widmet

Widmet is a fictional open standard and software framework for width measurement in digital metrology. It is designed to enable consistent reporting of part widths across diverse devices and software, supporting automated quality control, research, and manufacturing workflows. The aim is to improve data interoperability and traceability in metrological measurements.

The name Widmet merges width measurement and metrology. The standard defines a common data model that records width, units, measurement method, estimated uncertainty, timestamp, and device metadata; a calibration workflow with reference artifacts; and a measurement workflow that covers acquisition, edge detection, outlier handling, and reporting.

Widmet is built as a modular architecture with a core library implementing edge refinement and uncertainty estimation, plus adapters to connect cameras, laser scanners, and micrometers. It emphasizes vendor neutrality and provides bindings for multiple languages to integrate with existing software stacks.

Historically, Widmet originated as a collaborative project in 2023 within the Widmet Consortium, aiming to reduce fragmentation in width metrology data. Version 1.0 appeared in 2024 under an open license, with ongoing contributions from industry and academia.

In practice, Widmet is applied to PCB trace width inspection, textile width control, and mechanical component inspection. Early pilots report improved data interoperability and traceability, though broad adoption depends on broader standardization efforts and alignment with regulatory and quality-management frameworks.

See also: Metrology, Computer vision, Quality control.