Successful installation and commissioning of the 3D OmniProbe

The installation and commissioning of the 3D OmniProbe for the TI 950 was successfully completed at the end of 2024. The implementation of this extension makes it possible to carry out tests with normal forces of up to 10 N and travel distances in the millimetre range. This represents a significant advance in material characterisation.

Advantages of the 3D OmniProbe

The integration of Bruker's 3D OmniProbe into the Triboindenter enables surface analytical characterisation across different scales - from the nano to the micro range. The understanding of cross-scale interactions can be significantly improved by combining the available measurement systems. Due to the higher forces and travel distances, larger tips and probes can be used, making it possible to analyse technical surfaces that are of particular relevance for questions in forming technology.

New possibilities for characterisation tests

The implementation of the 3D OmniProbe expands the possibilities for characterisation tests, which play a particularly important role in forming technology. When testing technical surfaces, where conventional measuring systems often reach their limits, the 3D OmniProbe allows for more detailed and accurate measurement results.

Below are some specific areas of application in which the 3D OmniProbe shows its strengths:

• Investigations in frictional contact with real contact partners and the use of lubricants during the measurement.

• Recording of flow curves for materials or material areas such as intermetallic phases, carbides, coatings and scale. Very small sample volumes can also be examined with these analyses.

• Determination of the adhesive strength of coatings to optimise production processes.

Outlook for the future

The expansion enables the development of cross-scale correlations and a targeted combination of existing measuring systems. The use of larger tips and probes opens up new perspectives for the analysis of technical surfaces in the micro- and nanoscopic range, which are essential for questions in forming technology.

The 3D OmniProbe opens up new and exciting research opportunities, for which we would like to express our sincere thanks to Rhys Jones and Dr. Ude Dirk Hangen from Bruker. Their outstanding collaboration, advice and support have contributed significantly to the success of the project.