Advice - Microscopy

[Vlasta]

Dudes - been trying to get better and better images of my devices - both the keepers and the sellers. I made an inquiry at the university in HK and they made me the following offer:-

"MCPF has optical microscopes (OM) and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) that may be suitable for your case. The selection of OM or SEM depends on the size of your dies/devices (or the magnification needed). The charge rate for OM and SEM is 400 HK$/hour and 750 HK$/hour respectively."

What would you recommend - Optical or scanning electron? And how many do you reckon I could image in a 1 hour session?

For ref. 1 USD = approx 7.7 HKD

[Robev]

Talk to Stu, he is the microscope expert

[Neon_WA]

optical.. long as they have a metallurgical microscope

at 45x the size dies you have would need 4 pictures to make one die
at 200x about 30
at 800x about 120

takes me about hour to take about 100 picture
but if they have a motorised setup... 100 pictures might only take 15 minutes

[Robev]

[Neon_WA]

[Vlasta]

So those USD scopes on eBay are actually useful? They only have like a 2 Megapixel sensor.

[Neon_WA]

[Vlasta]

If I clipped out the LEDs and replaced them with what? I am an engineer by training so not beyond me to replace them....... with a better light source.

[Neon_WA]

for proper lighting.. you need incandescent (the common filament light bulb) or natural light florescent lighting.

neither of these are a small option in the space occupied by the LEDs

[Vlasta]

So other than spending a small fortune on a proper 'scope what's the alternative?

[Neon_WA]

I will see on weekend if I can get time to take some pictures using natural light & LED light to show what you would end up with USB microscope

and then you can make a decision

next alternative is attaching a reverse lens to a digital camera.. to give you a "macro" camera
should be a few threads around here about the technique

[Vlasta]

[Vlasta]

Neon - did you get a chance to take those shots?

[Neon_WA]

ok.. here are a few for you to judge by

all pictures taken at 1280 x 960 (1.3MP) and cropped to 600 x 400 (no reduction in image resolution)

Compound Microscope (10 - 45X) Light is reflected at an angle onto the item being viewed
x40_Natural >> using natural light at 40X magnification
x40_LED >> using LED light source at 40X magnification

Metallurgical Microscope (80 - 800X) Light is reflected vertical (perpendicular) onto the item being viewed
x80_Natural >> using natural light at 80X magnification
x160_Natural >> using natural light at 160X magnification

[Vlasta]

Wonderful - what A DIFFERENCE!!!