Nikon Metrology News
Case Studies and Product News
Volume 09
High resolution ct scanning to
shed new light on human evolution
High voltage CT system advances
inspection of automotive turbochargers
Laser scanners replace tactile probing for
body-in-white inspection at FIAt-tOFAş
In-process X-ray inspection improves
quality control of circuit boards
Laser Radar for automated
inline automotive inspection
Multi-Sensor
CMM Productivity
The right sensor for every measurement task
CAMIO Multi-sensor software
Nikon Metrology offers true multi-sensor CMM capability, allowing best-practice selection of sensor technology for each task. By combining
touch trigger, analog scanning and 3D laser scanning sensors within the same inspection program, results are obtained in the fastest way. Nikon
Metrology CMM solutions featuring Nikon ALTERA CMMs, CAMIO software and multi-sensor probing provide manufacturers with greater
measurement flexibility and a better insight of product conformance while increasing CMM throughput.
The right sensor for every measurement task
2
Content
High voltage CT system advances inspection
of turbochargers
4
Laser scanners replace tactile probing for
body-in-white inspection at FIAT-TOFAŞ 7
High accuracy horizontal arm cmm inspects
next-generation automotive fixtures
10
Reaching the peak of video measurement
13
High resolution ct scanning to shed new light
on human evolution
14
Surface measurements with picometer resolution 17
Laser Radar for automated inline inspection
18
First teaching laboratory in Denmark with
scanning electron microscopes
20
In-process x-ray inspection improves quality
control of circuit boards
22
New stereo microscopes bring incredible sharpness
throughout a wide magnification range
25
X-ray Computed Tomography expands horizons
of anthropology at Duke university
Cover picture:
The Taung Child specimen
being placed into a micro-CT
scanner (Photograph courtesy of
University of the Witwatersrand)
26
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Nikon Metrology NV
Geldenaaksebaan 329 - 3001 Leuven - Belgium
www.nikonmetrology.com
Order your free copy of Nikon Metrology News through
[email protected]
News I Volume 9
3
High voltage CT system advances
inspection of turbochargers
Computed Tomography transforms automotive turbocharger R&D at
BorgWarner by non-destructively inspecting components and assemblies
A microfocus Computed Tomography (CT)
system from Nikon Metrology is being used
by BorgWarner Poland to improve research
and development of turbochargers for
passenger cars, light trucks and commercial
vehicles. The high power (450 kV) X-ray
equipment is able to penetrate the dense
materials used in turbocharger production,
allowing the internal material quality of
castings to be checked non-destructively
and the integrity of welded assemblies to
be inspected. In addition, dimensional data
for specific components is acquired more
quickly than is possible with a coordinate
measuring machine (CMM), both from
external and internal dimensions.
4
With Euro 6 emissions regulations due to take effect in Europe in 2014,
which will further cut the amount of harmful gases and particulates
allowed in a vehicle’s exhaust, manufacturers of engines and their
suppliers are deploying ever more advanced technology in the design
and development of air management systems. The goal is not only to
reduce pollution, but also to improve fuel economy and enhance vehicle
performance.
BorgWarner’s three production plants on the Podkarpacki Science and
Technology Park in the Rzeszów area of southern Poland includes a
production facility constructed in 2009 with the capacity to produce
more than one million turbochargers annually. They are used in petrol
and diesel engine cars built throughout Western and Eastern Europe.
A new Technical Center recently opened on the same campus, to serve
BWTS turbocharger production by providing application engineering and
design, simulation, testing and validation as well as material analysis.
This development significantly broadened US-owned BorgWarner’s
engineering, research and development capabilities within Europe.
2D X-ray image
Reconstructed 3D volume
Combined NDT defect analysis and dimensional
inspection
It is in the new Technical Center in Poland that the Nikon Metrology
XT H 450 microfocus CT system was installed in February 2014. Łukasz
Krawczyk, Team Leader / Material Laboratory Manager, said, “We buy
in our turbocharger parts, ranging in size from aluminium compressor
discs to stainless steel or cast iron housings, from a number of different
sources.
“Before we put an assembled turbocharger onto an engine emulator for
endurance and thermo-mechanical testing, we need to check the quality
of the individual components and sub-assemblies.
Previously we did this by sectioning sample castings and machined
prototypes and checking them on a CMM.
But that meant we were wasting valuable prototype or pre-series
components. Additionally, the parts we were testing were representative
examples from the same batch, rather than the ones we actually
inspected, which were of course destroyed.
Now we know that the components under test are only the ones we
inspected dimensionally and, in the case of castings, for the presence of
porosities or inclusions as well.”
Overall, much more information is available than previously, enabling
more rigorous analysis, and money is saved as parts can be reused for
further tests. Software enables correlation of any inspected volume
against a CAD model, or a master sample, either via direct comparison or
through GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) measurements.
In castings, for example, it is possible to ascertain the location and size
of a void or crack emanating from it and determine the likely cause of
the fault and whether it is due to the type or quality of the material or
the component design.
CT reveals voids in castings
Also a bearing assembly can be X-rayed to check that all components
are present, avoiding the cost of dismantling. The electron beam weld
that joins the impeller to the shaft can be inspected to check for porosity
and mechanical integrity, a job that is impossible to do visually.
Mr Krawczyk said that CT has become much more widely accepted of late
as an inspection technology and is so flexible that they use it wherever
possible in preference to CMMs and other metrology equipment on site.
Selection of the CT system
Five potential suppliers of high power CT systems were reviewed by
Mr Krawczyk and his team. The Nikon Metrology 450 kV microfocus
system was selected, as it had an ideal specification for BorgWarner’s
applications, producing a higher level of image detail for more
comprehensive analysis and measurements.
It was also best value for money, bearing in mind that both a flat panel
detector and a curved linear diode array (CLDA) were included in a single
system, whereas other vendors were offering either one or the other. It
is easy to swap between detectors to suit the level of resolution required
and the material being inspected.
A flat panel is best for obtaining an image of a complete component and
is the preferred mode for scanning quickly to detect defects. CLDA, on
the other hand, takes a one-dimensional section image to build a more
detailed picture of a part. This technique is ideal for preventing X-ray
beam scatter when dealing with denser materials such as those used for
turbine housings. The latter mode is also used for metrology, due to the
high level of detail generated.
There is another cost-saving aspect to using the XT H 450. The price of
filaments is low and they can be exchanged by the machine operator, without
having to call in a service technician, lowering expenditure on maintenance.
Mr Krawczyk also points to excellent service from the equipment producer,
with rapid response to technical issues and requests for advice.
News I Volume 9
5
“
CT has become much more
widely accepted as an inspection
technology and is so flexible that it
is used wherever possible.
Łukasz Krawczyk, Team Leader / Material Laboratory Manager,
BorgWarner
Background to CT and the XT H 450 system
Today’s manufacturers face ever shorter lead-times for introducing
new products at lower cost and the number of prototype iterations
is consequently fewer. Destructive testing is no longer wanted, as a
multitude of tests need to be carried out on a single prototype. Tactile
or scanning CMM inspections provide dimensional insight of outer
dimensions but can only investigate complex internal structures if
the sample is cut or disassembled. CT offers a solution that is easy
to use, fast and provides detailed insight for dimensional, material
structure and assembly inspection, resulting in faster problem
solving and more effective decision making.
CT is fundamentally a simple process. An object is placed on a
rotating stage between an X-ray source and a detector, which
acquires simple 2D radiographic images of the object as it rotates.
After the object has turned through 360 degrees, the 2D X-ray
images are reconstructed into a 3D volumetric map of the object.
Each element is a 3D pixel (voxel) which has a discrete location and
a density. Not only is external surface information acquired, as with
a 3D point cloud from laser scanning, but data on internal surfaces
is also revealed and by mapping the density, information is provided
on what is between the surfaces.
The X-ray tube is at the core of a CT system. Several different open or
closed tube designs exist, but essentially an X-ray source consists of
a cylinder in which there is a filament (similar to a light bulb) at one
end, together with a high voltage cathode and anode, a magnetic
lens and a metal target, normally tungsten. Nikon Metrology provides
in-house designed, open tube sources that allow the filament to be
replaced regularly, resulting in lower cost of ownership compared
with closed tube sources, which are replaced at considerable
expensive when they fail.
A current is applied to the filament, which causes it to heat up
and emit electrons. The electrons are repelled by the cathode and
attracted to the anode by the high voltage field, which accelerates
the electrons up to 80 per cent of the speed of light toward the
end of the tube. Before they leave it, the electron beam is focused
onto the target material using an electromagnetic lens. The electrons
6
slam into the target and 99 per cent of the energy is expended in
heating it.
Less than one percent produces X-rays that are generated in a
cone beam from the target. The higher the voltage applied, the
more energy is in the beam, and consequently the more power is
transferred to the target, the larger the spot size and the more X-ray
power is produced.
A limitation of CT in industrial applications is that high material
density, especially of metals, attenuates the X-rays more. Many
system suppliers only offer microfocus sources up to 225kV, while
their more powerful sources are mini-focus, producing more X-ray
flux but with a spot size an order of magnitude larger, reducing
the accuracy of the data collected. A microfocus source is needed
to acquire accurate and detailed CT data for most high-accuracy
industrial CT applications.
The Nikon Metrology XT H 450 delivers 450 W of continuous power,
without any restriction on measurement time, whilst maintaining a
small spot size of 50 to 113 microns and delivering a scatter-free
CT volume with 25 micron repeatability and accuracy. Samples
weighing up to 100 kg can be inspected within a 400 x 600 x 600
mm working envelope, providing a combination of 3D NDT defect
analysis and dimensional inspection in a single, highly productive
facility.
Laser scanners replace tactile probing
for body-in-white inspection at fiat-tofaş
Close-up of one of the XC65Dx-LS laser scanners mounted on
a DEA continous wrist interface
Turkish automotive manufacturer FIAT-Tofaş is
implementing new inspection methodologies for
their diagnostic measurements of sheet metal
components and body-in-white (BIW) assemblies.
A key element involves the installation of Nikon
Metrology XC65Dx-LS Cross Scanners and CAMIO
multi-sensor metrology software, which are
retrofitted on an existing Hexagon double-arm
coordinate measuring machine (CMM) at Bursa.
Inspection is now twice as fast compared to touch
probes and provides better insight, reducing the
time needed to diagnose problems and raising
efficiency.
Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Istanbul, TOFAŞ (Türk Otomobil
Fabrikası A.Ş.) manufactures cars, taxis and vans in Turkey and sells
them internationally. Employing over 6,000 people, the company is
one of the top two automotive manufacturers in the region, with a
production capacity of 400,000 units per year at its factory in Bursa.
Products are offered under several brands including Fiat (which jointly
owns the company), Peugeot, Citroen and Opel. The Tofaş-built Fiat
Linea is Turkey’s best-selling passenger car, while its Fiat Doblò (also
produced as Opel Combo) claims first place in the light commercial
vehicle category.
Nikon Cross Scanners installed on Hexagon
CMMs
Since 2013, the Cross Scanners have been installed on two Hexagon
DEA BRAVO horizontal arm CMMs that are equipped with a continuous
wrist CW43 interface. Incorporating three lasers in a cross pattern,
the XC65Dx-LS captures full 3D details of features and surfaces in a
single scan. By digitizing complex features from three sides, the cross
scanner acquires the complete 3D geometry of the features, driving
the accurate extraction of positions and dimensions.
Smart laser intensity adaptation allows any surface, such as those with
varying color or high reflectivity, to be scanned without the use of a matt
spray or other user interaction. This is enabled by automatic, real-
News I Volume 9
7
Nikon Metrology XC65Dx-LS Cross Scanners are fitted to a
Hexagon double-arm CMM at the Bursa factory of TOFAŞ.
“
Inspection is now twice as fast
as when we used touch probes,
reducing lead-time between design
iterations and raising efficiency.
Özgür Ogur, Diagnosis Measurement Lab Leader at Tofaş
Laser scanning of car body panels yields a wealth a data, enabling virtual
assembly of body-in-white and geometry evaluation in software.
time adjustment of sensor settings between successive laser stripes and
for each individual point along the laser stripe. The XC65Dx-LS installed
at Tofaş has a longer stand-off distance and offers distinct advantages.
By capturing geometry from up to 170 mm away, the scanner gains
optimum access to BIW structures and can scan over the clamps that hold
components in position.
The scanners can be used in combination with tactile probes for alignment
of a part or for a mixed measuring routine. DMIS-based CAMIO8 software
from Nikon Metrology provides a rich programming environment, with
intuitive software tools for both tactile and laser scanning applications.
A wide variety of inspection tools is available including full part-to-CAD
comparison, intelligent feature extraction with GD&T tolerancing and
profile analysis. CAMIO is optimized for processing large point clouds,
making it perfectly suited to measuring sheet metal panels and assembled
car bodies.
During vehicle development, the scanners are used instead of touch
probes for inspecting both individual car panels as well as for complete
diagnosis of the BIW, after the car's sheet metal panels have been welded
together but before the bonnet, doors and boot lid have been added. In
this way, the vehicle’s entire sheet metal structure is inspected to very close
tolerances, showing the interaction between the panels and allowing parts
issues to be separated from process issues. Also completed vehicles are
inspected, mainly for gap and flush spacing between different car panels.
8
Advantages of the laser scanning based
inspection process
Özgür Ogur in the quality department at Bursa commented, "The
savings are significant when using scanners instead of tactile probes
for feature and surface inspection of BIW on our CMM.
"Laser scanning fulfills our accuracy requirements and there are no
significant differences in accuracy between tactile and scanning.
We require 0.2 mm uncertainty on a 5.5 metre diagonal and as the
inspection device has to resolve to one-tenth of the tolerance band,
the scanners need to measure down to 20 microns. Measurements
have proven that the scanners achieve this requirement in line with
their listed specifications.
"Nikon Metrology's laser scanners are much better than other types
we have used. Their repeatability of down to 1 micron is really excellent
and beyond our expectations.
Inspection is now twice as fast as when we used touch probes,
reducing lead-time between design iterations and raising efficiency."
Diagnostic measurement of anything from individual components to
finished vehicles is carried out on the Hexagon horizontal arm CMM
using the Nikon Metrology laser scanning heads, which check for gap
The meisterbock is a complex fixture to verify the assembly of different panels of a prototype vehicle
& flush as well as inspecting features and surfaces. The equipment
is used continuously over two shifts every day and it is rare to find
touch probes on the end of the two arms. The data generated by the
scanners gives full geometrical detail by fully digitizing the parts. The
large amount of part-to-CAD comparison information provides greater
insight when analysing the inspection results, ultimately leading to
faster decision making.
Scanning on the CMM has eliminated the need for dedicated, standalone measurement systems and supersedes the use of laser scanners
on portable measuring arms. Compared with dual horizontal arms
scanning, which would require two operators to measure both sides
of a car, the CMM measures automatically and is inherently more
accurate and repeatable. With portable scanning, an operator needs
to be told which features to inspect, whereas on a CMM it is simply
necessary to call up a program from a library and start the cycle.
Further advantages of scanning are that it greatly broadens the
application scope of horizontal-arm CMMs, allowing better use to
be made of the capital investment. Moreover, the controlled, process
oriented measurements are ideal for SPC. The technology leads to
faster detection of problems and more prompt corrective actions, as
well as greater flexibility and economy in the quality control laboratory
due to the ability to run inspection cycles unattended for long periods.
Virtual assembly to reduce the prototype phase
In such a dynamic production facility, the company needs a modern
quality control function to support the development phase of new
vehicle models. All body parts constantly undergo comprehensive
checks, but the individual pieces of data collected do not show how
well adjacent parts fit together. It is therefore necessary to assemble
mating panels on high precision fixtures, called meisterbocks, that
replicate the body shop’s assembly tooling and process. In this way,
design, fit, function, gaps and flushness of sheet metal elements can
be visually assessed and measured dimensions can be compared with
the CAD model of the car.
The ultimate goal of Tofaş is moving towards a situation where it will
scan completely all prototype sheet metal panels and parts and create
a virtual assembly using the 3D digital copies for geometry evaluation
in software. This new geometric verification approach is already
revealing potential part fitting issues and aims to reduce the duration
of individual prototype cycles as well as the number of prototype
iterations needed to produce different car panels, saving time and cost.
The 3D measurement data of initial prototype parts will also serve as
a reference to analyse dimensional changes during serial production.
Fiat is leading the study project and deployment is expected in one
to two years.
News I Volume 9
9
High accuracy horizontal arm
cmm inspects next-generation
automotive fixtures
RapidFit modular gauging and holding fixtures with additively
manufactured locators provide major benefits in vehicle manufacturing
Materialise Group spin-off, RapidFit, has deployed
a horizontal arm co-ordinate measuring machine
(CMM) from Nikon Metrology to check the accuracy
of bespoke gauging and holding fixtures it produces
for the automotive industry.
Based in Leuven, Belgium, RapidFit has reduced costs and lead-times
by making use of additive manufacture (AM), also known as 3D
printing, to produce workpiece locators that are added to standard
fixture components. The technology enables vehicle production to be
streamlined, as innovative fixtures can be constructed with enhanced
functionality and better repeatability.
Often, this is achieved by incorporating complex clamping elements
with freeform contours that are traditionally produced by conventional
machining, which is expensive, time consuming and creates a lot of
waste material. Integration of intelligent quick-release mechanisms
that do not damage the component being retained is another
possibility. Even moving elements like hinges can be printed, as well as
features such as clips, pins and holes.
High-wear plastics are used to manufacture the components,
sometimes with steel inserts or bushings. Alternatively, parts can
be produced from aluminium-filled nylon powder, allowing robust
elements to be printed that may be subsequently milled and drilled to
an accuracy of ± 0.05 mm.
10
Tactile inspection with a TP200 touch probe
“
Customers will only accept
measurement results if they trust
the equipment that generates them.
Stefan Roeding, Marketing Manager at RapidFit
Users of the fixtures are mainly manufacturers of plastic and composite
components for vehicles, from relatively simple, light housings or
small sheet metal parts to full body panels, dashboards and bumpers
for sports cars. Customers include automotive OEMs such as Audi,
Bentley, Lamborghini and Volvo as well as leading players in their
supply chains, for example Mecaplast and Valeo.
Shorter lead-time from receipt of order to delivery of the fixture,
especially when complex geometries are involved, is a result of not
having to program a milling machine to remove typically 90 per cent
of material from an aluminium billet, or expending time and expense
having a casting made and then machining it. Users are given more
time and flexibility to fine-tune their product designs and still meet
deadlines. An added advantage is that the locators and contours are
typically half the weight of their conventionally machined equivalents
and therefore the fixture is lighter and less tiring for operators to use.
A high degree of modularity is provided using standard holding
elements, such as the Aluquick range from German firm, Horst Witte,
to support the bespoke 3D printed locators. The system allows easy
modification by simply replacing them, so fixtures can be reconfigured
inexpensively to accommodate design changes.
The patented, customized products supplied by RapidFit are of two
types. Gauge fixtures are for inspecting automotive components after
manufacture to verify their accuracy, while holding fixtures support
components as they are built into a vehicle and measured using CMMs
or other metrology equipment. Both types provide comprehensive
management of dimensional accuracy, which is vital to the overall
quality of the final vehicle.
Accuracy is critical for RapidFit customers
This in turn means that quality control of the fixtures is crucial. There was
a need at the Leuven facility for higher accuracy when checking fixture
calibration and to achieve this, an LK H 40.16.16 premium performance,
horizontal arm CMM was supplied in early 2013 by Nikon Metrology,
together with the manufacturer's CAMIO8 multi-sensor programming
and analysis software. The machine provides almost unrestricted access
to the 4m x 1.6 m x 1.6 m measuring envelope and features ceramic
guideways and air bearings for stability at high velocity and acceleration.
A Renishaw PH10-MQ motorized indexing head with in-quill head
mount and autojoint probe mount together with a TP200 touch trigger
probe and various extension bars formed part of the package. The
facility is housed in a climate controlled metrology room and is currently
operated over a single shift.
Stefan Roeding, Marketing Manager at RapidFit, commented,
"Customers will only accept measurement results if they trust the
equipment that generates them.
The accuracy and repeatability of the LK CMM is very high for its large
size. It can measure two of our fixtures at a time, resulting in high
productivity in the inspection department.
Installation of the machine has been a big step forward in assuring the
quality of our products before delivery and avoiding costly reworking. It
is fulfilling all of our customers' requirements."
Filip Dehing, RapidFit's CEO, added “With a worldwide sales and
support network, our company is in an ideal position to grow by
News I Volume 9
11
The RapidFit fixture locks a car bumper as it was built into a car.
becoming a preferred partner for large automotive companies on a
global scale and by fully exploiting new opportunities.
“Underpinning all of this is our commitment to high quality. Our
inspection department with the Nikon Metrology CMM breathes
accuracy, making it an important marketing tool when customers and
prospects visit us.”
Offline programming maximizes use of CMM
equipment
A typical project at RapidFit starts with the customer sending a CAD
drawing of the component to be fixtured and instructions on how it
should be clamped for the required application. The fixture is virtually
constructed in CATIA by one of RapidFit’s nine design engineers
and the 3D locator elements are output as STL files so that they can
be produced in one of the company’s powder laser-sintering AM
machines.
After 3D printing, the locators are assembled with standard holding
elements and a measuring program is created in CAMIO8, in this case
offline in RapidFit’s Kiev subsidiary. The offline programming allows
maximum use of the CMM in the facility. As each fixture is different, ease
of programming based on the original CAD file is a critical advantage.
The program is transferred to the control of the LK H 40.16.16 and
the inspection cycle is run to verify that all fixture dimensions are in
tolerance. If changes are needed, engineers modify the fixture and run
the cycle again, which can be adjusted in teach mode if necessary.
12
The CAMIO8 inspection programs are offline generated to maximize the
use of the CMM.
Turn-around for a fixture of average complexity is three to four weeks,
although a very complex fixture can take up to six weeks. The customer
is invited to the RapidFit measurement room for acceptance and
sign-off.
Investigations are now being carried out into checking contours more
quickly by laser scanning. The heads available from Nikon Metrology are
interchangeable with touch probes and both are supported by CAMIO8
software. The technology offers twice the resolution of camera-based
optical systems, so is suitable for quality control of RapidFit’s automotive
fixtures. It could therefore replace relatively slow touch probing routines
in parts of the cycle that involve collection of freeform data.
Reaching the peak of video measurement
New VMA-4540V/4540 and
VMA-6555V/6555 models
iNEXIV CNC Video Measuring Systems automatically
inspect the dimensions of a variety of precision
equipment and electric parts, using optical measuring
and image processing technologies. By precisely
detecting the edges of the sample using CCD camera
images and data processing, the measurement of
complex sample shapes is possible. The iNEXIV series
has been complemented with two larger models
models.
Suitable measuring range for large
parts of or multi-part inspection
The large 450 x 400 x 200 mm (VMA-4540) or 650 x
550 x 200 mm (VMA-6555) stage strokes support the
high-speed measurement of large printed substrates
and tall plastic-injection-molded parts, and the mass
inspection of multiple parts simultaneously, resulting
in a significant reduction in inspection costs.
Clear images with wide field of view
A wide Field-of-View (FOV) makes the search and
alignment of measuring targets easy. An excellent
Apochromat objective lens with high NA (0.11) and
low distortion has been specially designed for the
iNEXIV series, providing crisp, clear images.
The new systems are equipped with episcopic,
diascopic and 8-segment ring LED illuminators to
suit the sample shape. Combining these illuminators
and adjusting light intensity and direction, makes the
accurate detection of low contrast edges possible.
Fast and accurate vision Auto Focus
The VMA-series is equipped with highly repeatable
vision AF that offers high-speed, high-precision
focusing of sample surfaces or edges, referenceplane settings and height/depth measurement.
Non-contact measurement using vision AF has the
benefit, it does not damage or deform parts. Laser
AF is available as an option, enabling the height
measurement of flat surfaces with high repeatability
at any magnification or depth of focus.
The VMA-4540 /6555 can accommodate touch
probes for tactile 3D shape measurement.
iNEXIV VMA-6555 large stroke model
News I Volume 9
13
High resolution ct scanning to shed
new light on human evolution
The Taung Child specimen being put into the micro-CT scanner by
Dr Kristian Carlson. (Photograph courtesy of University of the Witwatersrand)
The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg is using a
Nikon Metrology micro-CT scanner in its Palaeosciences Center
Discovered in South Africa in 1924, the Taung
Child was the first hominin fossil to show both
human and ape-like characteristics, a species later
named Australopithecus africanus. Estimated to be
2.5 million years old, the fossil consists of most of
the face, a mandible with teeth and a natural
limestone cast of the inside of the cranium
(endocast). Anatomical studies of this and similar
fossils show that the species regularly walked
upright, but the brain was only ape-sized.
Over the years, academics studying the Taung fossil have said that the
child, who was estimated to be three to four year old at time of death,
had a skull with open sutures that permitted extensive post-natal
brain growth. This suggested a larger brain size as an adult than had
previously been thought, implying that it was a true ancestor of Homo
sapiens (modern humans). More recent studies relying on medical CT
(Computed Tomography) technology reinforced that view.
14
Now the Palaeosciences Center of the University of the Witwatersrand
(Wits), Johannesburg, is taking another, more in-depth look at the
partial cranium and endocast using a Nikon Metrology microfocus
X-ray CT scanner. The idea is to see if the previous research conclusions
can be corroborated using the much greater spatial resolution, typically
10 to 100 times that of a medical CT scanner. There are few such nondestructive, radiographic 3D imaging facilities in the world available to
institutes studying prehistoric life.
Dr Kristian Carlson, Senior Researcher in the Wits Evolutionary Studies
Institute (ESI), said, "The higher resolution surface detail yielded by
our Nikon Metrology equipment enabled better, more precise analysis
of the partial cranium and curved surfaces of the endocast than had
previously been possible.
Prof Ralph Holloway of Columbia University, Prof Douglas Broadfield
of Florida Atlantic University and I have written a paper on the subject
that is currently undergoing peer review, which we hope will be
published later in the year."
The Taung Child specimen was scanned in the Nikon Metrology
XT H 320 dual source micro-CT system, which uses the manufacturer's
Inspect-X software for controlling the machine and for image
reconstruction. The scanner can accommodate objects falling within
a 23 cm sphere, or longer items if sections are scanned and data
“
Overhead view of the Taung Child's partial cranium and
endocast, with the face pointing towards the bottom.
(Photograph courtesy of Dr Kristian Carlson.)
stitched together. For maximum operational flexibility, the machine
is equipped with both rotating and static reflection 225 kV targets
and a more powerful 320 kV static target to enable denser fossil
and geological samples to be penetrated. Visualization and analysis
software packages used are VGStudio Max from Volume Graphics and
Avizo Standard and Avizo Fire from FEI Visualization Sciences Group.
The flexibility of being able to equip the system with different sources
together with the presence of a very experienced local service and
support team were two of the main reasons that the research center
opted for Nikon Metrology as a supplier.
To obtain a detailed 3D image of the partial cranium, the X-ray source
was set at 135 kV and 400µA, with 6,000 projections created of the
rotating specimen. The magnification of the projected fossil image on
the panel resulted in an isotropic voxel (3D pixel) size of 55.5 µm,
giving very fine spatial resolution. Automated protocols for correcting
beam hardening and reducing noise were applied.
Non-destructive analysis is the key to research
of precious specimens
Fragile, rare and often valuable specimens can be investigated
without damaging them using CT imaging. Rather like MRI scanners
in hospitals that use radio waves to scan a patient, CT takes X-ray
cross sections through a specimen and reconstructs them digitally
to produce a virtual 3D computer model that can be manipulated,
The higher resolution surface detail
yielded by our Nikon Metrology
equipment enabled better, more
precise analysis of the partial
cranium and curved surfaces of the
endocast than had previously been
possible.
Dr Kristian Carlson, Senior Researcher in the Wits Institute for
Human Evolution
sectioned, dissected and measured, internally as well as externally. A
major advantage of CT is that it can separate materials based on their
density characteristics, so hardened sediments can be easily separated
from fossilized bone in the 3D visualization.
Another useful application is the ability to reconstruct broken bones
virtually and to mirror-image a right-hand bone to simulate what the
left would look like to build a more accurate picture. Additionally, if a
decision is taken to physically dissect a specimen, it can be done faster,
more accurately and more safely by running a CT scan first to identify
the location and orientation of a fossil within a rock.
This type of research can be carried out by scientists in many other
disciplines and the data shared with colleagues all over the world. Already
the micro-CT facility in Johannesburg is being used by other researchers
within Wits involved in botanical sciences, medical research, geology,
mining and archeology, as well as by the university's School of Art.
Collaboration extends beyond the university, with people from four
or five museums and a similar number of academic institutions in
South Africa taking advantage of the equipment. The Karoo region of
the country is yielding dinosaurs and even more ancient reptiles and
amphibians for analysis.
Prof Bruce Rubidge, Director of the Evolutionary Studies Institute at
Wits, commented, "One of the goals in purchasing this equipment
News I Volume 9
15
Dr Carlson reviewing high resolution CT scan results on screen.
(Photograph courtesy of University of the Witwatersrand.)
was to build human capacity and expertise amongst southern African
scientists and to lead virtual-based palaeontological studies, rather
than having this work undertaken by overseas specialists.
“We are excited to see this goal being realized as more scientists and
students utilize the equipment and learn the necessary skills in the
process.”
CT scanning opens new possibilities for 3D
printing
Having acquired X-ray slices through a specimen to produce digital
files, it is an easy step to translate the resultant CT datasets into STL
(stereolithographic) files to feed into a 3D printing machine for creating
a physical model of a fossil, even if it is still encapsulated inside a rock.
The value of this approach was recognized at the outset by the team
at Wits, which also bought a Z-Printer 450 additive manufacturing
machine from Z-Corp to build models layer by layer from powder.
A slightly textured surface is important when recreating prehistoric
specimens, as shiny surfaces would look unnatural. The powder layers,
which are down to 87.5 microns thick, are ideal for imparting the right
appearance. Color can be introduced, giving variety to displays in the
Palaeosciences Center. Models can be scaled up or down to assist in
education or research.
A direct 1:1 facsimile of the specimen can be printed from which a
mould can be made to produce accurate casts of particularly delicate
specimens. STL file sizes are smaller than the 3D volume from which
they were made and so they can be conveniently emailed or embedded
in technical papers.
Conclusion
Micro-CT is a powerful, non-destructive imaging technique for
visualizing 3D objects, both externally and internally, allowing rich
detail to be revealed without any damage to the specimens. Digital
preparation can be quicker than many mechanical or chemical
preparations. It also offers the flexibility to revise the virtual preparation
16
Left: high resolution microfocus computed tomography
(CT) virtual sections through the Taung Child specimen
obtained using the Nikon Metrology XT H 320 LC during
the present study. It consists of isotropic voxels with a
spatial resolution of 55.5 µm.
Right: lower resolution medical CT data, consisting of
anisotropic voxels with a spatial resolution of 312.5
µm. (CT images courtesy of Gerhard Weber, University
of Vienna.)
or try different potential outcomes, whereas physical preparation is
permanent. Original CT data can be stored with the actual specimens
to provide a permanent digital record, with the option of repeating the
imaging process in the future as technology advances.
Eventually, entire collections of museums and universities around the
world could be available in digital form over the web to scientists and
the public. The Natural History Museum in London, which also owns
a micro-CT scanner, contains approximately 75 million specimens that
will take generations to digitize to reveal hitherto hidden secrets. It is
particularly fitting that Wits also owns a high performance CT scanner,
as the university is the custodian of one of the largest collections of
fossils in the southern hemisphere.
All Nikon Metrology X-ray machines are built at the group’s factory
in Tring, Hertfordshire, UK. An even more powerful 450 kV micro-CT
scanner is also manufactured there. The high energy source is capable
of investigating larger or denser samples and can therefore open
new avenues of research in the palaeosciences, and specifically in
palaeontology.
Surface measurements with picometer
resolution
BW-S50X series
White light interferometric microscope systems
Building on Nikon’s Industry leading Double Beam
Interferometry objectives, Nikon Metrology has
launched a series of White Light Interferometry
(WLI) Systems, which will set a new the standard in
2D and 3D surface profiling.
Nikon’s new Focus Variation with White Light Interferometry (FVWLI)
moves the technique into new ground. With effective height resolution
of 15 pm (picometer), more precise and accurate 3D surface height
measurements are now achievable.
Integrating Nikon’s existing industrial research grade microscope
range with the latest WLI technology, Nikon is able to combine a WLI
system, with standard optical techniques such as Brightfield, Darkfield,
polarized light, DIC and Epi-fluorescence, making the BW series, truly
versatile imaging systems.
The BW series offers a variety of options including: a choice of high
speed and high resolution cameras; a range of Nikon DI Objectives;
piezo objectives and nosepieces; and manual or motorized scanning
stages, all of which add up to numerous systems suitable for all
customer’s needs and budgets.
Graphene layer height measurement
(image courtesy of Dr. Peter Blake, Graphene Industries Ltd)
VLSI Step Height Standard: 8nm
Planarized SiC Wafer
Applications for the BW series include surface and roughness analysis
of: glass; ceramic; silicon wafer; ball bearings; image sensors; thin
films; graphene; molds; rubber; metals; plastics.
News I Volume 9
17
Laser Radar for
automated inline inspection
Flexible inspection, absolute measurements
Today’s inspection methods during automotive
assembly
It is important for automotive assembly plants to continuously monitor
process quality during the manufacturing process. Locations of holes,
slots, studs, welding lines and other features need to be measured on
the vehicles in Body in White (BIW) assembly. Also, flush & gap for door
or hinge lines need in-depth verification in the Trim and Finish section.
These inspections ensure that vehicles are built within the stringent
tolerances set by automotive manufacturers.
These measurements in the past have been primarily performed by
either horizontal arm CMMs offline or on the production line using
dozens of sensors individually aimed at each of the features that are
to be inspected.
Although CMMs provide highly accurate absolute measurements, they
require an expensive metrology lab and can only be used offline. A
large amount of time is required to remove the vehicle from the line,
fixture and align it in the CMM and then perform the time-consuming
measurements. At best, two vehicles can be inspected per shift on a
CMM. This is a very small sample considering that over 1,000 vehicles
can be built each day in a single automotive plant.
18
Dual horizontal arm setup for Body-in-White inspection
Traditional inline systems can have over 100 fixed sensors that are
all individually aimed at features on the vehicles. These fixed sensors
are demanding to install and maintain and do not provide ‘absolute
measurements’ of the features in the car’s coordinate system. They can
only detect presence/absence of the features in a local reference frame
making it impossible to do a complete dimensional check on the vehicle.
In addition, most assembly lines now are ‘flexible’, meaning that they
can produce more than one type of vehicle. Fixed sensors cannot be
used between different vehicles styles, every vehicle requires its own
custom set of sensors.
Nikon Metrology’s Laser Radar
The Laser Radar provides a unique alternative to the shortcomings of the
traditional inspection methods.
The Laser Radar performs automated, highly accurate, contactless
measurements by using a focused laser that is controlled by precision
azimuth and elevation drives. To perform a measurement, the Laser
Radar only needs a fraction of the laser’s signal to be returned giving
it the ability to measure almost any surface, including highly reflective
bare body panels as well as shiny painted surfaces and even transparent
headlights, which are very difficult to measure with typical line scanners.
This robust measurement ability means that the Laser Radar can be used
for both BIW and Flush and Gap inspections on finished cars.
The Laser Radar also has a large measurement range (up to 50m for
the MV350), allowing it to easily measure objects that have the size of
cars, trucks, and other large vehicles.
Inline inspection with the Laser Radar
For the inline inspection, Laser Radars are mounted to 6-axis robot
arms that are located on each side of the production
line. This type of robot is common place in automotive
production facilities, is very robust and can easily
handle the payload of the Laser Radar.
Multi-sensor inline inspection system with fixed cameras
features on the floor pan; repositioning the Laser Radar to an alternate
location will make these features visible once again without the need
for multiple sensors.
After the robot repositions the Laser Radar, it automatically measures
alignment points on the vehicle or pallet. This occurs each time the
robot moves the Laser Radar, guaranteeing that all measurements are
collected in vehicle coordinates and ensuring measurement accuracy is
independent of the robots ability to position the Laser Radar.
In each location the Laser Radar can measure dozens of features on
the vehicle. These measurements are preprogrammed in the inspection
software directly from the vehicle’s CAD model. After the initial
programming, data collection and reporting is fully automated. Unique
inspection scripts can also be written for each vehicle style and model
made on the production line making the Laser Radar inspection station
completely flexible. Adding vehicle styles in the future only requires reprogramming of the inspection plan and does not require any physical
changes or new hardware..
The interaction of the Laser Radar, robot, and analysis software are
fully integrated; the inspections are completely automated and do not
require manual intervention during runtime, improving both the speed
and quality of the measurements over traditional methods.
With the need for shorter and more flexible production cycles, automotive
manufacturers are continuously looking to cut time and costs whilst
maintaining quality. For automotive inline inspection, the automated
Laser Radar on a robot offers the right capabilities to meet the need for
flexible and absolute measurements directly on the shop floor.
The robots are used to automatically reposition
the Laser Radar so it can inspect areas that are
hidden from the line of sight of a single Laser Radar
location. For example the door frame or other body
panels could be blocking the line-of-sight to some
News I Volume 8
19
First teaching laboratory in Denmark
with scanning electron microscopes
The new SEM laboratory within Nanoteket at the Technical University of Denmark is
populated with five JEOL NeoScopes from Nikon Metrology.
Five Nikon Metrology SEMs will attract hundreds more students
every year with the aim of promoting physics and nanotechnology
Staff and students at schools and universities throughout
Denmark are excited about a new facility housing
multiple scanning electron microscopes that has opened
within Nanoteket, a nanotechnology teaching laboratory
at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), near
Copenhagen. The laboratory operates in collaboration
with the university’s physics department and center for
electron nanoscopy. The latest project has been funded
by three private foundations - Villum Fonden (the main
sponsor), Otto Mønsteds Fond, and Marie & M. B. Richters
Fond.
To supplement the university’s existing scanning tunnel
microscopes and atomic force microscopes dedicated to
teaching, five scanning electron microscopes were purchased
from Nikon Metrology in February 2014 as the basis for the new
facility. They are being used by students and undergraduates
from all over Denmark to carry out physics experiments that
were previously impossible within the country’s academic
structure, as there was no SEM teaching laboratory available
for high school students to use.
Researchers and students alike, in particular those from
secondary schools, have shown great interest in the microscopes,
with 130 visiting in the first month alone. Nanoteket attracts
around 3,500 visitors per year, including 1,600 school pupils.
Staff expect that the scanning electron microscopes will attract
an additional 500 or so interested people.
Nanoteket is managed by Ole Trinhammer, the head of the
laboratory, and Louise Haaning, project manager responsible
for the electron microscopes. She holds an MSc in Engineering
from DTU within the field of physics and nanotechnology and
until 2011 worked as a teaching assistant at Nanoteket. Eleven
physics and nanotechnology students from DTU are currently
20
An insect magnified to micrometric scale being
studied using a Nikon Metrology NeoScope
SEM at Nanoteket.
Zeolite, an aluminosilicate mineral, magnified
2,400 times by a Nikon Metrology NeoScope
SEM at Nanoteket.
Louise Haaning, project manager responsible for
the SEM laboratory at Nanoteket.
employed as teaching assistants, so it is primarily young people who
teach other young people.
The considerable benefit of this approach is perfectly summarized by
Irvin Svensson, a teacher at Rosborg High School in Vejle, Jutland, who
usually accompanies a class of students to DTU once a year. He said, “It’s
always a delight to visit the university and the arrival of the new SEM
equipment in the physics department is incredible.
“Our students enjoy the microscopy exercises, as it’s a lot of fun to peer
into a microscope and enter a whole new world.
The students from DTU, rather than the staff, help and coach visitors
from schools and it’s fantastic to see how they deal with them. It’s much
more exciting for pupils to work with someone who’s only a bit older
than they are.”
Louise Haaning added, “We need the scanning electron microscopes for
educational purposes, as we want to teach students from schools and
universities about nanotechnology and electron microscopy and give
them hands-on experience with such equipment.”
An advantage of the JEOL NeoScope SEM from Nikon Metrology is that
it has both a secondary electron detector and a back-scattered electron
detector. Most SEMs have secondary electron imaging to produce very
high-resolution images of a sample surface with a large depth of field,
revealing 3D detail down to single figure nanometres.
However, the NeoScope’s ability to detect electrons that are backscattered from the sample means that the instrument can also detect
the amount and distribution of different elements within the specimen.
Thus the microscope can provide much more information and broadens
the range of possible applications.
About the Neoscope JCM-6000
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of electron
microscope that produces images of a sample by scanning it
with a focused beam of electrons. The electrons interact with
atoms in the sample, producing various signals that can be
detected and that contain information about the sample's
surface topography and composition. The electron beam is
generally scanned in a raster scan pattern, and the beam's
position is combined with the detected signal to produce an
image. The new JCM-6000 "NeoScopeTM," is a touch panel
controlled, multi-functional desktop scanning microscope
that answers the increasingly diversified needs among users
worldwide. The NeoScope benchtop SEM combines the
familiarity of a digital camera with the high resolution and
depth of field of a powerful SEM. Born from the combined
expertise of Nikon and JEOL, the NeoScope SEM’s advanced
features are complemented by simplicity and affordability.
News I Volume 9
21
In-process x-ray inspection
improves quality control of
circuit boards
Advanced X-ray technology will pay for itself in less than two years
Swiss-owned electronic and mechatronic
systems manufacturer, ESCATEC, has deployed
a new X-ray inspection machine that sits
alongside two lines producing printed circuit
board assemblies (PCBA) at its factory in
Heerbrugg. Supplied by Nikon Metrology, the
XT V 160 machine is used for real-time, in-process
quality control and replaces post-process X-ray
inspection methodology. The in-line procedure is
more efficient at detecting defects, has reduced
the lead-time from order to delivery by one day,
and optimizes costs by freeing an operator and
a test engineer to be deployed elsewhere in the
factory.
22
Dr Martin Muendlein, Engineering Manager at the ESCATEC plant,
commented, “Modern electronic components are becoming smaller
and smaller, increasing the need for sophisticated techniques to ensure
that every solder joint is perfect.
Visual inspection is increasingly difficult as more and more leads are
hidden under the components, which means that the solder joints are
only detectable by X-ray.
“Our latest Nikon XT V 160 X-ray inspection system, installed as part
of a continuing process optimization program, enables us to look
at hidden solder joints with an image resolution down to 1 micron.
So we are ready to meet the increasingly stringent quality control
requirements demanded by the miniaturization of electronics.”
Aimed mainly at the industrial and medical sectors, ESCATEC’s
electronic systems are to be found in survey equipment, network
analyzers, medical respirators and similar top-end instruments.
Such systems contain advanced, high-density PCBAs including
BGA sample.
Voids and other decision criteria are
clearly visible in the solder balls of the
magnified BGA.
“
Tilting the image reveals head-in-pillow
issues.
Visual inspection is increasingly difficult
as more and more leads are hidden
under the components, which means that
the solder joints are only detectable by
X-ray
Dr Martin Muendlein, Engineering Manager at the ESCATEC plant
components such as ball grid arrays (BGA), quad-flat no-lead (QFN)
interconnections, microchip carriers and fine pitch connectors.
Detection rates using the company’s two previous X-ray systems had
fallen from 100 per cent to around 70 per cent over the past decade as
the features of interest on PCBAs became smaller and more difficult to
inspect. All boards produced were checked half a day or one day after
they were manufactured to determine if they had passed or failed.
The Nikon Metrology equipment, with its ability to zoom in to 2,400x
magnification, once again allows all features to be investigated, despite
their smaller size. Its installation, on the factory floor, just a few meters
from two SMT (surface mount technology) production lines, has also
brought a fundamental change to quality control at Heerbrugg in that it
is now an in-process rather than a post-process function.
Dr Muendlein continued, “Rather than trying to find every error
produced on every board during SMT, we use the Nikon XT V 160 as
a tool for verifying that the manufacturing process is operating at a
high quality level.
According to the defined sample rate, normally between 5 and
10 per cent, PCBAs are inspected and analyzed immediately after
solder reflow. Findings are continuously fed back to the SMT lines
to optimize production parameters. Results are stored in test logs
for traceability.
It has been a fundamental shift in our quality control procedures,
whereby we monitor and manage the performance of the SMT lines,
rather than find out a day later how many defective boards we have.
Sporadic defects in hidden solder joints will not be detected by sample
inspection but systematic defects are reduced by 20 per cent, which
means we end up with more good boards.
At the same time, delivery lead-times have been cut and the engineering
effort needed for inspection has been reduced. We estimate that we
now need one fewer full-time operator on X-ray inspection. Based on
this saving and much lower test engineering effort, our investment in
the Nikon equipment will be amortized in less than two years.”
News I Volume 9
23
Example of correct quad-flat nolead connection.
Example of failed QFN joint
connections due to lack of solder
paste.
The new inspection process
Total quality is the driving force behind ESCATEC’s market success.
Manufacturing of PCBAs is complex and both SMT lines are changed
over up to seven times per day on average. Batch size is typically
between 50 and 100 boards. Only between 5 and 10 per cent of
all possible PCBA defects, mainly lack of solder joint integrity or
shorts under BGA’s, QFN’s, etc, are detectable by X-ray. Positioning
and orientation of components on boards are inspected in-line on
automatic optical inspection (AOI) machines that view all of the
boards produced. The same team of inspection operators at Heerbrugg
is in charge of both the 100 per cent optical inspection and sample
X-ray quality control.
The latter is a semi-automatic process. More than 250 different PCBAs
are produced at Heerbrugg, most of them double-sided. First, a program
for each side is written to instruct the XT V 160 to run sequentially to
all the spots of interest on the board. With a near-perfect example of
any particular PCBA (golden board), a sample inspection protocol with
reference images is created so that the operator is able to compare an
actual image with the reference image. An ESCATEC operator visually
appraises each feature and decides whether it passes or fails.
Purchasing decision
Two other ESCATEC production facilities, in Malaysia, first evaluated
and installed Nikon Metrology XT V 160 X-ray machines. One has an
image intensifier detector for checking boards of lower sophistication
and the other a flat panel detector. The latter is capable of inspecting
more complex, multi-layered boards and was the model chosen for
Heerbrugg after further extensive trials.
A difficulty with ESCATEC Heerbrugg’s previous X-ray machines was
that they were based on a different technology involving automated
laminography and needed complex test programs written. The
inspection process was carried out in two steps. First, all PCBAs were
automatically inspected and separated into good boards and bad
boards with suspected faulty solder joints. During the second step, an
operator inspected the latter boards to verify which were good and
which really contained faulty joints.
24
Complex boards often have stacked multiple layers, making X-ray a helpful
tool to inspect individual components.
This type of machine is limited in that it can look at slices only from the
top and bottom of the sample. There was no way to tilt the flat panel
so that the operator could view the sample from the side. Additionally,
the image resolution was not always sufficient for the decision process,
especially for fine pitch BGAs, QFNs and similar. It is very difficult to
see certain defects from one end of a PCBA, such as a BGA solder
joint defect known as head-in-pillow. It is of major concern in the
electronics industry, as the joint may have electrical integrity in the
beginning but insufficient mechanical strength, making it prone to
failure in the field, leading to costly repairs.
The ability of the XT V 160’s flat panel to tilt the sample by up to
60 degrees, combined with variable magnification, allows headin-pillow and other defects to be seen easily by the operator.
A further advantage is the open tube design, allowing simple
replacement of the 160 kV / 20 W filament source, unlike on the former
X-ray machine which had a closed tube. It was also temperamental,
leading to high maintenance costs. Dr Muendlein states that the Nikon
Metrology machine costs much less to maintain and to run.
When reviewing the market for its new X-ray facility, the team at
Heerbrugg considered a number of different potential suppliers.
They decided that the XT V 160 was the best fit for their application,
as its cost-to-performance ratio was better than that of the other
machines evaluated. pillow and other defects to be seen easily by the
operator. A further advantage is the open tube design, allowing simple
replacement of the 160 kV / 20 W filament source, unlike on the former
X-ray machine which had a closed tube. It was also a temperamental
system, leading to high maintenance costs. Dr Muendlein states that
the Nikon Metrology machine costs much less to maintain and to run.
Incredible sharpness throughout a
wide magnification range
New stereo microscopes feature enhanced optical performance and operation
Nikon has introduced 3 new stereomicroscopes: SMZ1270,
a stereo microscope with the largest zoom ratio in its class;
SMZ1270i, a version of SMZ1270 with intelligent features; and
SMZ800N with enhanced optics and operability.
With their newly redesigned optics and advanced features, these new stereo
microscopes provide incredible optical performance and enhanced operability,
enabling researchers to carry out high-magnification, large-zoom-ratio and highdefinition imaging with ease. The clarity of the images and improved ease of use
will benefit researchers in a variety of fields, from medical to industrial.
SMZ1270i – Intelligent function for status readout
In combination with the Camera Control Unit DS-L3 or imaging software NISElements, the SMZ1270i can detect zoom magnification data. In addition, with
the Intelligent Nosepiece P-RNI2 attached, data related to the objective in use
is also detected. Calibration data is automatically altered, following changes of
magnification, to display the appropriate scale and measurement results on the
images.
New digital cameras for microscopes
Beside these new microscope models, Nikon has introduced the DS-RI2 and DSQI2 digital cameras equipped with a Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor. They offer
16.25-megapixel high-definition images. The DS-Ri2 provides superior color
reproduction and fast frame rates. The monochrome model DS-Qi2 enables highsensitivity and low-noise images.
1270i
SMZ1270i can detect zoom magnification
data to display the appropriate scale and
measurement results on the images.
800N
Basic, affordable model
with improved operability
The new DS series are the first Nikon
microscope digital cameras equipped with
a Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor, offering
16 megapixel images.
News I Volume 9
25
X-Ray Computed Tomography
expands horizons of anthropology
at Duke university
Megaladapis (koala lemur) skull, front view. As this genus is
extinct, non-destructive scanning and a permanent 3D record
are vital to research.
At Duke University (Durham, NC), the school’s X-ray
micro Computed Tomography equipment spans a
growing number of disciplines and users. One of the
main researches is related to anthropology studying
the origin of mankind. But also biotech firms,
electronic materials companies, government research
organizations, and many others have interest in
using CT to investigate and characterize materials
on a micron scale.
Housed at the Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF) at
Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering, the XT H 225 ST micro CT X-ray
machine from Nikon Metrology (Brighton, MI) along with Nikon’s 3D
reconstruction software was installed in March 2013 and envisioned
from the start as a shared university resource.
Cataloging life’s diversity
Dr.Doug M.Boyer,assistant professor in Duke’s Department of Evolutionary
Anthropology, considered access to micro CT X-ray technology
essential. “The research I do relies on micro CT data 100 percent,” he
says. “We were really pleased that Duke’s Trinity College of Arts and
Sciences also saw the acquisition of this equipment as a good investment
for the research environment on campus.”
Anthropology, literally the study of humankind, is often perceived as
socio-cultural science (as in cultural anthropology and its emphasis
on a culture’s beliefs, history, and behaviors). “Then there’s physical
anthropology – how diversity in biology of humans and other non-human
primates provides evidence for questions about human nature and
26
“
Digitization of skeletal
specimens in 3D to which you
can provide worldwide access
is changing the nature of
biological study
Dr. Doug M. Boyer, assistant professor in Duke’s
Department of Evolutionary Anthropology
Daubentonia madagascariensis (name "Aye aye") foot scanned at Duke’s Micro CT
facility, included in MorphoSource, Duke’s digital 3D museum.
origins,” Boyer adds. “You probably have a more accurate perspective
of the kind of research my colleagues and I do here if you think of it as
a subfield of evolutionary biology. Diversity in skeletal and anatomical
structure among primates (including humans) is my area of focus. But
the approaches I take and the broader implications of the questions I
address are directly applicable to biological research generally. Raw data
are the measured quantities of anatomical samples, and documenting
them is essential for repeatability.”
Micro CT ameliorates a number of difficulties involved with evolutionary
anthropology, Boyer further explains. For one thing, there are the
skeletal and anatomical samples themselves needing to be cataloged
and referenced. Many are one-of-a-kind specimens housed in university
and museum collections around the world. Time and travel expenses
just getting to them are significant. “If we can post digital images
of the bones in our studies, then it takes the field to a new level of
accountability: not only can a skeptical researcher re-analyze the
measurements I put in my appendix tables, but he/she can directly check
the individual measurements I provide. This is impossible (or at least
fundamentally impractical) currently.”
Not only yielding information, but sharing it as well. MorphoSource
(www.morphosource.org) is Duke’s initiative to build a digital 3D
specimen archive to better enable a worldwide user base to study the
diversity of life in its anatomical form. Researchers not only can store,
organize, share, and distribute their own 3D data, any registered user
can immediately search for and download 3D morphological data sets
that have been made accessible through the consent of data authors.
Duke has begun by scanning thousands of samples from its own
extensive collections and also those of other institutions including the
American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Natural History
Museum, and Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology,
among others.
“Digitization of skeletal specimens in 3D to which you can provide
worldwide access is changing the nature of biological study,” Boyer
says. “Retention and sharing of 3D is a problem facing the greater
academic community who study one-of-a-kind samples. MorphoSource
is taking a data-driven field and applying new means of obtaining and
interpreting that data.”
A slightly more lofty goal is to tap the potential for automation of
analysis of anatomical structural data on a broad scale. “Right now
analysis of molecular data (on DNA, the genetic code) is highly
automated. Big data sets are relatively easy to amass because of
digital sharing: morphological data hasn’t reach this point, for obvious
reasons – scanning is the only way to generate comprehensive
numerical representations of bones, but such data have been few
and far between until recently. MorphoSource will start to build the
large-scale samples needed to bring the study of anatomical structure
in-line with the genome,” Boyer says. He is currently working with
applied mathematicians and statisticians at Duke to “automate” the
measurement and analysis of biological structures. “Another reason
why the skeleton is under-studied is that most researchers don’t
have the expertise to identify or define relevant measurements. With
automated algorithmic routines, we hope to avail morphological data
to any interested researcher.”
Training and certification
Duke not only provides micro CT scanning for the school’s medical,
sciences, and engineering departments, it also trains and certifies
users on how to use the equipment. “This isn’t a 9 to 5 operation, it’s
24-7,” says R&D engineer and CT specialist Jimmy Thostenson. Users
interested in certification are trained in lab safety and procedures
as well as equipment operation, working one-on-one with SMIF’s
micro CT staff.
News I Volume 9
27
News_Volume 9_EN_0814– Copyright Nikon Metrology NV 2014. All rights reserved. The materials presented here are summary in nature, subject to change and intended for general information only.
Nikon Metrology NV
Nikon Corporation
Geldenaaksebaan 329
B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
phone: +32 16 74 01 00 fax: +32 16 74 01 03
[email protected]
Shin-Yurakucho Bldg., 12-1, Yurakucho 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8331 Japan
phone: +81-3-3216-2384 fax: +81-3-3216-2388
www.nikon-instruments.jp/eng/
Nikon Metrology Europe NV
tel. +32 16 74 01 01
[email protected]
Nikon Metrology, Inc.
tel. +1 810 2204360
[email protected]
Nikon Metrology GmbH
tel. +49 6023 91733-0
[email protected]
Nikon Metrology UK Ltd.
tel. +44 1332 811349
[email protected]
Nikon Metrology SARL
tel. +33 1 60 86 09 76
[email protected]
More offices and resellers at www.nikonmetrology.com
Nikon Instruments (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
tel. +86 21 5836 0050
tel. +86 10 5869 2255 (Beijing office)
tel. +86 20 3882 0550 (Guangzhou office)
Nikon Singapore Pte. Ltd.
tel. +65 6559 3618
Nikon Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
tel. +60 3 7809 3609
Nikon Instruments Korea Co. Ltd.
tel. +82 2 2186 8400