INDUSTRIAL MICROSCOPY
RESOURCE GUIDE
Illuminating
Innovation for
Industrial Breakthroughs
Expert insights and best practices for advanced imaging,
sample preparation, and analytical excellence
OPTIMIZE BALANCE APPLY MICROSCOPY
Dynamic Imaging Precision and Performance in Materials Science
Table of Contents
3 Innovations and Challenges in Advanced Imaging
4 How SEM/EDS Works and Its Applications in Materials
Science
7 Enhancing Material Insights with Dynamic Imaging and
Sensor Data
10 Microscopy in Food Development and Testing
13 How to Plan for Vibration Control for Microscopy
Applications
16 Vibration Isolation for Microscopy
2 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
n
o
i
t
c
Innovations and
u
d Challenges in
Advanced Imaging
o Industrial microscopy drives innovation in materials science, biotechnology, and product
development by providing precise and actionable insights. As industries tackle increasingly
r complex materials and stricter quality standards, microscopy labs are essential for advancing
research and ensuring reliable results. Techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM),
t energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and dynamic imaging are indispensable for applica-
tions such as nanoparticle analysis and food safety testing.
n However, operating a microscopy lab comes with unique challenges. Selecting the right
I tools—such as high-speed centrifuges for sample preparation or SEM/EDS systems for mate-
rial characterization—requires strategic planning. Lab managers must weigh factors like cost,
performance, reliability, and adaptability to meet their lab’s specific needs.
Consistency in results across diverse applications is another key concern. The lack of univer-
sal standards complicates quality assurance, making adherence to frameworks critical for op-
erational success. At the same time, practical considerations like lab layout, vibration control,
and maintaining sample integrity can substantially impact imaging outcomes, underscoring
the need for well-designed workflows.
Fortunately, advancements in microscopy technology are helping labs overcome these barri-
ers. Automated balancing in centrifuges, real-time dynamic imaging systems, and machine
learning-powered data analysis are streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.
These innovations not only improve lab efficiency but also empower researchers to achieve
more accurate and reproducible results, fostering breakthroughs across diverse industries.
This resource guide equips lab managers with the insights and tools needed to
tackle the complexities of industrial microscopy. Learn how to optimize lab design,
select the best imaging systems for your needs, and maintain equipment reliability.
This guide also features expert advice and strategies for achieving consistent results
across diverse applications.
3 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
How SEM/EDS Works
and Its Applications in
Materials Science
This versatile technique offers insight into the structure
and composition of a range of materials
by Aimee Cichocki, PhD
Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray Applications of SEM/EDS in materials
spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) is an important tool in materials science
science. It can be used to examine the structure and compo-
sition of a wide range of samples. It enables advanced surface The versatility and high-resolution capabilities of SEM/
analysis, which can be used in multiple areas such as product EDS lend its use in a variety of applications. EDS is wide-
failure investigation and contaminant identification. ly used across various materials science fields, including
geology, metallurgy, microelectronics, ceramics, coatings,
SEM/EDS offers several key advantages. This technique is cements, soft materials, and everything in between. It char-
versatile, accurate, and usually non-destructive. It can also acterizes every aspect of a material’s life cycle, from develop-
provide qualitative analysis of all but light elements (Z < 11) ment and process control to failure analysis.
in the periodic table.
SEM/EDS is typically used as an investigative approach
How SEM/EDS works and can be tailored to specific applications. A broad range of
industries find use for this technique, including automotive
SEM/EDS is a combined technique that uses a scanning supplies, plastics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and elec-
electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectros- tronics manufacturing, to name a few.
copy to analyze materials. SEM provides the imaging com-
ponent, while EDS is used for detection. While traditional One of the most common uses for SEM/EDS is surface char-
microscopy uses light to create an optical signal, a scanning acterization. The technique can be used to study the surface
electron microscope uses electrons. EDS is then used for topography and morphology of materials such as metals,
compositional analysis. composites, polymers, and ceramics. This information helps
us understand things like the effects of the manufacturing
SEM/EDS offers several key advantages. This technique is process and the degradation and wear of materials. For ex-
versatile, accurate, and usually non-destructive. ample, it enables manufacturers to investigate failure mech-
anisms or characterize defects in devices like transistors or
The microscope works by generating a beam of electrons integrated circuits.
from an emitter-cathode within an electron gun. This beam
is then accelerated and focused by an anode and a series of Not only can SEM/EDS provide information about the
electromagnetic lenses. It is scanned across the surface of the surface structure of various materials, but it can also mea-
sample, interacting with the atoms in the sample and causing sure their elemental composition. This makes it particularly
secondary electrons to be emitted from the surface. The useful for applications such as studying nanoparticles or
emitted electrons then reach the EDS detector. examining corrosion layers. Moreover, SEM/EDS can be
used to study organic as well as inorganic materials. Other
EDS is a technique used with electron microscopes to common uses for SEM/EDS include contaminant identi-
determine the chemical composition of materials. It works fication in various manufacturing processes and forensic
by measuring the energy of X-rays emitted when an elec- analysis—to analyze trace evidence such as gunshot residue,
tron beam strikes the specimen surface, and then uses this paint fragments, and explosives.
information to identify the elements present and their
concentrations.
Since the electron beam is highly localized, EDS provides “Not only can SEM/EDS provide
high-resolution chemical composition maps, offering a clear information about the surface
understanding of the processes occurring within a mate-
rial. This technique is widely used in application-specific structure of various materials,
packages, for example, to get detailed particle classifications
reported to industry standards. but it can also measure their
elemental composition.”
5 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
SEM/EDS applications are further enhanced using advanc- Unlike secondary electrons that come from the sample, the
ing technologies such as machine learning and 3D imaging. backscattered electrons are incident electrons from the emis-
SEM/EDS processes often produce large datasets, which can sion source. EBSD is used to determine crystallographic data
be labor-intensive to analyze manually. Machine learning that EDS alone cannot provide.
algorithms can be used to identify correlations between
material properties and speed up analysis. Meanwhile, elec- A limitation of EDS is that it can’t be used to analyze hy-
tron tomography can be used alongside EDS to develop 3D drogen and helium. The nuclei of these elements each have
images of materials. This has a variety of uses in applications only one neutron, so there are no free electrons to emit. In
such as process control and technical cleanliness. addition, X-rays produced by lithium, beryllium, and other
low-atomic number elements may be insufficient for mea-
Advantages and limitations of SEM/EDS surement. Carbon also represents issues as it is often present
as a surface contaminant.
As with all analytical techniques, SEM/EDS has its own set
of advantages and drawbacks. A key quality is that it can pro- Another drawback is that SEM involves subjecting the
vide precise chemical information at various scales—from sample to high-vacuum conditions. As such, the technique is
tens of nanometers to tens of centimeters. The technique is generally not used to analyze liquid samples, although spe-
also accurate, sensitive to low concentrations, and non-de- cial preparation techniques have been developed for select
structive in most situations. cases. As with other techniques, there are also limitations
in terms of sample size and element concentration. Some
Not only can SEM/EDS provide information about the sur- of these may be overcome by adjusting sample preparation
face structure of various materials, but it can also measure techniques, although opting for an alternative technique
their elemental composition. might be necessary.
EDS is also relatively simple to execute, requiring minimal SEM/EDS is considered a vital tool for many applications.
sample preparation to obtain qualitative information, and With many advantages, few drawbacks, and the potential for
can be readily combined with other techniques. combination with other detection methods, SEM/EDS is a
useful technique for high-resolution imaging and chemical
One such example is EBSD (electron backscatter diffrac- analysis within materials science research.
tion). In addition to secondary electrons, backscattered elec-
trons are emitted from the surface of the analyzed sample.
6 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
Enhancing Material Insights
with Dynamic Imaging and
Sensor Data
How to optimize your lab’s camera and imaging system for your needs
by Michael Schwertner
Acquiring images and simultaneously recording relevant Many materials change color, shape, and size with changing
sensor parameters from the sample is a powerful way to conditions. For example, ferroelectric materials realign, and
understand how materials alter under changing conditions thermotropic liquid crystals undergo phase transitions and
such as temperature, humidity, tensile forces, shear stress, color changes as temperature changes; polymeric films can
corrosive environments, or aging. This often requires an tear when under tensile strain, and many materials change
integrated system capable of recording and imaging dynamic color as they oxidize.
processes that occur during an experiment.
7 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
Optical microscopes can visualize these changes, but mi- increasing the number of pixels or decreasing their size does
croscopists increasingly need to capture and correlate image not necessarily provide higher resolution.
data with stage sensor parameters to quantify a transforma-
tion or gain additional information about visual differences. The overall dynamic range—the range of brightness levels
Events such as a color shift can be analyzed, the extent of a between the darkest and brightest areas—dark noise, and
tear can be measured, and the size and shape of particles can temporal noise are also key considerations. Dynamic range
be quantified. and signal-to-noise can be affected by pixel size, and this is
especially important in applications where observations of
Assembling a dynamic data and image small changes in color are a key measurement parameter.
capture system
Frame rate determines the smoothness of operation in live-
The basics of an imaging setup are straightforward. Systems view imaging. While higher frame rates produce smoother
are comprised of the microscope, relevant sample stage (to transitions, matching frame rate to the demands of the
accurately control temperature, environmental conditions, or intended application is important. For example, dimensional-
tensile/shear forces), CCD or CMOS camera of appropriate ly larger images typically result in slower frame rates, while
performance, and suitable software to acquire and analyze high frame rates can quickly produce extremely large and
the images and data collected. unwieldly image data sets.
Recent advances, such as scientific CMOS (sCMOS) camer- Imaging in practice
as, focus on offering high sensitivity and speed, which is ide-
al for live cell fluorescence imaging. However, they are not With an optimized instrument setup in place, there are
necessarily the best option for applications where dynamic many applications where dynamic imaging can add insight.
samples evolve on the microscale, especially with changing Two recent examples are outlined below:
environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
1. Freeze drying pharmaceuticals
Consideration should also be given to microscope lenses
and their correction for imaging through optical windows. Products that are prone to degradation must be stabilized
For higher numerical aperture (NA) lenses, typically for by immobilizing or reducing water content. Freeze drying
20x magnification and above, lenses with correction rings (lyophilization) removes most of the water in a sample, pro-
are preferred and allow matching the optical settings to the viding a dry, active, shelf-stable, and readily soluble product.
window thickness. This reduces spherical aberration and However, freeze drying is a complex process, so pharma and
improves image quality. biotech companies can decrease costs by optimizing proto-
cols to speed up timelines and increase product yields.
Camera selection
Freeze-drying microscopy (FDM) combines light micros-
Selecting a camera with the appropriate performance for copy techniques with a thermal stage, and has become a
microscopy can suffer from the same biases as consumer widely-used method to determine how a drug product will
cameras. More is often considered better—particularly in react to different thermal and pressure conditions.
sensor size and pixel count—without due regard to specific
needs. For example, balancing the improved spatial resolu- Researchers at the UK’s National Institute for Biological
tion of smaller pixels with the resulting limit on the dynamic Standards and Control (NIBSC), led by Paul Matejtschuk,
range of the sensor. PhD, are using the latest FDM technology to investigate the
development of formulation and freeze-drying processes on
Camera resolution is a key parameter to consider in an imag- protein therapeutics. The group used FDM to predict the
ing system, but it is only one of several parameters. Pixel size ideal freeze-drying conditions for liposome-cryoprotectant
and pitch of the camera should be matched to the resolution mixtures, using a cryostage mounted on an optical micro-
of the microscope, which is governed by the NA of the opti- scope, connected to a control unit and liquid nitrogen pump.
cal system. Due to the optical limitations of the microscope, Images were taken every 20 seconds for the duration of the
8 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
experiment and physical changes to the liposomal formula- The images showed that under tensile testing, all samples
tions could be observed (Figure 1). failed in a similar way with fibers breaking at the point of
failure. It was interesting to note that only the Soy-Pro-
tein-S2 had similar fine fibers to chicken [Figure 2], while
the other plant-based samples did not.
Large fibres weakly
Fine fibrils No fibres present connected Fine fibres present
Figure 1: Freeze drying microscopy of OVA—containing 1mg/ml 1,2-distea-
royl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC):Chol liposomes, formulated with 7.5 percent
sucrose. Magnification was 20x using plane polarised light. A two microlitre aliquot
was frozen at a rate of 10°C/min to -50°C (image A), with the freezing point of this
sample occurring at -18.6°C (Image B). Drying was achieved by application of a
0.1mBar vacuum and the temperature then being raised at a controlled rate. Drying
was observed below the collapse. Reproduced with permission from International Chicken - after break Pea and soy based Soy based protein I - Soy based protein II -
Journal of Pharmaceutics. 1 protein - after break after break after break (broke slightly
out of field of view)
Figure 2: Images of the chicken and plant-based alternative samples captured during
Results showed that the presence of protein adds stability to tensile testing just after the point of sample failure, visually showing how the samples
neutral and charged formulations, with the same amount of change at their breaking point. Linkam
Ovalbumin (OVA) retained after freeze drying. The minimal
leakage of the OVA suggests that pre-cooling the shelf and Understanding the physical and microstructural properties
rapid freezing could prevent egress resulting from the for- of food is vital in product development. This experiment and
mation of large crystals. Liposomal size also changed upon data could help product formulators to develop meat-free al-
rehydration, with cationic liposomes showing the greatest ternatives based on different ingredients, that mimic the eat-
increase. The study demonstrated the ability to freeze- ing experience of real chicken and potentially other meats.
dry liposomal formulations in microplates and vials for the
rapid screening, preservation, and optimization of liposomal Dynamic imaging offers microscopists a powerful technique
formulations. to enhance their insight into the materials they are studying.
Important changes can be visualized and correlated with in-
2. Analyzing the mechanical properties of meat formation from multiple sensors, and even quantified. System
alternatives selection and optimization is a multi-faceted process, where
traditional optical parameters must be considered together
Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) was tasked by a meat with detailed specifications of cameras and software. With an
alternative brand to compare properties of chicken with optimized system, dynamic imaging is a powerful approach
chicken alternatives. Scientists at RSSL used tensile testing that can add value to many fields of research.
to relate these properties to sensory profiles, including taste,
smell, and texture to discover which properties most impact- References:
ed the eating experience. 1. Hussain MT, Forbes N, Perrie Y, Malik KP, Duru C,
Matejtschuk P. (2020) “Freeze-drying cycle optimization
Extension experiments were performed using a mechanical for the rapid preservation of protein-loaded liposomal
testing device placed under an optical zoom microscope. Key formulations.” International Journal of Pharmaceutics 573
parameters calculated were extensivity (how far the sample (2020)118722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118722
stretches before failing), and failure mode—i.e., clean break
or fibrillar staggered breakage.
Chicken breast and three plant-based chicken products were
tested. Extension was performed at a speed of 200µm/s. The
extension tests continued until the samples visibly failed and
the force dropped to zero.
9 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
Microscopy in
Food Development
and Testing
by Mike May, PhD
When sitting down for a family meal, someone will often “Electron microscopy is particularly
say, “This looks good!” Although a casual diner makes an
eye-level assessment, food scientists look deeper. Microscopy valuable for studying structures
is an essential tool in food science and product development.
By examining the interactions of ingredients, scientists can smaller than a micrometer, such as tiny
better understand how these components contribute to the
texture, structure, and mouthfeel of the final product. parts of foods that adhere to surfaces
Microscopy has a wide range of applications in food science. during processing—a common cause
It is frequently used to study emulsions, novel plant-based
products, and mouth-feel characteristics. For instance, in of equipment shutdowns.”
emulsion-based foods, the size and consistency of oil drop-
lets indicate the level of stabilization.
emulsifiers in mayonnaise.¹ As Hohlbein and his colleagues
In some modern plant-based foods, the solubility of proteins noted, manufacturers struggle to reduce oxidation of various
can create a problem. For example, microscopic protein ag- components of mayonnaise, which can reduce its shelf-life
gregates can reduce the stability of a product and its appeal and its nutritional profile.
to customers. Mouthfeel is influenced by several factors,
including droplet size in emulsions and the shape and size of In this work, Hohlbein’s team used two types of imaging:
fibers and aggregates. Notably, humans can sense particles as bright-field light microscopy and cryogenic transmission
small as 10 micrometers. electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). When asked about these
choices, Hohlbein points out that each type of microscopic
To resolve the many features of food, many studies require technology offers benefits. “Bright field microscopy is very
multiple forms of microscopy. simple—just a lamp, an objective, and a camera,” he says.
“No staining is necessary.” He and his colleagues used this
An arsenal of equipment form of microscopy to monitor the aggregation of LDL par-
ticles over several days with a relatively coarse resolution.
In labs dedicated to the development or testing of foods,
various forms of imaging are typically employed. For many To look more closely, the scientists switched to cryo-TEM.
scientists, this includes standard, classical microscopy with As Hohlbein notes, this form of microscopy is complicated,
contrast-enhancing techniques such as phase contrast and but its nanometer resolution can resolve single LDL par-
interference contrast. To achieve greater contrast and enable ticles. With this technique, he says, “We showed that the
observation of ingredients in different colors, confocal mi- LDLs before aggregation have a size of around 30 nanome-
croscopy is often used, either in autofluorescence mode or in ters that cannot be picked up with brightfield microscopy.”
combination with fluorescent staining agents that highlight
certain ingredients. Electron microscopy is particularly So, analyzing food at a finer grain can require a more com-
valuable for studying structures smaller than a micrometer, plex form of imaging. In general, the specific question about
such as tiny parts of foods that adhere to surfaces during a food determines the best form of microscopy for the task.
processing—a common cause of equipment shutdowns.
Searching for silicon in supplements
Making better mayonnaise
When asking someone to name the most common nutritional
A variety of characteristics can be explored when ana- supplements, silicon might not be on the list. Nonetheless,
lyzing a particular food. The shelf life of mayonnaise, for Guido Kickelbick, PhD, professor for inorganic solid state
instance, depends on the oxidation of proteins and lipids. chemistry at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany,
In the laboratory of biophysics at Wageningen University and his colleagues noted: “In the human body, [silicon] is the
& Research in the Netherlands, Johannes Hohlbein, PhD, third most abundant trace element and contributes to many
and his colleagues studied the oxidation and aggregation of biological functions.”² Those functions include strengthen-
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, which serve as key ing bones, hair, and nails. Plus, silicon can be found in struc-
11 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
tures ranging from the aorta to the trachea and beyond. Con- agricultural producers on harvesting agricultural products
sequently, Kickelbick’s team stated: “A silicon balance in the at an appropriate time while ensuring that the pesticide
body is therefore most likely important for human health.” residues do not exceed the national limit.”³
Although silicon appears in a wide variety of foods and bev- Given the expanse of foods, the various structural character-
erages, vendors make a range of silicon supplements. Con- istics that can impact quality, and the wide range of potential
suming silicon, though, only makes a difference if it comes contaminants, various forms of microscopic analysis are
in bioavailable compounds, like silicates or orthosilicic acid. required in testing. Only a range of analytical techniques,
So, Kickelbick and his colleagues analyzed commercially including microscopy, can determine if food will taste good
available supplements for their silicon form and content. and be safe.
They examined the samples with TEM, along with various
analytical techniques. When asked about this choice of mi- References:
croscopy, Kickelbick says, “We used TEM because it works 1. Yang, S., Takeuchi, M., Friedrich, H., et al. “Unrav-
well as a method for the silica-based materials we studied.” elling mechanisms of protein and lipid oxidation in
That’s not the case for all supplements, though. “For many mayonnaise at multiple length scales.” Food Chemistry,
organic-based supplements, one cannot use TEM, or it does 402:134417. (2023).
not provide helpful information,” he added.
2. Curto, Y., Koch, M., Kickelbick, G. “Chemical and struc-
For Kickelbick, however, TEM provided just what the scien- tural comparison of different commercial food supple-
tists wanted. “In our TEM study, we were interested in the ments for silicon uptake.” Solids, 4(1):1¬21. (2023).
general morphology of the material at the nanoscale, such
as the radii of the primary particles, which we could not de- 3. Sun, H., Zhang, L., Ni, L., et al. “Study on rapid detection
termine using another method,” he says. By using cryogenic of pesticide residues in Shanghaiqing based on analyzing
TEM, they showed that freeze-drying compresses the over- near-infrared microscopic images.” Sensors, 23(2), 983.
all structure, but the primary particles remain separated. (2023).
In a supplement, the bioavailability of silicon depends on
its concentration and chemical composition, as well as the
processing of the product. Determining how a person might
take up silicon from a food or supplement depends on work
like that performed by Kickelbick’s team.
Analysis in the field
For many foods, safety starts with the associated agricultural
crops. As one example, scientists at the East China Univer-
sity of Science and Technology in Shanghai searched for a
faster, easier way to harvest crops when the level of pesti-
cides on the plants meets safety guidelines. First, they devel-
oped a portable NIR imager that could be taken to the fields.
Next, they tested various forms of image analysis on leaves
of Chinese cabbage. The kind of pesticide being analyzed
impacted the best method of image analysis and the resulting
accuracy. For example, analyzing NIR images with a support
vector machine algorithm accurately identified trichlorfon
sprayed at one gram per liter in nearly 97 percent of the tests.
As the scientists concluded, “The pesticide residue rapid
detection system developed in this work offers guidance for
12 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
How to Plan for Vibration Control
for Microscopy Applications
How to build low-vibration, flexible laboratory buildings
by Matthew Fickett, AIA, CPHC, LEED
With demand for flexible lab buildings on the rise, the lab testing and processes and can even dramatically alter the
importance of strategic lab planning has never been greater. outcome of scientific experiments, making it a critical but
While there are many factors that play into the lab design sometimes overlooked component of lab design. This is be-
process, one of the most critical elements to plan for is vibra- cause common lab equipment like high-resolution microsco-
tion control. py, microscopes, PCR machines, incubators, and 3D printers
are highly sensitive to vibration, which can be caused by a
Vibration—the periodic back-and-forth motion of the par- number of internal and external factors.
ticles of an elastic body or medium—happens everywhere,
and is oftentimes below the threshold of human perception. Internally, floor vibrations from foot traffic, elevators, HVAC,
However, this natural phenomenon has a major impact on fans, and air handling systems play a significant role in lab
13 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
“Internally, floor vibrations from foot heard at once. Much in the same way, the floor in a building
traffic, elevators, HVAC, fans, and air could be vibrating at both frequencies at the same time. In
fact, in real life, everything is vibrating to some extent, at ev-
handling systems play a significant ery frequency, all the time. The question lies in how much.
role in lab vibration while external Floor vibration in buildings is often described in micro-inch-
es per second or micrometers per second. This refers to the
elements like road traffic, railroad RMS velocity figure, but without frequency information,
only a fragment of the picture is shown. Is the floor vibrating
proximity, and nearby construction at 8,000 mips at 100 Hz, but perfectly still at 10,000 Hz? Is
it vibrating at 8,000 at all frequencies? Without frequency
sites can also cause an impact.” information, there is no way to determine the scope of the
vibration. Instead, the full spectrum needs to be shown with
a graph of the RMS velocity of the vibration of a hypothet-
vibration while external elements like road traffic, railroad ical floor at various frequencies. However, not every project
proximity, and nearby construction sites can also cause an comes with a vibration spectrum graph.
impact. Essentially, the extent to which vibration can be
minimized throughout the building will ultimately influence In the 1980s, Eric Ungar and Colin Gordon faced similar
the success of the research. obstacles, and developed what is now known as VC (Vibra-
tion Criteria) curves. These are a set of ready-made lines
But, to understand how to control vibration, it is important on a graph that can be used to easily describe vibration with
to first understand how it actually works. While vibration is abbreviations like “VC-D” without the need for a spectrum
the oscillation of something, examining how it oscillates, in or a table. They also incorporate ISO standards for vibration
terms of the frequency and velocity of the vibration, is key to in various space types.
determining how to control it.
In determining the suitable vibration levels for labs, it is im-
Frequency is simply how much time it takes to go from one portant to note that different science activities have different
place to another, and back, like a lap. In terms of vibration, vibration standards.
this is described as the number of laps the vibrating medium
accomplishes per second. Measured in Hertz, one lap per The most common vibration-sensitive activity in a lab is
second is 1 Hertz, 1,000 laps per second is 1,000 Hertz, or 1 optical microscopy—or examining things through a micro-
Kilohertz. The units are abbreviated as 1 Hz, 1 Khz, 1 Mhz, scope. Naturally, when looking at very small things, shaking
and so on. the table makes it hard to see. The crucial question here is:
just how much shaking will make it too hard to see?
While understanding vibration speed is important, it is only
the first step. The next is determining how much the me- Fortunately, teams of architects, engineers, and others creat-
dium is vibrating. More specifically, identifying how much ed a detailed reference that relates various levels of magnifi-
energy the vibration carries will reveal the amount of energy cation to acceptable vibration limits.
it has to impact the lab building. Therefore, we talk about
a quantity called the “root mean square velocity,” abbrevi- It would be impractical to provide VC-D throughout the
ated “RMS.” The higher the RMS number, the higher the whole floor plate, though every building designer and owner
likelihood that the interior elements or composition of the wants to provide maximum flexibility to accommodate fu-
building will vibrate. ture science. So, how can a whole building be planned?
Further, a single object can vibrate in more than one way at Fortunately, most labs only need a few areas of low vibration
the same time. At 1Hz, it can vibrate very little; at 100 Hz, it to support a few microscopes (it is rare to see a microscope
can vibrate a lot. Take music, for example: a high-pitch violin on every lab bench). This allows for the creation of micro-
note could vibrate in the air at 10,000 Hz, while a low bass scope-suitable spaces without extending the low-vibration
singer could also vibrate in the air at 100 Hz. Both can be
14 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
area to the whole floor plate. For this, there are two major There are many other factors, including the location of
tools that can be utilized: stairs, elevators, mechanical rooms, and perhaps most im-
portantly, beam span length. Every individual science task is
) Microscopes can be placed on pneumatic tables, likely to have slightly different requirements, too.
whereby tabletops float on a piston filled with com-
pressed air or nitrogen. These work just like shock It’s also important to remember that vibration isn’t just one
absorbers in a car and generally cut about 90 percent number; the whole spectrum needs to be considered. VC
of the vibration from the floor. Because the lines on curves are a good way to do that. Further, VC-A is a very
the vibration criteria are logarithmic, where each is 10 good baseline target for lab buildings, but the ISO operating
times the one previous, the 90 percent reduction from room standard can work as well.
such a table can improve conditions by one whole
criteria (for example, from VC-B to VC-C). Armed with this knowledge, low vibration, flexible labo-
ratory buildings can be built. In doing so, this will further
) Floor structure is not homogenous. At the center of safeguard costly research efforts, creating an even stronger,
a structural bay, far from any column, the floor can science-forward future.
vibrate significantly. Directly next to a column, it is very
unlikely that the floor will vibrate as much. In general,
locating a microscope near a column can improve
vibration by another whole criteria step (for example,
from VC-C to VC-D).
So, how is the right vibration target for a building deter-
mined without knowing the kind of lab that will be inside it?
Imagine an optical microscope being used at 1,000x mag-
nification, located on a pneumatic table, next to a column.
In this case, a high-spec but still common microscope is
being considered, located using both techniques previously
discussed.
) The microscope must sit on a surface which is VC-C
) The floor under the table has to be at least VC-B, since
the table improves vibration by about one “step”
) If the floor right next to a column is VC-B, then a
worst-case spot in the middle of a structural bay
can be VC-A
This process reveals that VC-A, which is at about 2,000μin/s
above 8 Hz, is a safe baseline criterion for a laboratory build-
ing. This assumes a very high-end optical microscope. It is
also common to assume that this type of optical work would
be done on the ground floor, or a specially reinforced area of
structure, and instead use a microscope operating at around
400x or 600x as a baseline. In that case, the ISO standard for
operating rooms (4,000μin/s above 8 Hz) would be sufficient
as a general baseline. In fact, 4,000μin/s is often quoted as a
figure for lab building planning.
15 Lab Manager Industrial Microscopy Resource Guide
Vibration Isolation
for Microscopy
Techniques and systems to minimize the impact of vibrations
for high performance and accuracy
Select and prepare the site Prepare the microscope and accessories
Assess the proximity to vibration sources Position the microscope on a dedicated,
(heavy machinery, foot traffic, roads, vibration-isolated table or platform away
railways, etc.) from walls, corners, or vibration-transmitting
structures
Conduct a vibration analysis of the location
Place all ancillary equipment (cameras,
Verify the structural stability of the floor or computers, light sources, etc.) on separate
foundation
vibration-isolated supports
Use vibration-dampening mounts for
nearby devices
Implement environmental controls
Secure cables and hoses to prevent vibration
Prevent thermal expansion or contraction by transfer to the microscope
maintaining a consistent temperature and
humidity in the room
Minimize noise-induced vibrations with
Proper operation and maintenance
acoustic dampers
Avoid activities that cause local vibration
Isolate HVAC systems and air currents from (walking, doors closing, etc.)
the microscope environment
Monitor vibration during critical tasks
Inspect the vibration isolation system regularly
Implement a vibration isolation system Re-calibrate active isolation
Use sensitivity requirements to select an systems as needed
appropriate isolation system (passive
Maintain documentation (initial vibration
isolation such as air tables and elastomer
baseline measurements during installation,
mounts or active isolation with electronically
maintenance logs, calibration logs, corrective
controlled systems)
actions, etc.)
Conduct performance tests after the system is
installed
