“These kinds of stereo microscopes are the most versatile ones, as there is a huge variety of items that can be inspected. They are usually simpler than most, and can even have only a single ocular tube and path of light since they are meant to quickly and easily check a sample.”
What varies an inspection microscope from other stereo microscopes?
An inspection microscope is typically a more simple type of stereo microscope than most other kinds. It can be something as easy as a single eyepiece and tube of magnifying lenses and a light, to a full blown stereo microscope on a boom stand used to inspect manufactured parts for faults and production defects. The important feature of an inspection microscope is that it isn’t used to work under, and is typically set to a particular setting to quickly move parts or samples under, inspect, and move to the next one. These devices are extremely common in quality assurance departments.
If it can have only one eyepiece, how can an inspection microscope be a stereo microscope?
The reason we put inspection microscopes in the realm of stereo microscopes is because of how it is applied to real world work. Inspection microscopes are low power microscopes by nature, meant to view opaque objects with top lighting, just like a stereo microscope does. So regardless of an inspection microscope possibly having a single eyepiece (not always), it is still considered a stereo microscope.
It sounds like inspection microscopes are a rather vague category. Is this true?
Yes, it is a bit vague since technically any stereo microscope can be used as an inspection microscope. But, when most people are looking for an inspection microscope, they want something simple with a single application in mind.
I’m still unsure about what an inspection microscope is. Do you have any recommendations or examples?
Of course! I have two rather common inspection microscopes that I would recommend based on my own personal experience with each of them.
AmScope’s H800-3M
I’ve reviewed this product on the main blog, so I won’t go into too much detail here, however this single lens microscope is meant for inspection via a digital computer only, as it cannot use an eyepiece at all. The magnification range goes from 11x to 80x, which is fairly solid and flexible for a simple yet powerful inspection microscope, and will quickly provide images of the sample with a large flat base for comparisons if needed.
You can check out my full review here, or more information on buying one here: H800-3M
I’ve also used a more simple design that’s extremely basic, and interestingly enough it uses compound microscope objectives to get the job done. It’s a really interesting shop/measuring microscope, meant for small parts and small defect inspection since it can get relatively high in power, but still falls under inspection microscope based on its application.
AmScope’s H2510-M
The H2510 is a condensed, fixed power version of the above H800-3M. It has various objectives coupled with a 10x eyepiece (or a camera if desired to digitize or measure), which is why it has a significant price advantage over the H800. Downside is that fixed power units lose their flexibility, and working with compound objectives means you have a rather small field of view compared to a proper inspection unit.
But, for simple jobs or portability, the H2510-M gets the job done quickly and efficiently. And, won’t break your back carrying it around like a heavy (35 lb) H800 will!
For more information on purchasing an H2510-M, please click here: H2510-M