Trinocular Stereo Microscope
- Thread starter bbz149
- Start date
Hmm I know the pain, I tried magnifier glasses that were like microscopes,but the range meant I was so close to the board and iron that it wasn't going to happen. Ended up buying a cheapy bullet microscope with built in LEDs that have variable intensity that plugged into my phone type c socket and downloaded a Chinese app from the Google play store to run it(the recommended app didn't work) and tbh it's great. The only issue is the stand it's supplied with is too light and moved or fell over so I added some weight to it. I have learnt to solder viewing it on my phone's screen. All surface mount stuff is once again visible to me lol.
I believe it came from Amazon.
I believe it came from Amazon.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5X-90X-Double-Boom-Stand-Zoom-Simul-Focal-Trinocular-Stereo-Microscope-48MP-2K/254766969368?hash=item3b514b7218:g:HhoAAOSw8xVfoIDX
I got this one but with a more basic stand, this stand would have been better but I just don't have the space on my work bench for it
The picture quality is fantastic and outputting to a monitor can be useful too but I tend to just look down the microscope most of the time.
you can get them a fair bit cheaper without this boom stand and from Aliexpress but there may well be a hefty chunk of import tax too
I got this one but with a more basic stand, this stand would have been better but I just don't have the space on my work bench for it
The picture quality is fantastic and outputting to a monitor can be useful too but I tend to just look down the microscope most of the time.
you can get them a fair bit cheaper without this boom stand and from Aliexpress but there may well be a hefty chunk of import tax too
Monstermug
Active member
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7X-45X-Trinocular-Stereo-Zoom-Microscope-with-Double-Arm-Boom-Stand-/143440071405?hash=item2165b1caed
You can repair bent pins on fine pitch qfp packages with this baby. Double boom stand imo is a must for that extra stability. I dont think I've repaired anything without it since I bought it. Use it for through hole stuff too for that microscopic level of perfectness
(another term for just having bad eye sight)
Dont worry you get some rubber eye things that go over the lens and it's very comfortable.
You can get rebadged ones for similar price but comes with all the extra's like lcd display, led fixtures, and something that fits on the top to output display to a pc for video capturing etc which is the one I got.
Monstermug2020-11-03 07:46:08
You can repair bent pins on fine pitch qfp packages with this baby. Double boom stand imo is a must for that extra stability. I dont think I've repaired anything without it since I bought it. Use it for through hole stuff too for that microscopic level of perfectness
Dont worry you get some rubber eye things that go over the lens and it's very comfortable.
You can get rebadged ones for similar price but comes with all the extra's like lcd display, led fixtures, and something that fits on the top to output display to a pc for video capturing etc which is the one I got.
Monstermug2020-11-03 07:46:08
Monstermug
Active member
thats a good one. u wont regret
It might not be what you're after but I bought a [SWIFT S41-20] Stereo microscope to have a play with some SMD soldering.
I didn't want to buy anything crazy expensive as it was only going to get light use but I've been really impressed with it.
The downside of it at this price point is that it only comes with fixed magnification lenses of 10x and 20x. I've only used the 10x and it's been great for stuff down to 0402. I've not found need for the 20x as yet. 10x is also great for soldering through through hole stuff as monstermug with a microscopic level of perfectness
It does make SMD stuff so much easier, it's almost like cheating!
You can buy other lenses for it. I think if I was doing a lot of through hole stuff with it (which you don't really need it for) I might buy a set of 5x lenses to make it easier to scan round a board faster.
It's got a pair of goose neck LED lights on it which you can position to get the best possible lighting and they work really well and are arguably better than a ring light:
Space was also a consideration as I don't currently have a large workbench here whilst I'm working from home and so this one was ideal as you can flip the scope up and it then has a fairly small footprint:
If you are interested there is a good review on youtube here:
[tube]0hHRV0wV34E[/tube]
I'm not normally one for buying 'cheap' but I thought I would start out with one of these and see how I got on. For what I will use it for I don't think I'm going to need to buy another.
FrancoB2020-11-06 08:13:24
I didn't want to buy anything crazy expensive as it was only going to get light use but I've been really impressed with it.
The downside of it at this price point is that it only comes with fixed magnification lenses of 10x and 20x. I've only used the 10x and it's been great for stuff down to 0402. I've not found need for the 20x as yet. 10x is also great for soldering through through hole stuff as monstermug with a microscopic level of perfectness
You can buy other lenses for it. I think if I was doing a lot of through hole stuff with it (which you don't really need it for) I might buy a set of 5x lenses to make it easier to scan round a board faster.
It's got a pair of goose neck LED lights on it which you can position to get the best possible lighting and they work really well and are arguably better than a ring light:
Space was also a consideration as I don't currently have a large workbench here whilst I'm working from home and so this one was ideal as you can flip the scope up and it then has a fairly small footprint:
If you are interested there is a good review on youtube here:
[tube]0hHRV0wV34E[/tube]
I'm not normally one for buying 'cheap' but I thought I would start out with one of these and see how I got on. For what I will use it for I don't think I'm going to need to buy another.
FrancoB2020-11-06 08:13:24
Oops, there's some kit on here, the little USB microscope I was on about is £17.99 from Amazon,it comes with a mini disc to load it on PC's it has 20x to 60x magnification,has adjustable LED lighting, you can record and take snapshots if needed and if working via a mobile/tablet screen is to small then load it on the PC and view it through a 60 inch LCD TV while you work. You would perhaps need a better stand but I think they do those as well. Once you get the hang of it a 256 pin square chip can be easily soldered a pin at a time and you can see 0.1mm wire without a problem.
It's probably not for you guys but I just wanted to put it out there as this is hand held so you can scan over your PCBs looking for broken traces, snapped legs or pins from any angle.
Before you ask, no I'm not on commission it's just my eyes got really bad when I hit my 50's and I tried many things in the years since and for the little I do I couldn't justify the big price tag.
It's probably not for you guys but I just wanted to put it out there as this is hand held so you can scan over your PCBs looking for broken traces, snapped legs or pins from any angle.
Before you ask, no I'm not on commission it's just my eyes got really bad when I hit my 50's and I tried many things in the years since and for the little I do I couldn't justify the big price tag.
John Bennett
Senior Member
It's not a 'trinocular' thingy, but I got this for work for around £220
http://www.andonstar.com/e_products/Digital-microscope-ADSM302-6.html
It's not the most substantial thing for the money, but quite impressed with the image - seems more than good enough for arcade work. BUT... the issue is the stand - you can't get large boards under it.
So if I had to get something for home, a cheaper variant combined with a boom stand would be ideal (I see them on eBay for around £100)
John Bennett2020-11-07 08:56:34
http://www.andonstar.com/e_products/Digital-microscope-ADSM302-6.html
It's not the most substantial thing for the money, but quite impressed with the image - seems more than good enough for arcade work. BUT... the issue is the stand - you can't get large boards under it.
So if I had to get something for home, a cheaper variant combined with a boom stand would be ideal (I see them on eBay for around £100)
John Bennett2020-11-07 08:56:34
Monstermug
Active member
bbz149 said:
Seriously this one. You wont regret
Did have a think about the one you posted Franco! Then thought i'd fixed Trinocular without Arm then get the Arm later if needed, then saw the price for the Arm alone at £170
so this turned up today, might need a bigger Desk
Still waiting for the Ring light but the magnification is awesome
Monstermug
Active member
the ring led is a must. cant see jack without it. its built to last and u can swing the arm around to your content. when not in use i swing it out the way.
I have the same a BBZ but not the double rail, Amscope on amazon..
AmScope SM-3T Professional Trinocular Stereo Zoom Microscope, WH10x Eyepieces, 7X-45X Magnification, 0.7X-4.5X Zoom Objective, Ambient Lighting, Single-Arm Boom Stand
with 144 LED Ring Light and Barlow Lens 0.5x M48mm .
Yeah paid a bit for it, also use a LED lamp just to the side to add more light to the subject which works well. Love using it but with Barlow lens it makes the scope higher up for soldering work but I am finding I am standing up, need a higher stool one day. One of my best investments, also with he eyepieces they work well with glasses.
AmScope SM-3T Professional Trinocular Stereo Zoom Microscope, WH10x Eyepieces, 7X-45X Magnification, 0.7X-4.5X Zoom Objective, Ambient Lighting, Single-Arm Boom Stand
with 144 LED Ring Light and Barlow Lens 0.5x M48mm .
Yeah paid a bit for it, also use a LED lamp just to the side to add more light to the subject which works well. Love using it but with Barlow lens it makes the scope higher up for soldering work but I am finding I am standing up, need a higher stool one day. One of my best investments, also with he eyepieces they work well with glasses.
John Bennett
Senior Member
Blimey, some hardcore kit here - are you guys doing kynar wire onto 0.4mm pitch ICs?
I really didn't have enough space for the boom stand or the one it came with, so I just screwed the pole directly to my old kitchen worktop I use as a bench! Solid and the Microscope has enough room to move enough for awkward angles
