Loan of new tabletop Optical Surface Profiler from Polytec

 

Representatives from metrology instruments manufacturer Polytec recently came to the Hub to demonstrate their new TopMap tabletop optical surface profiler.

These fantastic images produced by the optical profiler are of AM surfaces and the interior of gun barrels.

The Hub will be loaning this advanced piece of equipment from Polytec as part of an ongoing collaboration with the company.  The surface profiler will be used by PhD Researcher Hannah Smith, pictured, whose project in forensic ballistics is looking at modified firearm toolmarks.  The instrument provides a non-invasive way of measuring toolmarks inside firearms allowing them to be examined in detail without destroying any forensic evidence.  It is intended that the research carried out using the surface profiler will result in the publication of a joint paper by Hannah and Polytec.