Industrial microscopes for measuring, metallurgy & geology

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Microscopes for Industry

Microscopes used for industrial applications are often stereo microscopes outfitted with special stands, illumination systems and digital imaging systems. Industrial microscopes are quite widespread and are used in such diverse applications as the precision measurement of machined parts, metallurgical defect viewing, or routine optical inspection in electronics manufacturing.

Because the object to be examined is normally opaque, light is reflected off object against a dark background. This is also called darkfield illumination or darkfield transmitted light.

Here are some of the more common industrial microscopes:

Measuring microscopes - monocular microscopes are used to make very accurate measurements in the X, Y and Z directions.

Metallurgical microscopes - designed for viewing the surface of metals in electronic circuit boards, semiconductor chips, and crystals. Metallurgical microscopes are usually sold in the inverted configurations with top lighting and lens underneath the stage.

Geological microscopes - use polarizing filters to examine minerals and related specimens that exhibit birefringence. True polarizing microscopes, called petrographic microscopes, have a more advanced polarization system.

Shop microscopes - use a small external light to illuminate the specimen. Shop microscopes are typically placed directly on the specimen itself.