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Good (and bad) inspection tools — Parallax Forums

Good (and bad) inspection tools

Jay KickliterJay Kickliter Posts: 446
edited 2012-03-19 06:11 in General Discussion
I lost the loupe Sunstone gave me, so I ordered this one off Amazon. It's perfect, triplet optics, and has a ring illuminator that prevents side lighting. The one thing I wish is that manufacturers would start using warmer balanced LED's. I know white LED's are actually blue with some phosphor, but I'm pretty sure it's possible to sacrifice some brightness for a warm balance.

Now, on what not to get. I ordered this magnifying lamp a while ago off Amazon. I like the large viewing area, but if I'm using to solder, I have to have it so close to the board that it gets in the way. Also, the bulbs that come with it are daylight balanced, and I obviously have a problem with blue light. Also, since it has to be so close, the offset of the bulbs make fore pretty poor illumination. If anyone happens to be near Queens, NY, I'll give it to you if you want.

Just thought I'd share what I've tried so far. Chime in with your favorite tools. I think I remember PhiPi recommending head mounted unit. Are they compatible with glasses?

Comments

  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-03-17 05:51
    I use one of these cheap dissecting microscopes:

    http://www.lakeland-microscopes.co.uk/stereo_sm.html

    The quality is surprisingly good.
  • Jay KickliterJay Kickliter Posts: 446
    edited 2012-03-17 05:54
    Leon, which one would you recommend? Is 10x enough? I like the idea of stereo. And you find the working area sufficient?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-03-17 05:57
    The SM10. x10 is fine, x20 would be too much magnification.

    It's intended for dissection, so the objective is well above the working area.

    You should be able to get something similar from a supplier in the USA. It's made in China.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2012-03-17 08:13
    If you're intereseted in surplus, this place is usually pretty good.

    http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/14585
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-03-17 08:31
    I also have found the big lens to be inspection only at best; spherixal distortion eats up to much usable area and no one makes a 1/4in tip to get under it to solder. Also tried the type doggiedoc has in his avatar; found they don't get it either. Especially with smt parts. Oh, and eyes that like to think they are closer to the senior discount than the rest of this bod. There is a nice alternative.

    Go with a pair of 2.5X surgical telescopes. I paid usd $50.00 for a pair on ebay. There are a lot of types and choices;you can easily exceed the 1k range at the high end. But if you like room to work this is the only way to fly. What keyed me into this was seeing some of the cardiac surgeons at St. * using them in surgery. It is a bit of an adjustment to being to do detailed work 14 inches away from what i am soldering. But what a treat it is.

    If you go this route, talk to your dentist or other practitioner who uses them. Mine got the fixed in lens version and wishes he got the flip up ones because he has to try to look around them so often. Mine just flip up though the price for that i more weight.

    FF
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-03-17 08:47
    Frank,

    Fifty bucks for a pair of surgical telescopes is a steal! I've been wanting a pair for a long time but haven't been able to stomach the $500 or so that most seem to cost.

    -Phil
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2012-03-17 09:20
    I use one of the ones Prof linked to. Be warned if you get it, it will be smaller and lighter than you're expecting. Like a cheap plastic toy. But the optics are surprisingly good. And touching up SMT with it is a dream. 10x is perfect.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-03-17 19:28
    Frank,

    Fifty bucks for a pair of surgical telescopes is a steal! I've been wanting a pair for a long time but haven't been able to stomach the $500 or so that most seem to cost.

    -Phil

    Made y microsurgical instruments out of Texas. Dentist had used them for school then must not have used them or upgraded when he was practicing. I think that since normal is $525.00 people were afraid to bid on them. Currently these are on special for (I think) $325 for 2.5X 110mm field. They also have 130mm field for more, but with a larger field, wonder what kind of resolution would be traded for the extra field size.

    There are some lower cost made in PRC all the time; no idea of quality.....

    FF
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-03-18 06:08
    Although I use the microscope I mentioned for really small stuff, for most assembly work I use a pair of quite high-power off-the-shelf reading glasses.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2012-03-18 08:02
    You might need more magnification then 2.5x for some jobs.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-03-19 06:11
    Yep, have tried the high mag readers, found my face to close to the work I was soldering on as well as fairly restricted field of view. It occurred to me this morning that unless the microscope head were to be mounted on an arm like the magnifiers with the fluorescent lamp around it,you may find your board dimensions limited to no more than 2X the distance of lens to support stand to enable access to all of the board area.probably not a limitation at the hobby level but when you get a big board........

    FF
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