Macro-Examination for Failure Analysis
Failure analysis is an important part of troubleshooting and diagnosing problems with a product. A thorough understanding of the failure process can help identify the root cause and determine the best course of action for repair or replacement. One of the most important steps in failure analysis is macro-examination, which is a visual inspection of the external condition of a product. In this article, we will discuss the importance of macro-examination in failure analysis, its visual and stereoscopic components, and how it can be used to identify and diagnose failures.
Importance of Macro-Examination in Failure Analysis
The main purpose of macro-examination is to gain an overall understanding of the failure and to identify any external features that are relevant to the failure initiation or propagation. It is also used to determine the sequence of the failure and to locate the origin or origins. The inspection of the external condition of a product is an important source of information for failure analysis, as it can help to identify any defects, signs of wear, corrosion, impact damage, or foreign material.
Visual Component of Macro-Examination
Visual inspection is one of the most important components of macro-examination. It involves the examination of the condition of the sample using the unaided eye, hand lens, or low magnification field microscopes. During this inspection, any anomalies should be recorded, including cracks, corrosion damage, presence of foreign material, erosion or wear damage, or evidence of impact or other distress. Additionally, the condition of any protective coatings should be evaluated.
Stereoscopic Component of Macro-Examination
The other important component of macro-examination is stereoscopy. This is an optical microscope variant designed for low magnification observation of a sample using incident light illumination rather than transillumination. It uses two separate optical paths with two objectives and two eyepieces to provide slightly different viewing angles to the left and right eyes, thus producing a three-dimensional visualization of the sample.
Stereo microscopes are used to study the fracture surfaces of solid specimens, as well as to carry out close work such as sorting, dissection, watch-making, small circuit board manufacture or inspection. They should not be confused with a compound microscope equipped with double eyepieces and a binoviewer, as in this case both eyes see the same image.
Conclusion
Macro-examination is a crucial part of failure analysis, as it allows the visual inspection of the external condition of a product. During this examination, any anomalies should be noted, and the condition of protective coatings should be evaluated. Additionally, stereoscopy is an important component of macro-examination, as it produces a three-dimensional visualization of the sample. Through macro-examination, one can gain an overall understanding of the failure, determine the sequence of the failure, and locate the origin or origins.
