All microscope users looking to boost their view, capture, measure applications will benefit from a new innovation from Keyence.

The VHX-7000 digital microscope, which is now available in the UK and Ireland, offers high magnification and accuracy, and is said to be both versatile and easy to use.
Using the Keyence VHX-7000, both 2D and 3D measurements can be performed. Just one microscope is required to take roughness, contamination, grain size and a host of other measurements. Observation is provided with an optimal balance of brightness and clarity. Moreover, images can be easily saved on the 1 TB hard drive (enough capacity for millions of images) and shared over LAN or USB. Similarly, reports can be automatically created and shared.
Features such as ´Optical Shadow Effect Mode´ make subtle contours stand out (in colour) and enhance uneven surfaces and stains at the push of a button. By combining a 4K CMOS image sensor with a new multi-directional lighting variation technique, the VHX-7000 can deliver images that rival an SEM (scanning electron microscope).
Even novice users can easily capture high-resolution images, says Keyence. The operator simply places the target on the stage, and everything else – including alignment and focus adjustment – is fully automatic. A handheld controller puts functions such as magnification switching at the fingertips of
the user.
A combination of optics, digital camera, electronics, software, and a wide choice of motorised XYZ and rotary stages, means users can perform complete inspection and analysis using a single system.
For further information www.keyence.co.uk

Faro has launched its Cobalt Design structured light scanner product family. Structured light scanning technology uses projected light patterns with a camera system to capture large areas at once and, as a result, significantly reduces data capture time and delivers quicker results.

Cobalt Design, combined with the recently introduced RevEng software platform, delivers a one-stop digital design solution where small-to-medium objects can be scanned with precision, in colour, with multiple levels of resolution. As such, it is the first colour structured light scanner from Faro specifically developed for design applications. In particular, the device is said to be suited to the scanning of complex surfaces, especially highly detailed organic shapes. Cobalt Design addresses a variety of design requirements, including reverse engineering, prototype design, packaging design, digital cataloguing, and even jewellery and fashion design.
The device enables design professionals to set up scan parameters once and then proceed to scan similar objects at the push of a button. Furthermore, several pre-configured scanning and meshing settings are available by default. This functionality, in turn, translates to less time per scan position, more scans per day and faster completion of scan projects.
An integrated, rotational axis improves the 3D scanning process and maximises scanning coverage. The object/part is placed in a fixed position on the axis, after which the axis can be set to automatically rotate up to 360° as it is being scanned.
Cobalt Design captures millions of 3D measurement points in as little as one second, with up to 3.1 Mpx accuracy for small-to-medium complex objects.
Precise and high-quality textured scans can be captured in colour and delivered as realistic images that enable even more detailed representations of geometric surfaces and finishing.
For further information www.faro.com

Aimed at multinational organisations with factories worldwide, but equally applicable to medium-size companies having several production facilities in one country, a web-based platform has been introduced by CMM manufacturer LK Metrology to help production departments monitor and control inspection activities around the clock.

Consistent with the aims of Industry 4.0, the new Metrology Gate portal provides remote access to information on the status and performance of all connected metrology devices. Available data includes measurement results and a summary of errors, a record of program changes, uptime of the CMMs and OEE. Historical logs assist troubleshooting and warn when routine maintenance is due, not only of the inspection machines, but of the machine tools or other equipment on which the components are
being made.
Delays in data searching are avoided, improving reporting procedures. Comprehensive daily reports include total output per shift and the number of parts measured, sudden changes in process averages, and comparisons between different machines producing the components. Graphical CAD reports, SPC analyses with Cp and Cpk results, and environmental logs including operating temperature are generated and communicated, alongside charts to aid interpretation and understanding.
In the case of critical dimensional discrepancies or hardware failure, the software shares the information with users immediately by sending alerts via email, SMS, WeChat or WhatsApp. Metrology jobs can be stopped and reset if performance is inadequate, maximising yield and minimising scrap.
Normally, data acquired is stored in the cloud but may be held on servers in different countries if preferred, or even on an individual computer. Either way, it is accessible over the internet instantly and globally in real time, on a PC in an office or using an app on handheld devices when on the move.
For further information www.lkmetrology.com