Simple Tabletop Microscope Has Powerful Capabilities

A compact microscope, utilizing scanning electron microscope technology, requires no special sample preparation and is as easy to use as a digital camera.

The new TM-1000 table microscope, from Hitachi High-Technologies (Tokyo, Japan), produces high quality images and bridges the gap between optical and electron microscopes. Linked to a laptop computer, it features an extremely simple user interface, which allows users to select focus, magnification, brightness, and contrast. Start-up and specimen exchange routines are fully automatic at the touch of a single button, and autofocus, auto-brightness, and auto-contrast functions are also provided.

High-quality images can be produced over a magnification range of 20–10,000x using standard imaging, and up to 40,000x using digital zoom. All images are recorded digitally on the computer for easy access. A built-in measurement function allows dimensional information to be acquired quickly and easily.

Accommodating samples up to 70 mm in diameter and 20 mm thickness, the microscope has a large number of applications including those in healthcare, the life sciences, food, and education. Oily, hydrated, or non-conducting samples can be viewed using the "charge-up reduction” mode. Remarkably powerful imaging capabilities enable surface morphology to be visualized in stereoscopic detail, contrast phases in materials to be distinguished, and heavy metal-labeled areas in a specimen to be located with ease.



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Hitachi High-Technologies