SMD rework microscope

agodwin

I'm trying to slowly improve the equipment I use for SMD rework and prototyping, and would really like to get a better microscope. My eyes are getting a bit old and for some time I've used a cheap Russian binocular microscope, but it has no boom, so it limits the size of PCB I can use.

It's possible to improve the microscope I've got - I could add a boom and an illuminator, but I'd probably prefer to put the effort into something of better quality. I would usually prefer to buy second-hand high-end equipment rather than new, cheap.

I also see that a lot of companies are selling video microscopes : essentially a video camera with a suitable close-up lens. This has the advantage that you get a view the size of your monitor, but you lose the binocular vision.

Has anyone here found a solution they'd recommend, or that they'd be careful to avoid ?

T Chap

Look at the Big Blue QX5

DonEduardo

My eyesight has gotten really poor due to an inherited eye condition. I had pretty much given up on working with anything small. Then I had some minor surgery and noticed the doctor had these surgical loupes. I figured that would work for me. My dentist lent me an old pair he had, and they were great. So I bought one. The ones they use I believe cost over a thousand dollars, but I got one like this cgi.ebay.com/6-0x-Dental-Loupes-Surgical-Medical-Titanium-Frame-A0_W0QQitemZ270489560061QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3efa6f23fd#ht_4481wt_939

I ordered the 5x. I can work as small as I need to now. The tiniest surface mount stuff is no problem.

metron9

My dentist said the same thing, about a grand. I wonder if the people in your link would take an eyglass prescription for the main glasses as well heck my glasses were 800 bucks last time I got a pair. At 169 that's a steal.

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Think Inside the box first and if that doesn't work..
Re-arrange what's inside the box then...
Think outside the BOX!

PJAllen

I'm one·with the presbyopia/astigmatism generation.· I started with the dime-store cheapies till I couldn't take it anymore and had to get real glasses, spectacles.· I'd used hand-held magnifiers and headset magnifiers and that like and wonder if that may have accelerated the process.· I like diopters a lot.·

Ever heard of a Mantis?· They're wonderful.

Leon

I use a cheap stereo dissecting microscope (20x). I'd like a Mantis, as well. I tried one at a show.

Leon

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Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM

agodwin

The mantis looks pretty good, but I share my rework desk with my computer - that's one for a permanent bench.

I've wondered about the surgical loupes but they look quite heavy to hang off spectacles. I also quite like the fixed position you get with a stereo microscope : does having them move with your head help or hinder ?

The Leica I've had my eye on on ebay has gone out of budget now so maybe I'll experiment with a video setup until the next tempting offer comes up. The QX5 seems to offer a lot for the money (though it's a bit bulky) but I've probably got enough lenses and cameras knocking around to do something myself. It's just putting it all together ..

T Chap

Lot's of video microscope options here:

www.pcgears.com/default.aspx?oid=139069&gclid=CIuRmtmM250CFSn6agodwk0ZrQ

LoopyByteloose

I suspect if you just buy the frames without adding your own prescription, you can get lenses installed by a local optometrist.

Optometrist deal with prescriptions from circular blanks that are either a standard size or oversize (for larger glasses), then they take or make a cardboard template of the outline to fit the frames and trim off all the excess. I've had friends that have had their prescription fitted to antique frames purchased in 2nd hand stores for a quite reasonable fee.

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Ain't gadetry a wonderful thing?

aka G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan