ATEC’s offering of digital microscope rental units spans from simple observation to multi-function measurement, with microscopes available in magnifications ranging from 0.1x to 5000x. Our inventory includes digital, confocal, 3D, and laser microscopes. Request a rental quote below or call
800-404-2832 and an associate will guide you to the right system for your application, give you an affordable rental rate, and ensure your microscope rental experience is streamlined.
Consider your research requirements, test specifications, and your budget before acquiring a digital microscope. A wide range of models are available on the market, from cheap USB microscopes to high-end inspection systems that cost tens of thousands of dollars.
What is a digital Microscope?
A digital microscope captures images with a digital camera and displays them on a monitor, allowing users to view real-time results, take snapshots, and record video, all without looking through an eyepiece. Digital microscopes surpass the measurement capabilities of standard microscopes, as they are essentially cameras with incredible magnification abilities; high-quality images and video are easy to capture, store, and even edit for things like color depth, contrast, and lighting options. Having a digital scope on hand allows visual inspection teams to collaborate on projects, evolving the microscopy method from taking turns bent over a traditional microscope into a team activity. Digital microscopy is also ergonomic, an essential feature for anyone who has looked through an eyepiece for hours. Users can view samples from the comfort of their desk, rather than engaging in the repetitive bending and squinting that can cause health problems over time.
What is a 3D Microscope?
More advanced digital microscopes provide 3D measurement and the ability to measure and integrate into a computerized network. Digital microscopes with 3D microscopy can perform 3D surface measurements, assessing the contour, roughness and thickness of samples through white light interferometry, laser scanning and other 3D microscopy techniques. A 3D microscope models the sample using a technique called image stacking, and the user can perform measurements on the 3D model. Both standard digital and digital 3D microscopes auto-adjust to their needed application through integrated software.
Types of Digital Microscopes
- Digital Stereo Microscopes
- A digital stereo microscope reflects light out of the sample. The technique is commonly used on electric components, archaeological artifacts, and art.
- 3D Microscopes
- 3D microscopy is accomplished with image stacking method. A 3D microscope captures images from the lowest focal plane to the highest, and then reassembles the images into a complete 3D model, from which measurements can be made. Measurements are only as accurate as the step motor used to achieve the image stacking, and the depth of field of the lens.
- Handheld / Portable / USB Digital Microscopes
- A handheld microscope is a digital camera with magnification powers that connects to a display, often with a USB cable. These microscopes are small, comparatively inexpensive cameras, that range from inexpensive units used for recreational or educational purpose to those with stages that are used in more sophisticated applications like forensics.
- Biological Digital Microscopes
- Designed for high magnification applications, biological microscopes are lit by LEDs from below the stage, and traditionally operate over a 4x-100x magnification range.
- Fluorescence Digital Microscopes
- Fluorescent microscopes, true to their name, use fluorescent lights to illuminate their samples.
- Inverted Digital Microscopes
- An inverted microscope is trinocular, meaning it is used like a standard microscope but equipped with a third, photographic lens. Inverted microscopes feature their light source and condenser above the stage, objectives below the stage. Metallurgical, brightfield and phase contrast configurations are optional.
- Metallurgical Digital Microscopes
- A metallurgical microscope is devoted to the visual inspection of metals, in every manifestation from surfaces to electronic components.
- Phase Digital Microscopes
- Upright microscopes designed for organic specimen observation.
- Polarizing Digital Microscopes
- A polarized microscope forces light wave vibrations unidirectionally by means of polarized light, allowing users to assess three-dimensional samples.
Common Digital Microscopy Applications
- Automotive component inspection
- Counterfeit document detection
- Quality assurance in manufacturing
- Art conservation
- Jewelry inspection and repair
- Archaeological research
- Water treatment analysis
- Biological inspection
- Medical inspection
- Forensic analysis