How Forensic Eyes Uses TAGARNO Microscopes for Failure Analysis

In a dynamic industry where precision and clarity are paramount, the partnership between TAGARNO and Forensic Eyes Limited is redefining how microscopy is used to solve complex electronic failures. At the core of this collaboration is the TAGARNO ZIP digital microscope, a compact, high-performance tool that has not only enhanced Forensic Eyes’ investigative capabilities but also revolutionized the way it engages with clients and trains professionals.

TAGARNO, a Denmark-based technology company, has built a reputation for engineering high-quality digital microscopes designed to meet the demands of quality control and process optimization across various sectors — from electronics manufacturing to food safety and agriculture. Known for their sleek designs, intuitive software, and powerful imaging capabilities, TAGARNO microscopes are used worldwide to perform detailed inspections, documentation, and analysis with ease.

Among TAGARNO’s portfolio of innovative systems, the TAGARNO ZIP stands out as a portable, plug-and-play digital microscope that delivers exceptional performance without complexity. Designed with flexibility and speed in mind, the ZIP offers high-definition magnification, a generous working distance, fast autofocus, and seamless image capture capabilities – all in a compact footprint ideal for on-the-go professionals and agile labs.

Forensic Eyes Limited: Solving Electronic Failures at the Microscopic Level

Founded by Suzanne Costello, Forensic Eyes Limited is a UK-based consultancy and laboratory dedicated to failure analysis, training, and advisory services for the electronics industry. The company’s work spans from semiconductor die-level investigations to full system-level root cause analysis. With a deep understanding of materials and extensive experience across analytical techniques, Forensic Eyes helps its clients understand the why behind electronic failures and what can be done to prevent them in the future.

A cornerstone of Forensic Eyes’ approach is making microscopic features and forensic evidence understandable to clients, connecting invisible clues to real-world components. That’s where advanced digital microscopy comes in, and why TAGARNO has become a trusted partner in its workflow.

“In failure analysis, we often deal with problems you can’t see with the naked eye, and it’s our job to make those invisible issues make sense to our clients,” explains Costello, CEO of Forensic Eyes Limited. “The TAGARNO ZIP has made that possible in ways we couldn’t before.”

Founded by Suzanne Costello, Forensic Eyes Limited is a UK-based consultancy and laboratory dedicated to failure analysis, training, and advisory services for the electronics industry.

From Field Tool to Lab Workhorse

Initially acquired in March 2025 as a portable solution for fieldwork and on-site investigations, the TAGARNO ZIP quickly evolved from a convenient carry-along into a core component of Forensic Eyes’ operations. What began as a tool for remote customer visits has now become indispensable across every aspect of their service, including lab investigations, customer reporting, remote consultation, and education.

“The TAGARNO ZIP is one of those tools you don’t realise you need until it’s in front of you, and now it’s indispensable,” says Costello. “It’s transformed the way we work, made our inspections faster and clearer, and helped us present results in a way that’s more intuitive for our customers.”

One of the ZIP’s standout advantages is its ease of setup. In the field or lab, Forensic Eyes can be up and running within minutes. Its intuitive interface empowers customers to participate actively, guiding investigators to the areas they care about the most. In turn, the lab team benefits from enhanced speed and efficiency. High-resolution images can be captured and inserted directly into reports or presentations, eliminating the multi-step processes that once consumed valuable time.

“We’ve shaved hours off our reporting time,” says Costello. “It’s not just about speed; it’s about being able to focus more on insights and less on formatting.”

“We didn’t know we needed it, and now we wouldn’t be without it. It’s a key part of how we work, how we teach, and how we help our customers move forward.”

Suzanne Costello, Founder of Forensic Eyes Limited, about how the TAGARNO ZIP has not only enhanced Forensic Eyes’ investigative capabilities but also revolutionized the way it engages with clients and trains professionals.

Clarity, Context, and Communication

While the ZIP’s imaging quality is impressive, its true value lies in how it enables better communication between technical experts and clients. In the world of failure analysis, images from scanning electron microscopes (SEM) or other high-magnification tools can often lack intuitive context. The ZIP bridges that gap.

With the ability to show entire cross-sections on screen and zoom in on features of interest in real time, Forensic Eyes uses the ZIP to provide clients with the contextual clarity they need to understand root causes – and the confidence to act on findings. This capability results in fewer follow-ups, faster decision-making, and more effective troubleshooting.

“We can go from a wide view of an entire sample down to a tiny crack in seconds, and our customers follow every step. That level of transparency builds trust,” says Costello.

With the ability to show entire cross-sections on screen and zoom in on features of interest in real time, the ZIP provides the contextual clarity needed to understand root causes – and the confidence to act on findings – resulting in fewer follow-ups, faster decision-making, and more effective troubleshooting.

Empowering the Next Generation of Analysts

The partnership’s impact extends beyond client services and into education and training. Forensic Eyes delivers bespoke training courses that combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on lab experience. The TAGARNO ZIP now plays a vital role in that training, enabling instructors to perform live walkthroughs of samples with an entire group before stepping into the lab.

This pre-lab visualization enhances trainee confidence, fosters engagement, and flattens the learning curve. It’s also empowering for those new to failure analysis.

“When trainees see their own samples under the microscope, and they can share those images with their peers, it’s a huge boost,” says Costello. “It makes the science come alive.”

Founded by Suzanne Costello, Forensic Eyes Limited is a UK-based consultancy and laboratory dedicated to failure analysis, training, and advisory services for the electronics industry.

Real-World Applications: Wafer Handling and Die Selection

One of the most compelling demonstrations of the ZIP’s capabilities can be seen in Forensic Eyes’ recent work involving semiconductor wafer handling and die selection. The microscope has enabled Forensic Eyes to inspect damage patterns, alignment issues, and surface contamination on a variety of components, including materials like silicon wafers and die-attach layers.

In one application, the ZIP was used to verify mechanical stress points and failure indicators in delicate microelectronic structures. In another, it allowed for the identification of die misplacement and debris during pick-and-place operations. These are tasks that benefit from both the microscope’s generous working distance and the ability to observe components interactively during manipulation.

The ability to perform inspections while disassembling or probing beneath the scope is a major advantage. Forensic Eyes leverages the ZIP’s large working space and rapid frame rate to actively work with components while maintaining a crystal-clear live view – a workflow enhancement that traditional microscopes struggle to offer.

“There’s something powerful about being able to interact with the sample in real time to literally take it apart under the microscope,” says Costello. “It changes the way we investigate and explain what went wrong.”

A Future-Focused Collaboration

As electronic systems become more compact, complex, and critical, the demand for precision in failure analysis and quality control will only grow. The partnership between TAGARNO and Forensic Eyes Limited is an example of how the right tools in the hands of experienced professionals can unlock new levels of efficiency, insight, and innovation.

Whether used in field service, lab analysis, customer reporting, or educational outreach, the TAGARNO ZIP has proven to be far more than a microscope. It’s a communication tool, a training platform, and a productivity booster that helps Forensic Eyes bridge the microscopic and the macroscopic like never before.

“We didn’t know we needed it, and now we wouldn’t be without it,” concludes Costello. “It’s a key part of how we work, how we teach, and how we help our customers move forward.”