InfiniteFocus is an optical 3D micro coordinate system for form and roughness measurement based on the principle of FocusVariation. This technique provides a vertical resolution down to 10 nm on large measurement areas and volumes.
The Alicona/NPL relationship started in 2007 when NPL's Advanced Engineered Materials Group purchased the first InfiniteFocus G3; this was followed in 2009 with the purchase of the InfiniteFocus G4 system.
With these systems in frequent use and demand increasing it made the decision in 2014 to acquire the InfiniteFocus G5 system. This system, with its improvement in acquisition and measurement speed, will provide increased measurement capacity in this busy measurement centre.
NPL microstructural characterisation facility leader Eric Bennett stated: "We've used optical 3D measurement for a number of years but the Alicona systems offers some significant advantages, particularly characterizing small features over a relatively large area. The resolution which now goes down to 10 nm allows analysis of structures and damage in fine detail.
"However this is only part of the story. The flexibility and ease of use of the systems means that we can allow our users open access to the systems with a minimum amount of training, which means greater productivity in the group. Also the ability to measure both form and finish in one system is a great advantage for us."
