Sibress to distribute Microdynamics’ measuring tool

Sibress, a manufacturer of measuring and analysis systems for quality assurance in flexographic and packaging printing, has added to its product range by taking on the distribution of the MD-3DQC measuring microscope from US-based Microdynamics. The Sibress branch in Starnberg, Germany, south of Munich, will be responsible for the business, and the distribution agreement has been concluded for the whole of Europe as well as adjacent countries.

The system uses white-light interferometry in the determination of measurement results. This process makes use of the interference of a broad-band light as a reference for the scanning of the object. The robustness and mechanical precision of the optical microscope system achieve an exactness of repetition of up to ±50 nm.

The microscope optics, developed and manufactured by Olympus specifically for the system, can be selected between 160 and 1,230-times magnification, depending on the operational requirement, with which resolution of up to 1,524 lpi can typically be achieved. For particularly high demands, the 40-fold optics system can be engaged, which makes it possible to attain a magnification of 2,240 times. A blocking button allows for the optics to be exchanged easily, and thus guarantees perfect mounting and therefore precise optical image transfer. In total, a choice of five different optics systems is available. The software enables the user to analyze anilox cylinders as well as gravure cylinders from the surface. There is no differentiation in the hardware in this respect; one system for both ranges of operation.

The typical time from take-up to evaluation of all the acquired data, including 3D image, is less than 50 seconds. After one single focusing of the surface which is to be analyzed, all that needs to be done is to press the Scan button, and in less than 50 seconds all the information is available.

All the relevant data is displayed, such as cell depth, volume, individual values of the cells taken up, angles, surface condition/roughness, wall thickness, and opening angle.

After the evaluation, the result data and the 3D image of the measurement are both ready in the protocol log for storing or printing out. In addition to this, protocol logs can be personalized, for example by a company logo. A direct comparison can be made quickly between cleaned and dirty cylinders.

The scope of supply of the device includes two calibration standards. With the ball calibrators, the white-light calibration and the depth calibration are checked at the same time. The scan process, which runs fully automatically, repeats several times, and concludes with the display of the calibration values.

The system runs under Windows XP and Windows 7 Professional. The recommendation is for at least 1 GB RAM, 2 GB hard disk, and a dual-core computer.

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