While evaluating microscope systems, I realized that many commercial calibration targets did not cover the full range I needed. I wanted one target that could validate distortion, resolution, contrast, repeatability, and focus performance across several orders of magnitude.
The range I needed
- 5 um
- 2 um
- 1 um
- Sub-micron structures
Proposed design
A fused-silica target combining:
- USAF resolution patterns
- Siemens stars
- Dot arrays
- Distortion grids
- Alignment markers
covering roughly 5 um down to the sub-micron range.
Why build instead of buy
A single target that exercises every property at once makes evaluation faster and more honest: you compare systems against the same physical reference instead of juggling several plates with different fabrication tolerances.