Industrial Stereo Microscopes

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Industrial stereo microscopes are commonly used for quality control, inspection of small parts, while soldering and/or in the manufacturing process. There are several items to consider when looking for an industrial stereo microscope.

1. What is the size of your object?

If your sample fits in the palm of your hand, a standard stereo microscope on a lighted post stand, or a stereo microscope on a plain stand with a brighter external light will work well for your needs. If you are soldering or require a greater working area for larger objects an industrial stereo microscope on an articulated arm stand (these microscopes are easy to adjust height and can be swung out of the way quickly and easily.) will do the job. Stereo boom stand microscopes are best for applications that require frequently sliding the body of the microscope out of the way, and pulling it back for observation.

2. Do you need to capture images?

If you need to capture microscope images, email images, or record video, a digital stereo microscope will best solve your problems. These digital stereo inspection microscopes are available on a variety of lighted stands or articulated arm and boom stands.

3. Is measuring a top priority?

If measuring faults or sections of small parts (especially those that do not allow light to pass through them) is an important part of your industrial job, a measuring microscope is an excellent tool. Measuring microscopes are available with reflected and/or transmitted illumination and use digimatic indicators for precise measuring.

4. Do you require a live video feed while working?

Visual inspection microscopes are often a simple setup that doesn't require capture of images (but has the option to use an SD card for capture), and allows you to view a live image from a macro zoom lens on a screen. This is an inexpensive way to provide greater magnification.

5. Are you looking at solid objects where you need to view micron size particles?

High magnification of objects that do not allow light to pass through them are best viewed with a metallurgical microscope. Metallurgical microscopes provide reflected light that passes down through the objective lens and allows viewing of typically 50x, 100x, 200x and 500x magnification, as well as optional brightfield and darkfield illumination.

6. Do you have a specialized application such as electronics, wafer or filter patch inspection?

If so, there are specialized industrial stereo microscopes set up for each of these applications. Electronics inspection microscopes are set up for an ESD free working environment. Filter patch microscopes are designed to view filter patches found in large machinery. Wafer inspection microscopes have extended clearance specifically with wafer inspection in mind. Image at left shows debris that was caught in a filter patch and identified using a filter patch inspection microscope.