Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Recommendation on cheapist benchtop microscope for PCB inspection?
thinkfat:
--- Quote from: Karel on March 16, 2019, 08:13:17 am ---Am I the only one that uses this?
https://www.newark.com/edsyn/ma10/magnifier-headband/dp/88H3359
I use it with a 7x magnification lens and I like it because you stay free and it doesn't take a lot of space on your desk.
--- End quote ---
How much working distance do you get with the 7x lens? I have a similar headband and when I go to higher magnification my nose almost hits the board, which is very inconvenient when operating with hot air.
Karel:
--- Quote from: thinkfat on March 27, 2019, 01:17:11 pm ---
--- Quote from: Karel on March 16, 2019, 08:13:17 am ---Am I the only one that uses this?
https://www.newark.com/edsyn/ma10/magnifier-headband/dp/88H3359
I use it with a 7x magnification lens and I like it because you stay free and it doesn't take a lot of space on your desk.
--- End quote ---
How much working distance do you get with the 7x lens? I have a similar headband and when I go to higher magnification my nose almost hits the board, which is very inconvenient when operating with hot air.
--- End quote ---
There's approx. 10 cm between the lens and the object. Just enough for soldering etc.
AE7OO:
I use one of those $35 usb micro for almost everything.
The specific one I have, the Pluggable 250x https://plugable.com/products/usb2-micro-250x/ works fairly well, IF you put enough light on the subject!
With two sources(Homemade light cards( picked up a pack of 12 12V LED bulbs at Goodwill for $4 and stripped the LEDs), and running at 640x480 I can use it to solder quite well. I have it plugged into a 2IN1 tablet that is co-mounted on a arm and while there is lag(if I really pay attention to it), for the price I can't beat it.
Oh, get a third party video app. The one that comes with it is OK, but even VLC will get you much better quality video. Use the stock viewer and you WILL see lag.
akowalczyk:
--- Quote from: sab on March 26, 2019, 08:34:31 pm ---
--- Quote from: akowalczyk on March 13, 2019, 01:30:52 am ---I know a few people who have AmScopes, they work pretty well, but you can also snag a great used microscope on ebay if you look around.
I ended up buying a StereoZoom 4 microscope head on a really nice adjustable stand
Got some new eyepieces from Amscope, just need to work on a light ring and eye cups and it'll be all set.
--- End quote ---
That is a nice recommendation. Were you able to find a 0.5x Barlow lens for this microscope or do you know if the Amscope ones will fit?
--- End quote ---
Not sure about the Barlow but I might be able to check, I think I have Amscope ones at work
I use it with 10x Amscope eyepieces and it's exactly the size I need, but an 0.5/0.7x is probably not a bad thing to use with it
sab:
That would be great. I finally bought a superb used American Optical StereoStar 569 for only $100 after reading your post but the Amscope Barlow lenses have a 48mm diameter and the StereoStar requires 1.875 inches (47.6mm) and I read that this causes a problem. It will be very helpful to me if you can check if the Amscope lenses fit. Of course, I don't know if my StereoStar and your StereoZoom are identical even though AO was bought by B&L but it will be a useful datapoint regardless.
Thank you,
Sanjay
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version