Microscopes, do you use one?

[Brettster]

My eyes are not what they used to be and I quite fancy a decent microscope

i'm currently looking at either a Stereo Trinocular microscope with a hdmi camera out

Link

or an autofocus videoscope that only outputs to a monitor

Link

I'll be using this to help with PCB repair work as well as smaller stuff like phones and gadget repair

I've read that trying to solder via a screen is not the best, and I have a USB microscope at the moment that's only cheap but not great for soldering and also requires a pc or laptop to setup

any recommendations?

 

[TheDaddy]

I am the same as my eyes are getting worse. At the minute i take pictures and zoom in. I dont have money but a good one is £200 plus.

Dave.

 

[big10p]

All I have is a cheap pair of magnifier goggles. They have various magnification lenses and built in LED lights, which are pretty useful. You have to get your head close to what you're soldering though, so extra care with the iron is needed.

 

[John Bennett]

Yeah, I used to borrow the Vision 3D microscope from work a lot. Even young eyes won't see between the pins of fine-pitch SMT with perfect clarity.

Bit lost without it since changing jobs, so need to find something less posh for home.

 

[bbz149]

I use an illuminated one of these from Maplins. No need for a microscope ATM as I don't really do any micro stuff!

We have newer Model the VZ-3NEO at work, I was thinking of grabbing as we keep a few spare. it's much more powerful than this one in the video!

bbz1492019-12-04 23:02:03

 

[urbanledge]

A fella gave me one off an operating table.
It was demo model but they were upgrading to led lamps.
I looked it up and it was 1500e new!!!
Looks like the arm one above but really really long.

 

[robotech]

I have a pair of those magnifying jewlers goggles where you can change lenses
Only a cheap ebay pair prettyuse less you have to virtually put your nose on the pcb to see anything

I have one of those cheap usb microscopes
That need a laptop
Which is ok to look at things really close
And take a picture but you cant really work with it

And i have one of those illuminated magnifiers like bbz has posted above which i use all the time now i dont know how i managed without it before
Ive han soldered realy tiny pitch surface mount resistors with it and my eyesight is not what it once was

robotech2019-12-04 22:54:13

 

[robotech]

The one i have was bought from some disability place for the wifes nan to sew with so was a few hundred
She only used it a couple of months then went into a home and i got it
Not sure what magnification it is
But it is a glass lense
The e bay ones are plastic lense i think

 

[TheDaddy]

This is the one i have looking at for ages. No clue if its any good or not but only one i could find with a good size base. Working with bigger arcade pcb's i thought this be ok. He does drop price now and then , this his cheapest was £160 plus delivery.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-0MP-VGA-Output-1080P-Industry-Microscope-Camera-for-PCB-Inspection-Repairing/263585843809?var=562639017919

Sorry clicky not working as on my phone, will fix in morning.

Dave.TheDaddy2019-12-04 23:06:16

 

[Brettster]

Thanks for the input

I'm swaying towards this one at the moment

 

[ColinD]

I use one of these..... You can pay less or pay a lot more.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SS41-WF20-Professional-Binocular-Microscope-Magnification/dp/B07HDXXKD7/

Don't know how this compares to much more expensive models but does the job for me at 10x it works well.

 

[Ace`]

I've used a couple of different cheapy digital ones, they're good if you're just looking for damage. I found it really threw me off when trying to solder small parts though as there's a very noticeable lag.

I've been looking at the Amscope 10x-20x for a while, it actually looks identical to the one Col posted but more expensive so maybe I'll get that Swift branded one instead.

 

[Brettster]

Hi Colin

they look more reasonable

do you use them while soldering smd stuff?

and how is the working distance?

Cheers

 

[ColinD]

do you use them while soldering smd stuff?

and how is the working distance?

It's about 8 inches or so.... yes, good for SMD and inspection.

The eyepieces take a bit to get used to when you adjust for your pupil distance and the overall field of view is quite small, but you can certainly work with it and the perceived depth is good so you know where your iron is !!

There is another for just over £130 which looks to have the same or similar optics but only one LED light.

I would say these are a good entry level device but I would like to see what you can get for £600 and compare.

Cheers, Col

ColinD2019-12-05 13:31:25

 

[Monstermug]

I use a rebadged Amscope 7x-45x Simul-focal stereo with a double boom stand. Solid as a rock. A lot cheaper than the branded one. One of the best things I've bought this year I'd say. Must have paid itself off within the first few months of owning it.

 

[Ace`]

Looks nice, have you got a link where you bought it from?

 

[Monstermug]

I just bought it from ebay as that was the cheapest source.

I'm not sure if this is is an original but it's the same model as mine. Except mine came with the HDMI unit that fits on the trinocular piece for capturing video and a small screen which I never use as I find it always easier to work live looking directly at the unit I'm working on. Mine also came with an LED light attachment which you will also need that this doesn't come with.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7X-45X-Trinocular-Stereo-Zoom-Microscope-with-Double-Arm-Boom-Stand/143440071405?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D60712%26meid%3D77d8f697985e4e3cad3c5ae6a18d4147%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D182454981081%26itm%3D143440071405%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Ignore those zoomed photos. That's wildly exaggerated. You can't zoom in that close with this. But for smd it's totally fine. Cos my eyesight is bad I use it for through-hole and reading schematics as well

Monstermug2019-12-05 15:32:18

 

[Brettster]

Thanks Monster

thats the same as the one in my first link, only in Batman black.

similar question as for Colin, does it have enough work space and can you solder while looking though it ok?

 

[robotech]

Looks a nice setup whats it like to work with ?
I cant imagine it being comfortable having your eyes up against the eye peices while soldering for hours

 

[Monstermug]

It's actually surprisingly comfortable. There's a rubber eyepiece which fits your face very snug. Also, you don't have your face right up against the pcb to breath in all that toxic fumes. The stereoscopic lets you judge distances so very good to use in real-time. The workspace underneath isn't a lot when the led light is attached but you don't usually have the iron vertically when soldering anyway. I've been replacing a lot of Konami QFP customs with this no problem. Trace repairs have never been neater. The image is crystal clear. It's like a logic probe for people with bad eyesight like me.

The double-arm boom stand is great. When you are done with it. You just swing it out the way. And occasionally I do use it as a pcb clamp to hold the PCB vertical, which I am sure it's not intended for

I think Louise Rossman has done a great youtube video on it.

Monstermug2019-12-05 23:47:06