As part of the Analysis for Innovators program round 6, Queensgate, in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), were awarded funding for a project to investigate parasitic motion/off-axis errors in multi-axis nanopositioning stages, and develop a unique and practical correction methodology. Full details of the research are available in a paper previously presented at ASPE and EUSPEN...

Prior Scientific is pleased to introduce its newest automated slide loader, the SL160. The SL160 is compatible with most upright microscopes and is easily integrated with today’s best image analysis software. Both efficient and reliable, Prior Scientific’s robotic handling solution can load up to 160 slides at one time. The loader is ideal for OEMs and system integrators, and allows for precise and safe loading of slides for the life science research, pathology, cytology, and high throughput screening applications...

Queensgate, a brand of Prior Scientific, has announced the launch of the WP-Z-120A Wafer Stage. Millisecond response times and high bandwidth make the WP-Z-120A wafer positioning system ideal for applications where high throughput is essential. The Wafer Stage can be used in wafer inspection with an optical microscope such as the Prior Scientific OpenStand microscope or an OEM version using various optical or other inspection techniques...

Prior Scientific Instruments Ltd., a manufacturer of microscopy solutions and precision optical and electromechanical equipment, has announced the launch of their motorized two and six position automated objective changing nosepieces for the OpenStand microscope line. These products add to the automation solutions already offered by Prior and can give customers a faster way to develop custom imaging systems for life science, semiconductor, and materials applications...

Prior Scientific, a manufacturer of microscopy solutions and precision optical and electromechanical equipment, announce the launch of the CS200 line of joysticks. These joysticks offer a simple, ergonomic, and cost-effective way to manually control your Prior XY stage and Z drive and replace the current PS3J100 joystick. Prior Scientific release the new CS200 series of joysticks and TS200 touchscreen display to control their ProScan and OptiScan...

Upgrading a microscope with a motorized stage enhances a microscope’s capability by allowing for rapid, smooth, and highly repeatable sample movement. This can be difficult to achieve or impractical, using a manual stage, especially when the experiment requires the operator to perform repeated, precise, and accurate movements over a long time period. Motorized stages allow the user to pre-program movements, set and save location points for return inspection, and integrate the stage’s positioning within the imaging process....

Add powerful automated autofocus to your existing microscope. Prior Scientific’s PureFocus850 Laser Autofocus combines advanced optics and an on board microprocessor to provide real time focus control for infinity corrected optical systems. The PureFocus850 allows for rapid scanning of biological and industrial samples, dramatically reducing scan time and improving throughput....

A new motorized stand combined with Prior Scientific's portfolio of automation and optical components offers a new way to develop custom optical platforms. The OpenStand is a unique modular platform that allows for easy customization. It is a fully configurable and motorized optical stand, when combined with a range of readily available optics, light sources and accessories, creates a complete customizable optical microscope....

Prior Scientific is proud to announce the release of the NanoScan OP400, a piezo based objective scanner. Prior Scientific acquired Queensgate in 2018 and the NanoScan OP400 combines Prior’s expertise in delivering microscopy solutions with Queensgate’s market leading nanopositioning technology. The NanoScan OP400 provides the fastest step and settle time of any objective positioner available....

The NanoScanOP 400 provides the fastest step and settle time of any objective positioner available. Incorporating capacitive feedback sensors, it also has market leading positioning accuracy and resolution. Compatible with most microscopes and objective lenses, the system has settings optimized for different objective sizes, weights and performance requirements....

Prior Scientific is proud to announce the release of its new PureFocus 850 a revolutionary autofocus for biological and industrial imaging. The PureFocus 850 is a fast, precise and accurate focusing system that has been designed to fit both upright and inverted microscopes using infinity corrected optics. The PureFocus 850 is able to precisely and consistently focus on your samples when the other systems fall short...

Prior Scientific are pleased to announce the release of our Queensgate NanoScan NPC-D-6000 Series Multi-Channel Closed Loop Controllers. Both the single and multi-channel digital nanopositioning controllers are designed to operate in a closed loop feedback mode with stages or actuators incorporating capacitive position sensors. The NPC-D-6000 series controllers deliver repeatability of movement with improved precision and accuracy for precise imaging and focusing at higher maximum speeds....

Prior Scientific Instruments Ltd marks its 100th anniversary of the company’s founding in 1919, a rare achievement in today’s business climate. “This is a proud time for the company and illustrates our resiliency and adaptability.  We look forward to the next 100 years and the developments that we can bring to our markets”, said Thomas Freda, CEO of Prior Scientific.  “Prior is a very different company from what it was 100, 50, or even 10 years ago....

Prior Scientific is pleased to announce the launch of its newly designed website.

The new website features user friendly navigation, improved functionality, enhanced rich content and a clean uncluttered design. The website will be consistently updated with product launches, business activity, corporate milestones and events....

The Lumen 200 Fluorescence Illumination System from Prior Scientific offers a powerful, cost effective alternative to traditional short arc Mercury vapour lamps and bulbs used in fluorescence microscopy.

Mercury vapour lamps and bulbs suffer from a number of limiting disadvantages including an operational lifetime rarely exceeding 200 hours and the need for time consuming alignment procedures during installation. In addition Mercury vapour bulbs are susceptible to flickering, limiting the use of these light sources in quantitative fluorescent microscopy....

Prior Scientific has announced the FB201 co-axial coarse and fine focusing block, designed for OEM microscopy applications where precise fine focus adjustment is required. 

Rack and pinion mounting allows the FB201 to produce smooth, precise focusing over 29 mm of travel. A large coarse focus mechanism incorporates a slip clutch and tension adjustment. Fine focus adjustment control is graduated in two micron divisions throughout the coarse focus range. The focus block can be easily adapted to various mounting configurations and can support up to 5 kg. Motorised variants able to...

Prior Scientific reports that its OptiScan® controller together with associated microscope stage and focus motor have been used to create stunning artistic designs.

Using this equipment, Richard Weston, a former Professor of Architecture at Cardiff University (UK) has acquired high magnification images of minerals, such as agate, fluorite, and calcite, to produce unique designs for a range of products including scarves, glass panels, and in one case a facade for a three story house. Asked about his novel use of the Prior stage and stepper motor, Richard Weston commented...

The LumaSpec LS800S from Prior Scientific is a compact visible light spectrophotometer which provides quantitative spectral power data enabling users to characterise and monitor the illumination source of their microscope system. 

Operating from 350 nm to 800 nm with 1.5 nm resolution, the LumaSpec LS800S uses an illumination target slide mounted on your microscope to provide accurate and precise information about the illumination in the sample plane, leading to the most relevant information being obtained. The LumaSpec LS800S is capable of analysing the output from a wide variety of light sources, ranging from the dimmest LED to a powerful mercury...

Prior Scientific has announced a new 47 mm filter sample holder for its H101A microscope stage.

Inspection of filters is critical in many industrial processes. This process is vital for fulfilling the requirements of regulations, such as ISO 16232, which covers the characterisation and measurement of particulate contamination of the parts, components and assemblies which make up the fluid circuits of motor vehicle combustion engines. Filter inspection is important in the design and testing of engines, allowing manufacturers to identify...

The OptiScan® III from Prior Scientific is a powerful, entry level system for controlling the OptiScan range of motorised microscope stages and focusing devices. 

Compatible with a wide range of both upright and inverted microscopes, the compact OptiScan III uniquely can be used to drive a motorised stage and a focus motor while precision motor drive technology ensures quiet and smooth motion. A joystick provides users with precise and ergonomic control of their microscope accessories in the X, Y and Z axes. The controller is compatible with most image analysis software packages...

Prior Scientific has announced that the Core Imaging Facility at the UK's prestigious National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) has chosen a Prior HLD117 linear motor stage to be the sample platform at the centre of a new system based around an Olympus IX83 microscope.

NIMR is one of the world’s leading medical research institutes. It is dedicated to studying important questions about biological processes that are relevant to all aspects of health. Research at NIMR covers a broad spectrum of basic biomedical science, including infectious diseases, immunology, cell and developmental biology, neuroscience and structural biology. The world-class facilities for research include biological imaging resources, the...

Prior Scientific has announced that the Core Imaging Facility at the UK's prestigious National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) has chosen a Prior HLD117 linear motor stage to be the sample platform at the centre of a new system based around an Olympus IX83 microscope.

NIMR is one of the world’s leading medical research institutes. It is dedicated to studying important questions about biological processes that are relevant to all aspects of health. Research at NIMR covers a broad spectrum of basic biomedical science, including infectious diseases, immunology, cell and developmental biology, neuroscience and structural biology. The world-class facilities for research include biological imaging resources, the...

Prior Scientific has published a new 12-page catalogue that brings together its range of high performance LED and metal halide light sources proven to provide the best possible illumination for your microscopy work.

Regardless of microscopy technique, high quality imaging requires high performance illumination in order to obtain the best possible results. Prior Scientific has designed a range of precisely engineered, reliable and long lasting light sources tailored to the exacting requirements of scientists across a broad range of disciplines. The new catalogue details Prior’s expanding range of LED illumination sources that offer many advantages for brightfield, DIC, phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy...