Test & Measurement

3D Optical Profilers

Worldwide leader in 3D non-contact surface measurement and inspection technology

Fast, Non-Contact 3D Optical Profiling

Bruker is the industry-leading provider of 3D surface measurement and inspection solutions, offering systems for fast, reliable, and easy-to-use non-contact analyses with best-in-class accuracy on samples ranging in size from microscopic MEMS to entire engine blocks. They provide researchers and engineers in R&D, manufacturing, and quality control the industry-leading sensitivity and stability necessary for precision 3D surface measurements in applications and environments that are challenging for other metrology systems.

Based on ten generations of proprietary Wyko® white light interferometry (WLI) technology and Bruker advances, our optical profiling metrology systems have a proven record of supporting leading-edge R&D, QA, and QC in labs and production environments around the world.

Products

Find the Best 3D Optical Profilometer for You

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Optical Profilers

What is a 3D optical profilometer?

A 3D optical profilometer is a non-contact, non-destructive metrology system based on optical microscopy that is specifically designed for surface texture and roughness metrology in R&D and manufacturing environments. They collect data areally (over a 2D area) with a single exposure and use that data to generate 3D height maps.

Bruker's 3D optical profilometers utilize coherence scanning interferometry, also known as white light interferometry (WLI), to provide fast, accurate surface measurements over large areas to quantify a variety of surface properties. These profilers are used in engineering, research, and production process control for an extremely wide range of markets, including precision machining, medical, microelectronics, MEMS, semiconductor, solar, data-storage, automotive, aerospace, and material science.

What is the difference between optical profilometry and optical metrology?

All optical profiling techniques are 3D and quantify the topography of a surface. Optical metrology also includes techniques that are 2D and can be used to measure critical dimensions in the plane of the surface. Common systems used for 2D optical metrology include optical microscopes and scanning electron microscopes. 2D optical metrology is dependent on image contrast and sample optical properties (which may not be directly linked to topography).

What are the types of optical profilometry?

Optical profilometry encompasses a wide breadth of non-contact profiling methods. These techniques all use information gained from the reflection of light off the sample surface.

  • Pattern projection profilometry—A light pattern is projected onto a surface, enabling analysis of the light pattern’s deformation to gain height information. This is often used for form and fit tests of mid-sized parts, such as molds, engine components, and laptops. 

  • 3D laser scanning—A laser beam is projected onto an object, and the laser’s time-of-flight before returning is used to determine the object’s position in space. This method is used to document historical objects and perform dimensional inspection of large-scale objects, such as sculptures, buildings, and car doors.

  • Confocal microscopy—Light is focused through a pinhole optic and 3D data is captured by scanning along the Z axis and reconstructing with only the in-focus portions of each 2D image slice in the stack. Using the pinhole optic prevents out-of-focus light from participating in image formation, limiting the depth of field. Confocal microscopy is a standard imaging technique in many biological science and some materials science applications.

  • Focus variation—The sharpest points (the most in-focus) from a whole 2D image stack are used to construct the 3D topography of a surface. This method is suitable for a wide range of materials and surfaces.

  • White-light interferometry—Interference patterns are generated using split and recombined light waves. The interference patterns are used to calculate surface topography with nanometer-scale resolution. WLI is used to precisely analyze sub-micron roughness of materials, such as electronics, mirrors, optics, and wafers. 

What is white-light interferometry?

White-light interferometry (WLI), also known as coherence scanning interferometry, is a non-contact optical profilometry method that takes advantage of the nature of light waves to interfere with each other constructively and destructively (i.e., wave superposition). WLI is ideal for applications where speed is critical, parts are large, samples are fragile, or there is non-uniform surface texture. These applications often show up in the research, automotive, semiconductor, biological materials, and additive manufacturing sectors, among many others.

What are some advantages of WLI over other profiling techniques?

WLI has many advantages inherent to the technique, including:

  • Magnification-insensitive height resolution—WLI relies on optical interference, which is completely independent of objective lens magnification. This allows for a high vertical resolution alongside a large FOV.

  • High throughput—As an areal technique, WLI collects many data points at once.

  • No sample damage—WLI is completely non-destructive, since it is a non-contact profiling method.

  • Low maintenance—There are no consumables used in WLI, and self-calibrating systems further decrease maintenance requirements.

  • Deep-trench capabilities—WLI can profile any surface that the objective can “see”, including the bottom of high aspect ratio trenches and even sidewalls when using specialized objectives.

What is 3D vs. 2.5D measurement and which does an optical profiler perform?

Using a spherical object as an example, a 2D measurement would show a circle, and a 3D measurement would show a full sphere. A 2.5D measurement is between the two, resulting in a hemisphere. Technically, optical profilers extract 2.5D measurements, though it is common to refer to the results as 3D measurements.

What environments can optical profilometers operate within?

There are Bruker WLI systems installed in many different types of facilities, from those that experience ambient conditions to noisy fab environments and cleanrooms. Discuss your facility and requirements with our experts to find the best system for you. 

Applications

Surface-Independent Metrology with Application-Specific Solutions

Precision Engineering

Keep the surface texture and geometric dimensions of precision-engineered parts within tight specification limits. Our gage-capable measurement systems provide efficient feedback and reporting as you monitor, track, and evaluate processes and assess GD&T conformance.

MEMS and Sensors

Perform high-throughput, highly repeatable etch depth, film thickness, step-height, and surface roughness measurements, as well as advanced critical dimension metrology of MEMS and optical MEMS. Optical profiling can characterize devices throughout the manufacturing process from wafer to final test, and even through transparent packaging.

Orthopedics/Ophthalmics

Obtain precise, repeatable measurements of implant materials and components through the complete product life cycle. Our WLI optical profilers support R&D, QA, and QC analyses, for applications ranging from characterization of surface parameters of lens and injection molds to surface finish verification and wear of medical devices.

Tribology

Measure, analyze, and control the impact of friction, wear, lubrication, and corrosion on material/component performance and lifespans. Determine quantitative wear parameters and perform fast pass/fail inspections on the widest range of shiny, smooth, or rough surfaces.

Semiconductors

Improve yield and reduce costs for both front- and back-end manufacturing processes with automated, non-contact, wafer-scale metrology systems. Perform post-CMP die flatness inspection; bump height, coplanarity, and defect identification and analysis; and measure the critical dimensions of component structures.

Optics

Better understand the root causes of defects and optimize polishing and finishing processes with accurate and repeatable sub-nm roughness measurements. Our non-contact metrology systems enable compliance with increasingly stringent specifications and ISO norms for samples ranging from small aspheric and free-form optics, to optical components with complex geometries, to diffraction gratings and microlenses.

White Light Interferometry

Accurate 3D optical metrology independent of surface characteristics

Universal Scanning Interferometry

Adaptive surface intelligence to capture simultaneous sub-nm surface texture and step heights

Elite Enhanced Imaging

Through-focus high fidelity imaging while maintaining high precision WLI metrology

Watch Our 3D Optical Profilometry Webinars

Our webinars cover best practices, introduce new products, provide quick solutions to tricky questions, and offer ideas for new applications, modes, or techniques.

Service and Support

How Can We Help?

Bruker partners with our customers to solve real-world application issues. We develop next-generation technologies and help customers select the right system and accessories. This partnership continues through training and extended service, long after the tools are sold.

Our highly trained team of support engineers, application scientists and subject-matter experts are wholly dedicated to maximizing your productivity with system service and upgrades, as well as application support and training.

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