EEVblog #796 - Leica DVM6 3D Microscope

[EEVblog]

Dave checked out the Leica DVM6 3D microscope at the Electronex 2015 stand.
It's an $80000 microscope that can do automated 3D surface mapping and measurements of surfaces, down to sub 1 micron.

http://www.leica-microsystems.com/products/digital-microscopes/details/product/leica-dvm6/

[Melt-O-Tronic]

Hey, while you're there, pick up two for me please!   

[daqq]

Neat! So, if anyone doesn't know what to give me for Christmas, hint hint!

Though I thing you're exaggerating about the software being more costly to develop than the hardware - the process is impressive, but conversion from images to 3D is a well understood process. See:
http://ccwu.me/vsfm/doc.html
for an open source version. Example:


Stitching images together, the same.

It seems to be greatly implemented though, with a very nice interface!

[DEHiCKA]

Focus stacking been there for decades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_stacking
I've done it myself 10 years ago with 40 years old microscope and a stepper motor attached to the Z knob.

Nice example done with free software:

[SilverSolder]

Focus stacking been there for decades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_stacking
I've done it myself 10 years ago with 40 years old microscope and a stepper motor attached to the Z knob.

Nice example done with free software:

Awesome -  What software did you use?

You can do 2D focus stacks in Photoshop, at a pinch.

[Fungus]

Awesome device!

[DEHiCKA]

Awesome -  What software did you use?

I is not mine, but the software is known to be ImageJ + Blender

[Psi]

It's not ridiculously expensive microscopes that we need, it's cheaper ones.
Give us something that is under $1000 and does 60fps 1080P HDMI output with a good working distance.

[Rasz]

It's not ridiculously expensive microscopes that we need, it's cheaper ones.
Give us something that is under $1000 and does 60fps 1080P HDMI output with a good working distance.

60fps 1080P HDMI output is easy, even capturing to sd card is easy and cheap at $50, Rpee + camera module and you are set, you just need to MacGyver optics

[Psi]

The optics aren't that hard. You can do it with a DSLR macro zoom lens.
You can also do it with a regular zoom lens and some macro extension tubes.

Infact a entry level DSLR (something with lots of mega pixels, like the canon 760D) with a macro zoom lens on it and the HDMI output cable would probably work quite well. It would just be annoying to have to put it into live view every time you powered it on. 

With lots of mega pixels you can get extra zoom for free by cropping to 1080p

[miguelvp]

Is it me or does it look like the update is lagging quite a bit when rotating the board during the live update without the 3d reconstruction at 4:47 onwards on the video?

[lewis]

That scope is absolutely awesome. Definitely not safe for wallet.

[LabSpokane]

If anyone can do it, why is it that only one or two companies seem to do it *well*?

[Psi]

If anyone can do it, why is it that only one or two companies seem to do it *well*?

You need a good sensor and optics but those don't account for the high price they charge for the system. I think it's just a lack of competition and no midrange products. It's all sub $200 microscopes and  $3500+ microscopes

[Rasz]

If anyone can do it, why is it that only one or two companies seem to do it *well*?

You need a good sensor and optics but those don't account for the high price they charge for the system. I think it's just a lack of competition and no midrange products. It's all sub $200 microscopes and  $3500+ microscopes

there is plenty of competition, AmScope does everything from $100 to >$1K, >$300 stuff is decent to good

[LabSpokane]

If anyone can do it, why is it that only one or two companies seem to do it *well*?

You need a good sensor and optics but those don't account for the high price they charge for the system. I think it's just a lack of competition and no midrange products. It's all sub $200 microscopes and  $3500+ microscopes

I'm suggesting that if it so trivial, that one could easily build one and sell it for less. The fact that no one is at this time might suggest that doing so is less than trivial. The image quality shown in Dave's video seems to be much better than what has been shown previously  to be "equivalent." 

Rather than this being an illustration of Leica ripping people off, this might be better explained as in the commercial value of solving a problem very well.

[Fungus]

You need a good sensor and optics but those don't account for the high price they charge for the system.

Rather than this being an illustration of Leica ripping people off, this might be better explained as in the commercial value of solving a problem very well.

People are fixating on optics and stuff but a big part of the value of a device like this is in the software.

Good software costs a lot of money to develop and will make or break a product.