Types of Industrial Microscopes
Metallographic Metallurgic Microscope. This type of microscope is used to view and measure metallic and opaque specimens using high power magnification. Some use epi-illumination (light coming from above the specimen) through the objective to increase lighting on the metal specimen. Other models for this type of specialty microscope are upright microscopes, inverted microscopes, portable microscopes (for field work on metal surfaces), microscopes with trinocular photography ports (easy connection with any digital device for capturing images), and large microscopes for inspection of silicon semiconductor wafer.
Fluorescent Microscope. This type of microscope is epi-fluorescent (reflecting light). These microscopes have dichotic filter mirrors or cubes to emit the needed wavelength of light to be projected on the observed specimen. These types of microscope also have the inverted and upright models.
Polar Petrography Microscope. This type of microscope is capable of plan polarization and cross polarization. It has a large vertical illuminator.
Ore Microscope. This type of microscope is beneficial for geology and petrology for the study of mineral and rock specimens. This is very useful for examining thick rocks and minerals because it is capable of transmitting polarized light and reflected light. The observer can examine the origin of mineral deposits of rocks and minerals including sulfides, oxides, and other metals. It can also interpret mineral textures produced by chloroform growth, open space filling, and magmatic segregation.
Phase Contrast Microscope. This type of microscope is used for viewing living translucent specimens such as biological tissues using a different light. The light is shifted out of phase and is translated to view contrast intensity. It enhances the contrasts of colorless and transparent objects by altering the optical path of light. Thus, the transparent specimen shines out through its enhanced contrast compared to its background. It can show parts of the cell and bacteria. These microscopes also include the upright and inverted models.
Tissue Culture Microscope. This type of microscope is used to view biological cell cultures placed in the bottom of a Petri dish. It includes extended working distance objective lens and condensers so the bottom of the Petri dish can be seen through. These microscopes are inverted models only.
Forensic Comparison Microscope. This type of microscope is used for comparing bullets, casings of bullet cartridges, scratch marks, wires, paint fragments, analysis of fingerprints, examination of forensic documents, and analysis of hair and fiber samples. It is also capable of polarization. It includes an analyzer and a polarizer to view cross polarized conditions. It enhances the microscope features like tiny scratches. It also allows comparison of polarization properties between specimens. Each side of the microscope is functional for the ability to specifically set the illumination and magnification. It has a split screen viewer to study two distinct specimens simultaneously. The comparison bridge allows the beam paths to merge. It has a multiple feature of observing images of specimen under examination in the field of view. They can be studied side by side, together, and through separation of a thin line which can be adjusted to any side to allow more or less of the specimen to be viewed. The field of view has the capability of showing only the left specimen or only the right specimen. The viewing feature can overlap images and it has also the ability to adjust the amount of overlapping. Some models include two photo ports for digital still camera and video camera. These microscopes are usually used in crime laboratories for thorough investigation.
Surgical Microscope. This type of microscope is used for ENT or general surgery. The unit is mounted on a mobile floor stand to provide a stereoscope microscope on an articulate boom arm to have a fiber optic illumination.
Toolmaker Microscope. This type of microscope is used for measuring thread depths, distances, and angles. Models of this type of microscope include a digital camera and software to measure hole to hole, diameters, and angles accurately. You can also do video recording for your parts and measurements. It can store calibrations for future use. It has a fast and slow positioning device and a digital scale of five micro inch resolution. Some have both transmitted and reflected light using a fiber optic 150 watts top light. Some models can also be equipped with a CCTV camera. It has 10x, 20x LLD, and 32x LLD objectives. The 10x eyepiece includes a cross line. It also include optics, bright and dark field illuminators with trinocular head. It has a 360 degree rotary top on the x-y stage with degree graduations.
