Side view lens attachment

[PlainName]

I am thinking about a microscope side view lens (aka 3D lens) but have two road humps:

1. Don't know if it's actually useful/better - anyone used one that can give an opinion?

2. They are expensive. We are talking $1000 for some models! Looking on Aliexpress I see cheap version attached to a lens that is perhaps $100-$200 but I don't need the lens, only the attachement. Some of the Ali adverts even show the attachment removed from the lens, but nowhere can I find it on its own. Am I going to be stuck with buying the entire thing, removing the attachment and binning the lens?

[spostma]

Interesting find, thank you!

I cannot find similar ones.
Wouldn't it be the easiest if you just contact the seller asking to buy the rail separately?

Of course you can make it yourself using an aluminium rails like
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004321084277.html

and first surface mirrors like
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003984473600.html

plus some DIY 3D printed blocks.

Of coarse a Barlow lens would help to achieve longer working distances,
(or even better, a very expensive telecentric lens).

[thm_w]

Yeah I was looking at these 3D inspection lenses, they are very simply constructed, from what I can see. But the price is still high for just mirror part, without the camera lens. I had a aliexpress one saved but it was still over $150. Here is another one: https://bolioptics.com/3d-rotary-observation-lens-attachment-for-microscope-objective-360-degree-view-35-degree-angle-converter/

To me its a great idea, but only if you are specifically inspecting completed products using a digital microscope, and taking photos of the process.

If you are working on anything, I would go with a stereo microscope instead.
What is your intended use case and what equipment do you have?

[PlainName]

I have a stereo microscope, which works fine (also has a video camera attached). But sometimes I think I want a side view to be able to see the side of pins rather than just the straight down top. I sometimes resort to hold the PCB off the front of the bench so I can see it side on, but obviously that's not optimal and you can't, say, resolder a poor joint like that. I figured these side view gizmos might be useful even give the stereo aspect.

[thm_w]

I don't know if it would work at all with a stereo microscope, maybe with one eye.
If you have a boom or arm stand, you can tilt the microscope to a 45 degree angle, usually helps, if raising the microscope is not enough.

Or maybe figure out some kind of custom angled mirror setup, similar to what spostma is talking about, but fixed.

[PlainName]

(or even better, a very expensive telecentric lens)

Perhaps that's why the attachments aren't available on their own. One of these has a video showing its operation and the mirrors are switched in and out without any (apparent) loss of focus.

[PlainName]

you can tilt the microscope to a 45 degree angle

It's not very comfortable to view with your head at the side. An advantage of these attachments is that they rotate, so you can get a side view from the other side, or the back, without moving the object or equipment.

I don't know if it would work at all with a stereo microscope

I was wondering about that (hence the original question) because all of these show a video camera attached. Can't recall seeing one with a stereo microscope. But so long as the mirrors are large enough I think it should work - the distance from object to eye would remain the same for each, so focus shouldn't be a problem.

[thm_w]

you can tilt the microscope to a 45 degree angle

It's not very comfortable to view with your head at the side. An advantage of these attachments is that they rotate, so you can get a side view from the other side, or the back, without moving the object or equipment.

Not at the side, just tilted toward you to get a larger distance between the lens and object. This will also bring the angle and location of the eyepieces to a more ergonomic one (less hunched over). But yes, isn't possible to do sides/back without moving the object around.
So with a heavier object its easier to move the mirror than the object, like this guy shows https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005005068443244.html

Probably worth playing with some small mirrors to experiment. Don't want to buy 100 though: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32815521845.html

Tilt stage for small objects: https://www.directindustry.com/prod/opto/product-69166-1890351.html

[PlainName]

So with a heavier object its easier to move the mirror than the object, like this guy shows

Yes, just getting off the vertical can help sometimes. At least, I think so! Love to hear an actual user's experience to figure it it's worth the hassle of either buying or making one (got the mirrors on order, nonetheless). The more expensive ones use prisms and lenses, but a cheap mirror should get somewhere.

BTW, the link you gave tried to give me video that I couldn't play. "Unknown MIME type" or something. I changed the URL to .com instead of .us and then I got a playable video. Seems a bit strange - surely we would all be using the same tools and getting the same feed, but there seems to be something country-specific at play.

[spostma]

the mirror slide unit is also available separately:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000266983593.html

It looks like it integrates a barlow lens.

hope that helps you!

[PlainName]

the mirror slide unit is also available separately

Thanks! Don't know how I missed that 

hope that helps you!

Indeed it does 

[thm_w]

Just be aware the thread size is: "Objective lens interface thread size: M24x1/36 ″
It won't fit a normal stereo microscope, and will likely cut down your FOV massively.

Some common stereo sizes are M48x0.75mm and M55x0.75mm

[PlainName]

Yes, I would need 50mm, and looking at the images it's obvious that the peepholes are too small. That, along with the price, persuaded me not to get one of those and acquire another objective-mounted LED light instead