You may believe that you have already seen the ultimate non-contact metrology system, but Nikon suggests you keep an open mind until you experience its Nexiv VMR series
Nikon says that its Nexiv has always been a high performer, and that very little that can touch the versatile non-contact measuring system for sheer repeatability and consistent accuracy. The new Nexiv VMR series is set to become the standard by which all other vision metrology systems are measured.
Its brand new telecentric optic system has been designed to make it the best in the world.
An objective lens with a working distance of 50mm and the same superb numerical apertures found in top-end microscopes are both standard features.
The world's widest 15X zoom ratio provides ample field of view during low magnification observations and excellent resolution at high magnifications. This unit is the ideal solution for ultra-high accuracy tasks in plastics, precision engineering or microelectronic applications. Nexiv VMR sets out to be the ultimate production video metrology system.
Its rigid stage offers controlled speeds of 300mm/sec - 1.5 times faster than previous Nexiv models.
And the redesigned stage and body offers significantly higher U2 accuracy.
Image processing speed has also increased dramatically and the combined result of all the changes and improvements is a machine that offers a considerably higher work throughput.
Subject illumination is now available in a variety of formats depending on the type of work and nature of the measurement task.
Options include episcopic (top light) illumination, diascopic (bottom light) illumination, and a new twin eight-segment LED ring illuminator with variable height outer ring.
Nikon's unique LED ring illumination design allows observations of very low contrast edges, usually impossible under conventional episcopic illumination.
Lighting can be controlled by combining illumination from any of the eight different segments and positioning of the outer ring to enhance features and edges.
In practice this has proven to be useful for edge enhancement of the contours of bosses, pins, ceramic packages and similar low contrast workpieces.
The standard TTL laser autofocus technology now provides higher accuracy and a longer working distance of 50mm.
High-speed autofocus is now possible regardless of surface conditions within the workpiece.
The TTL laser technology also enables ultra precise Z-axis scanning be taken (up to 1000 points per second).
Measured workpieces can be shown in a birds-eye view or as a 2-dimensional cross section.
Nexiv VMR is said to be far easier to use than ever before.
Each operation contains a self-teach wizard, providing a step by step guide to even the most complex operations.
In addition the interactive measurement wizards can guide an operator through exactly what is required to perform a specific measurement task.
For frequent operations using the same procedure operators can create customised wizards. Nexiv can also import CAD data.
The online CAD interface program is provided as standard and allows the import of a variety of CAD file types including IGES, DXF, Gerber and Excellon.
The operator can display the graphics on Nexiv VMR AutoMeasure facilitating teaching and shortening working time.
Measured data can also be converted to DXF files making for easier reverse engineering processes.
The unit will be on show at Inspex but if you cannot wait that long, more information can be found on the Nikon website.
