In order to perform surface examinations in 3D, special confocal microscopes are required. The Institute for Production Engineering and Forming Machines currently has three different confocal measuring systems. This also includes a portable measuring system. In addition to individual measurements in magnification factors from 10 to 100, individual images can also be combined into large-area images. By using special evaluation software, surface characteristics, profile cuts and volume evaluations can then be investigated.

Measuring principle

A light beam is focused on the test object's surface by a multi-pinhole disc (MPD). The MPD reduces the light to the focused part, which then returns to the measuring device and to a camera (resolution up to 2.048 x 2.048). By this principle, stray light can be prevented during the measurement.