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About Optical Microscopy

Optical Microscopy (OM) is often the first technique used to examine or compare products or prepare small samples before further analysis is performed.  It is often used to document sampling sites or phenomenon encountered during other tests.  With magnifications from 10x to a bit over 100x, many details and features of samples are revealed.

  • Approaches

     Topography and texture are not an issue with Optical Microscopy. Through our experience, skills, and  proper lighting techniques we will provide excellent documentation of your sample.

    We can magnify a sample generally 10-100x with OM.  If you require a higher degree of magnification Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) can offer magnification up to 500,000x.

     

  • Sample Considerations

    Virtually any sample can be evaluated using the Optical Microscopy technique.  Samples are positioned directly under the microscope for inspection.

    A variety of sizes and shapes can be accommodated with our systems.  We can accomodate large samples with our Optical Microscopy equipment.  If the sample is large we are able to bring the microscope to the sample, thus allowing for analysis without altering the sample or product.


    Contact us to talk through your specific sample considerations and Optical Microscopy testing needs.

  • Experience

    Work we've done:

    • Identifying process issues
    • Foreign materials
    • Visual inspections
    • Quality Control
    • Failure Analysis
    • Contamination Analysis
    • Evaluate stress points in materials
    • Sampled site documentation
    • Sample condition documentation
    • Non-destructive qualitative assessment of materials and parts