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Soldering stereo microscope

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LAN_403

rp181

Thu Jul 28 2011, 01:23AM

Registered Member #1062 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2007, 02:01AM
Location:
Posts: 1529

I have been soldering .5mm pitch chips and 0402 components with my eyes; but I came to some .4mm components and they are too small.
There are tons of stereo microscopes out there, and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for good ones so I can go with a trusted model. I am looking for something with a articulating arm; but will go for boom mount. I will spend up to $1000 for a quality one.

Thanks all.

Sulaiman

Thu Jul 28 2011, 12:39PM

Registered Member #162 Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3140

cheap usb 'microscopes' work quite well and being small can be less hindrance to hand movements when soldering, also you can make .jpg etc.

Bjørn

Thu Jul 28 2011, 12:49PM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

Some of the USB solutions have quite a lot of lag that can be disturbing. But they are very cheap, most USB cameras can be turned into a "microscope" by adjusting the focus.

Ash Small

Thu Jul 28 2011, 12:51PM

Registered Member #3414 Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245

You might even get away with just using a normal webcam.

EDIT: Bjorn beat me to it.

rp181

Thu Jul 28 2011, 01:31PM

Registered Member #1062 Joined: Tue Oct 16 2007, 02:01AM
Location:
Posts: 1529

I had looked at that, but I was under the impression that the lack of depth perception would make it difficult.

Sulaiman

Thu Jul 28 2011, 06:37PM

Registered Member #162 Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3140

How many hours per day do you think you will use it?

If many then the hassle of re-arranging your workplace to fit in a microscope is worth it.

If few then a head-mounted pair of magnifiers may suffice?
From a few dollars to lots!

Don't forget good lighting .. essential.

P.S. research/development/production/maintenance etc.
will benefit from ePhotographs (jpeg etc....what's the generic term?)
So a good camera/microscope will probably be required anyway.

P.C.B.s are usually two-dimensional,
not much to gain with the extra dimension, other than comfort.

P.P.S. with 0402 etc. a usb microscope would allow you to breathe without blowing away your components ;)

What heat source are you using for soldering etc.?

Conundrum

Thu Jul 28 2011, 08:45PM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061

Someone suggested using a pair of binoculars with the lenses reversed.

-A

Dr. Slack

Thu Jul 28 2011, 09:11PM

Registered Member #72 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 08:29AM
Location: UK St. Albans
Posts: 1659

The lag through a USB microscope is a killer, and stereo has a lot to recommend it.

Any optical help will be worth having, it doesn't have to be a microscope. Go to your local supermarket or library and get a pair of $3 +4.0 reading glasses, or whatever the strongest is that they sell. I use them all the time to solder small stuff. The only drawback I find is that it brings you about *this* close to the workpeice, so I tend to breathe out steadily while I am soldering to avoid taking the fumes in.

testtest

Sat Jul 30 2011, 01:20AM

Registered Member #3271 Joined: Mon Oct 04 2010, 02:29AM
Location: Canada
Posts: 159

""I have been soldering .5mm pitch chips and 0402 components with my eyes; but I came to some .4mm components and they are too small.
There are tons of stereo microscopes out there, and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for good ones so I can go with a trusted model. I am looking for something with a articulating arm; but will go for boom mount. I will spend up to $1000 for a quality one.""

I have a LOMO Russian binocular microscope. It is a true binocular with two independent optical paths with separate objectives so you get true (magnified) 3D views.
Absolutely fantastic for the kind of work you are proposing.
Look on e-bay if there is one available. They are very inexpensive for the performance.
Here is an example (new) with the trimmings ($595):

Very happy with mine. I taped a cheap UV filter (for a camera lens) to the outside of the objectives to intercept the fumes from the soldering.
It is then easy to clean and protects the optics. I also ended up dumping the cheap illuminatior and replaced it with a fiber optic ring. You can also find LED rings now.
A real workhorse for SMD work and finding bad joints on ICs and PCs. LOMO also has a T mount camera module for it that I use with my DLSR to document stuff.

Pinky's Brain

Sat Jul 30 2011, 09:59AM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
Location:
Posts: 837

Why not just get one of those flip down head mounted magnifiers watchmakers/jewelers/etc use? If you handled just a bit larger by eye the magnification should be plenty.

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