable of measuring displacement of structured/rough surface with their dimensions comparable (or lower) to wavelengths of light used?
- Please use caption for Table 1 and cite ref (33) in the caption, since this is copied from ref (33). What is the unit of y0 in Table 1? Is it micron, cm or meter ? What does “m” stand for in that table? What is the resolution or minimum displacement this set-up can detect/differentiate from the analysis of change in interference intensity pattern?
- For Figure 3, I strongly suggest making a composite image with side by side intensity plots (on the left) and corresponding interference pattern camera-images (on the right) with ∆ys values specified for each case as the legend/title of these images. This helps reader to vision the clear distinction of those changes as a function of ∆y
- Last but not the least, this manuscript is hard to read without opening other 5 or 6 articles at the same time. It is normal practice to refer some article for detail but usually short description of the referred contained can be accommodated in the manuscript itself.
For example, in line 266,
“The program [34]………” what program , define briefly here too.
In line 269,
“The program [35]………” what program , define briefly here too.
In line 232
“attached to a device……” What device?
In line 236,
“using the optical device 2.” What is that mysterious optical device?
Author Response
Dear colleague,
The authors are grateful you for your comments and recommendations to improve the quality of the paper.
The manuscript presents laser interferometry technique to determine the 1-Dimensonal linear displacement based on the interference intensity pattern shift. Since the laser and optical interferometry technology are well established and capable of measuring micron and nano-scales in 3-Dimensions, I am not sure about the significance of this study. The manuscript does not present the reasons or need of a new technique such as this one either. Is it the lower cost? better resolution? high signal-to-noise ratio? etc. or does it have superior prospects over existing interferometry technique? Can you make it capable of measuring 3D displacements? When you compare compactness of this set-up, it would be only fair comparison if you weigh in all the pros and cons with others. The writing of the manuscript needs to be improved with more relevant information included, just so the articles read well.
For the first part of your comments, it should be noted:
- the displacement meter described in the paper, in comparison with the known analogues described in Section 1, is characterized by simplicity of design, compactness, convenience and ease of operation, which is very much in demand when diagnosing the condition of various objects in operation in stationary, and especially mobile diagnostic stations;
- preliminary cost estimates were carried out, but the proposed displacement meter is currently manufactured in the form of prototypes, is protected by Russian patents for inventions, is undergoing research on its characteristics and trial operation, i.e. there is no complete comparative analysis yet, and, accordingly, we believe it is premature to talk specifically about the combination of "price-quality";
- our article presents the results of an experimental study of the proposed displacement meter in the interests of creating new devices for measuring movements based on the proposed method and the design implementing this method;
- the proposed method makes it possible to measure not only linear displacement, but also linear and angular, as well as linear and two angular components of the displacements of the surfaces of the objects of control. Prototypes of such displacement meters based on our developments already exist and are undergoing a stage of research of their technical and functional characteristics. They are also currently undergoing the patenting procedure. The results of these developments will be presented in our next studies.
The following changes were made to the materials of the paper:
- The abstract should include the conclusive findings of the experimental results too.
The abstract is supplemented with the obtained results of an experimental study.
- There are many sentences in the manuscripts which must be re-structured.
For example, these sentences in line-59-60 and line 70-71 do not make any sense and hard to interpret what you are trying to say: “Instruments using this design are suitable for a number of near infrared applications due to this interferometer combines signal-to-noise with high spectral resolution very good”. In line 70 -71: “In the optical wavelength meters, based on Michelson interferometer, the scanning of interference fringe is carried out by mechanical scan of the disposition of one from two mirrors.”
The changes have been made to the paper.
We revised the sentences in line-59-60 and line 70-71. The corresponding new versions have the forms:
“Instruments using this design are suitable for a number of near-infrared applications because this interferometer combines a very high signal-to-noise ratio with good spectral resolution.”
“In the optical wavelength meters, based on Michelson interferometer, the scanning of interference fringe is carried out by scan of the disposition of one from two mirrors.”
- Please also label the optical components used in the schematic of the set-up in Fig.1.
The explanations have been added to the caption to Fig. 1:
- Is ∆y0 annotation in Fig.1 same as ∆ys the one in line 288 ? if it is a typo, correct it. If not, please define what ∆ys is for?
The designation ∆y0 in Fig. 1 illustrates that the simulator of the surface of the control object 3 performs a linear displacement relative to the position y0. In line 288, there is no designation ∆y0, but there is a designation ∆ys – this is the value of displacement relative to a specific value of y0, at which there is a complete change in the intensity in the rings of the interference pattern from the minimum value to the maximum and vice versa. Line 288 describes this.
- What is the “OPTICAL DEVICE” used here as the test object? Is it simple plane structure or a structure with patterns? If it is a plane structure, I would expect symmetric/concentric rings of interference pattern. Please explain why the interference pattern of Figure 2 is not concentric rings?
The caption to Fig. 1 contains explanations clarifying the type of the device. Fig. 2 shows a view of the interference pattern, which is a collection of rings of different intensities. The perfect symmetry of the rings exists in the Michelson interferometer and its modifications. For interferometers built on the basis of a two-mode interferometer with combined branches, there are deviations from the symmetry of the rings, which has already been confirmed experimentally and published in many literary sources (the influence of angles in the optical scheme).
- Does this set up capable of measuring displacement of structured/rough surface with their dimensions comparable (or lower) to wavelengths of light used?
The studies of the influence of reflective surfaces of control objects with different roughness on the measurement results were not carried out. All the published results were obtained using a simulator of the surface of the control object in the form of a reflector - mirror with a surface coating. Of course, you are right, this question is quite interesting and will be included in the program of further research.
- Please use caption for Table 1 and cite ref (33) in the caption, since this is copied from ref (33). What is the unit of y0 in Table 1? Is it micron, cm or meter? What does “m” stand for in that table? What is the resolution or minimum displacement this set-up can detect/differentiate from the analysis of change in interference intensity pattern?
We added the title of Table 1 with a reference. The values of parameters in Table 1 are given in meters.
- For Figure 3, I strongly suggest making a composite image with side by side intensity plots (on the left) and corresponding interference pattern camera-images (on the right) with ∆ys values specified for each case as the legend/title of these images. This helps reader to vision the clear distinction of those changes as a function of ∆y.
The authors thank you for an interesting suggestion for a more visual presentation of the described research results. We will try to use it in future publications.
- Last but not the least, this manuscript is hard to read without opening other 5 or 6 articles at the same time. It is normal practice to refer some article for detail but usually short description of the referred contained can be accommodated in the manuscript itself.
Yes, of course you are right, when the paper contains all the information about the method, the object of research, the results of its numerical research, the results of its experimental research, etc., then it is very convenient to read such a paper. However, the noted method, the design of the device, the results of its research, etc. appear at different times and are published in different papers. The policy of many journals involves publishing mainly only new research results, therefore, in terms of the method, setup and known research results of this setup we have placed in this paper only the necessary minimum of known results published earlier, and a detailed description have been published in the papers you have noted.
- For example, in line 266, “The program [34]………” what program , define briefly here too.
The line 266 you marked briefly describes the purpose of the computer program and for what purpose it was used by processing the results of the study.
- In line 269, “The program [35]………” what program , define briefly here too.
The line 269 you marked briefly describes the purpose of the program and what purpose it was used by processing the results of the study.
- In line 232 “attached to a device……” What device?
A PC (personal computer) and the software developed by us were used for processing the measurement results.
- In line 236, “using the optical device 2.” What is that mysterious optical device?
The explanations have been added to the caption to Fig. 1.
The authors ask you to consider publishing the paper.
Sincerely, on behalf of the authors, Dr. I. Miroshnichenko.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
The manuscript submitted to Coatings provides a clear and relatively full description of an interesting technique and is well written. A prospect optical setup for measuring the surface displacements of control objects, developed on the basis of a new interference measurement method, which is named the "luminous point" method. The noted results indicate that it can be used in the development of new contactless optical setups for measuring the displacements of the surfaces of control objects. I recommended to publish in Coatings after redrawing the all figures. The details are as following: The optical components in Fig.1 should be clearly explained in figure caption. In this way, readers can get enough information from figure 1. Table caption should be added. The size scale should be added in Fig. 2. The real size, which may calculated from the pixel, should be given in Fig 3.
Author Response
Dear colleague,
The authors are grateful you for your comments and recommendations to improve the quality of the paper.
The following changes were made to the paper:
- The details are as following: The optical components in Fig.1 should be clearly explained in figure caption.
The explanations have been added to the caption to Fig. 1:
- Table caption should be added.
The title of Table 1 is added.
- The size scale should be added in Fig. 2. The real size, which may calculated from the pixel, should be given in Fig 3.
Figure 2 has been corrected. During the study, the value of 1 pixel was equal to 0.00015 meters. This addition is included in the paper.
The authors ask you to consider publishing the paper.
Sincerely, on behalf of the authors, Dr. I. Miroshnichenko.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
All header titles have to be renamed in a standard format.
Research methodology (Part 3) has to be improved.
Study results (Part 4) have to be improved. Discussion has to be revised as a whole. The given results are not explained and discussed insufficiently.
Conclusion has to be re-written in a bullet format based on essential results of the study.
Author Response
Dear Colleague,
The authors are grateful to you for your comments and recommendations to improve the quality of the article.
On the issue of changing the headings, we would like to note that the editorial board allows the use of headings that more specifically describe the content of part of the article, but at the same time ensure the logical integrity and completeness of the article.
In accordance with your recommendations, the research methodology has been supplemented (Part 3), in particular, Figure 2. with scheme of experimental setup has been added, the research results and their analysis have been supplemented (part 4), changes have been made to the conclusion.
We would also like to note that this article deals only with topical issues that have arisen as a result of the experimental operation of the described measuring instrument. The results described in the article are aimed at solving these issues, are new and have not been published in well-known literary sources. These results make it possible to significantly reduce the complexity of the practical application of the described measuring instrument.
The authors ask you to consider publishing the article.
Sincerely, on behalf of the authors, Dr. I. Miroshnichenko.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
I thank authors for addressing some of the concerns/comments and for others, considering them to address in the future. However, I am afraid, the current form of the manuscript does not meet the standard of the journal. It can be considered for future submission if the manuscript is substantially improved with more experimental results including effect of several other variables/parameters into play, their in depth analysis in terms of resolution and justifying over all efficacy/merit of the technique.
At present, the experiment and study is incomplete, just includes effect of one variable into play, does not have enough of the content to warrant publication in an international scientific journal like Coatings.
At best, this can be a conference paper.
I would ask authors to reconsider the way they present, formulate the manuscript and consider the peers suggestions seriously. For example, the introduction part is unnecessarily lengthy whereas the technical section lacks the minimum relevant information.
Author Response
Dear Colleague,
The authors are grateful to you for your comments and recommendations to improve the quality of the article.
Currently, the article has been supplemented in accordance with your comments and the recommendations of your fellow reviewers.
The following changes were made to the materials of the article:
(i) updated the abstract, introductory (part 1) and part 2;
(ii) the methodology of the study has been supplemented (part 3), in particular, Figure 2 has been added;
(iii) the results of the study and their analysis have been supplemented (part 4);
(iv) changes have been made to the conclusion.
In respect to the volume of the introductory part, we would like to note that the reduction of the overview will inevitably lead to comments from your fellow reviewers (for example, the state of technology and research on these issues is not fully described, there are not enough references, etc.).
It should also be noted that our article is the final in a series of articles devoted to computational, theoretical and experimental studies of the functional characteristics of the described measuring instrument for the case of measuring linear displacements of the surfaces of control objects. This article deals only with topical issues that have arisen as a result of the experimental operation of the described measuring instrument. The results described in the article are aimed at solving these issues, are new and have not been published in well-known literary sources. These results can significantly reduce the complexity of the practical application of the described measuring instrument. Based on this, the results obtained have both scientific significance and practical significance, and therefore can be published in this journal.
The authors ask you to consider publishing the article.
Sincerely, on behalf of the authors, Dr. I. Miroshnichenko.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
