Seeing What Others Miss: Get Clearer Insights into Your Metal Finishing Process

Hubbard-Hall has expanded its ability to analyze and troubleshoot metal surfaces with the addition of the Keyence VHX-7000, a fully automated digital microscope capable of capturing ultra-high-resolution images with up to 6000x magnification. This advanced tool allows us to confirm how chemistry interacts with metal surfaces, providing definitive visual evidence and data to support process improvements.

“Yes, sometimes we can see things visually by looking at a part,” said Connor Callais, Product Manager at Hubbard-Hall. “However, a lot of times, what we’re actually trying to do is modify that surface at a really small scale that you can't necessarily see.”

Metal finishing often involves making microscopic changes that impact adhesion, durability, and overall performance. Traditional magnification methods, such as those used with phosphate coatings, don’t always provide a true picture of voids or surface inconsistencies. The VHX-7000 allows our team to pinpoint errors, analyze coatings, and detect residual oxides on copper mesh, black oxide over PVD coatings, or powder coatings on metal parts.

For example, the microscope helps determine whether black oxide has interfered with a PVD coating or if a powdered metal part has reacted longer than expected due to chemistry trapped in its pores. These insights help us make more precise adjustments and ensure that our chemistry is delivering the expected results.

The VHX-7000 features UHD 4K resolution, multi-functional lighting with glare removal, Optical Shadow Effect Mode to replicate scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 3D depth composite imaging. With this new capability, Hubbard-Hall continues to push the boundaries of surface analysis, helping customers achieve consistent, high-quality finishes with confidence.