Surface profilometry is a contact measurement technique in which a diamond-tipped stylus is used to measure roughness as it moves across a surface.
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It is widely used to verify the effects of different machining operations on surface quality.
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It can also be used to accurately measure the finish of surfaces that have been electropolished. Examples include internal surfaces of stainless steel gas delivery tubing, elbows, glands, valves, and mass flow controllers. 
 
It is also used to measure the finish of highly polished surfaces such as ruby bearings.
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Measurements can also be made on ceramic surfaces such as end effectors on wafer handling robots.
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High precision contact profilometry can be used to measure surface roughness as low as 0.5Ra.