Leica Microsystems at the MTQ 2006

The increase in highly specialized materials for industry and other uses is matched by the demand for equally specialized instruments and techniques for their quality control.

For example, steel is used for a wide variety of applications (there are currently around 2,000 different sorts of steel in the European Steel Registry) and may have to withstand extreme loads. The purity of the material is a key criterion in quality assessment.

For such applications, Leica Microsystems, a leading manufacturer of microscopy systems for industrial quality control, is presenting an innovative all-in-one system for steel purity testing at the Trade Fair for Material Testing, Metrology and Quality Management (MTQ) in Dortmund. The exhibited workstation consists of the high-end software Steel Expert, the automated inverted industrial microscope Leica DMI5000 M and the highly sensitive digital color camera Leica DFC280.

Steel Expert is designed for easy detection of nonmetallic inclusions in steel. Besides sulphides, globular oxides, silicates, aluminates and heterogeneous inclusions, it is also possible to detect colored, non-metallic TiN inclusions. The system complies with all common standards for steel purity testing, including DIN 50 602 K and M, ISO 4967, ASTM E 45 A, D, E, JK, JIS 555 and the expected new European standard EN 10247.

Microscopy systems for industrial applications
The inverted DigitalMikroskop Leica DMI5000 M and the DigitalMikroskop Leica DM4000 M, which is also being presented at the MTQ, are suitable both for routine examinations in incoming goods inspection or quality control and for demanding material analysis tasks and material science research.

Users will particularly appreciate their superb brilliance, ergonomics and intelligent automation that considerably ease the workload and save a great deal of time. Like all Leica Microsystems products, the Leica DMI5000 M and the Leica DM4000 M can be combined with any high-end components and solutions of the entire portfolio – from the digital camera to application software. The Leica DM2500 M is a robust system microscope for industrial quality control and metallography. The solid metal stand optimally absorbs vibrations, while the self-contained incident light axis keeps dust out of the microscope. Ergonomic design and a high level of user convenience make the manual microscope a comfortable, efficient tool for everyday use.

Powerful digital color camera systems
Another highlight at the Leica booth are the new digital FireWire color cameras from Leica Microsystems‘ extensive product portfolio for quick and easy analysis and documentation of microscope images. The new Leica DFC290 which will be on show at the MTQ is ideally suited for fast and efficient quality control, for example of components. With 3 megapixel standard resolution and a 10-bit AD converter, the camera produces images of high definition and contrast that reproduce the finest of details. Its fast shutter speeds permit a high per-second frame rate for non-flicker video recordings in real time. Featuring excellent color fidelity, resolution and detail rendering, the Leica DFC420 is designed for sophisticated documentation in industrial quality control. The camera is based on a 5 megapixel sensor with live image control to enable fast sample positioning and focusing directly on the monitor. The Leica DFC490 will satisfy even the most demanding user. It is equipped with an 8 megapixel CCD and innovative read-out modes for real time speeds plus a Peltier cooling system to prevent thermally induced disturbing signals. Combination with the Leica Image Manager results in a versatile image management system that not only enables fast and efficient image recording but also provides processing, measurement and communication functions. The software offers professional options for data exchange and backup as well as numerous documentation and presentation tools.

Stereomicroscopes for industrial quality control
Leica M-series stereomicroscopes are suitable for a wide range of uses in industrial quality control. Users benefit from the consistently modular concepts, the highly flexibly application potential, the ergonomically designed components and the generous range of accessories. The high performance stereomicroscope Leica MZ16 is one of the top products in its class. Demanding quality analysis of three-dimensional samples, surfaces, fracture surfaces, polished metal sections and thin sections can be performed easily and faster than before. Equipped with a 16:1 zoom, it features an excellent resolution of 840 Lp/mm and 230x magnification, visualizing structures as small as 0.6 µm. The complex apochromatic optics of the Leica MZ16 are distinctly superior to simple optic systems in terms of contrast, color fidelity and imaging precision, besides encouraging fatigue-free viewing and ensuring constant focus during a change of magnification.