usb microscope

[deadastronaut]

been thinking of using a usb microscope for soldering...as my eyes are pretty messed up...

and am sick of knocking my mag lamp all the time..

anyone use one of these?...recommendations?....any good?...pita?...

[Brisance]

how about one of these smartphone microscopes, which you can build from a smartphone camera and a cheap pen laser lens? Maybe hack a webcam for that purpose?

[R.G.]

I was able to buy a surplus Bausch & Lomb Stereo Zoom microscope about 15 years ago. This zooms from 7x to 30x. It's the only way I can do SMD stuff. But it sure makes it easy, as the B&L gives me about three inches from the lower end of the scope to the PCB. I have and use a USB microscope, but have not tried it for soldering. The critical issue for me would be how far away from the PCB does the microscope sit, so you can get tools under the microscope without always bumping into it, and whether hot rosin vapor condenses on the optics.

[deadastronaut]

this looks pretty cool...a fair bit of room to solder too...and cheap

[armdnrdy]

One of my clients just started using one of these in their QC department. I've been eyeballing it for a different reason than soldering.

I already have an industrial grade lighted magnifier for soldering so....I was thinking a flat screen monitor mounted above my workbench, a used lap top or desktop nearby, and a USB microscope for drilling PC boards. 

[anotherjim]

Don't fancy a "Nerd Hat"? You know, one of those head band things with lens and LED attachments.

[Digital Larry]

I got one of the USB microscopes for my son.  It works OK (couldn't find working Windows drivers for it though).  The deal breaker on this particular one is the stand.  It should be called a fall-over.  You could rig something else up.  Plus you'd need to have space to set your laptop or whatever.  I don't even have space for the thing I'm supposedly working on!  But I am a bit of a slob.

[davent]

Rob i use a USB endoscope to magnify for dilling pcb, don't se why you couldn't use one for soldering. $13 on ebay. Bought a magnetic based  flashlight holder (upgraded to an articulated arm tool holder with magnetic base) works fantastic.

To set up for soldering i sometimes work on old cookie sheets so all the bits are in one spot and the work area can be cleared quickly, they're steel so the magnetic base would still work as a means to hold the endoscope.




Image captured with the endoscope.

dave

[samhay]

I would be a little bit worried about the potential latency of the cheaper usb microscopes. If there is appreciable lag (and I am only guessing that this will be the case) then you are going to have to modify your soldering technique and/or get used to getting sea sick on a regular basis.

[karbomusic]

Don't fancy a "Nerd Hat"? You know, one of those head band things with lens and LED attachments.

Love it, have one and the best thing I've found yet since it has 3 different lenses which really add up.

[bloxstompboxes]

We use something like this at work. I would like to find a cheap substitute for home use. Then I could do SMT at home.

https://www.scienscopeproducts.com/nz-trinocular-systems/scienscope-nz-pk9-led-d.html

[Mark Hammer]

A buddy at work loaned me his for a bit, a few years ago.  If you make your own boards, these are excellent for finding solder bridges and unintended discontinuities in traces.  Usually, I recommend starting out such debugging by removing flux from the copper side with an appropriate chemical and brush.  The less reflection (from the flux rosin), the easier it is to confirm things are fine, or notice things that ought not to be there.

[deadastronaut]

cheers guys..

hmmmm seems those usb microscopes wont run on win7 64bit....32bit only by the looks of it..bummer.

@sam, yep i saw a few vids where there is a bit of lag on the video....hmmmmm...

as for head gear, i really don't fancy wearing stuff...cool suggestion though.


@davent, what is your endoscope like for lag?..

[davent]

Hi Rob, With drilling and moving thepcb around there's no issues related to lag, i'll try to get some time later and give it a run through with soldering.
dave

[deadastronaut]

cheers man...

[R.G.]

By the way, this is a GREAT way to use up one or more of the laptops that are now outdated and almost free. Keeps them out of landfills and gives them something useful to do.

[davent]

Okay a quick fake take, didn't actually solder but took an already soldered board, set it up and took a cold iron and solder to it. Latency is a non-issue, can move easily between pads, issue, i found that would probably be resolved with practice is bringing the solder into contact with the joint. No problem to pop the iron from joint to joint but had to maintain contact between the solder and the board to move to, and find the next joint consistently. Need the tactile feedback, two dimensional viewing makes it difficult to know how near/far the solder is away from the board, had to cheat and take a peak now and again. (The two dimensional view makes it perfect for drilling with my setup.)

And the base is heavy enough that there's no need to engage the magnet while soldering, needed for drilling.


Landfill saved laptop...




I solder with one of those binocular head pieces, fits nicely down over my glasses and flips back out of the way when not needed.
dave

[deadastronaut]

cheers dave,  that looks plenty good enough for me...excellent.

i guess it'll take a bit of getting used too, and i'll have to knock up a good stand for it....maybe a gooseneck type thing

so i can get under it wit room to solder etc...but well worth a go i think.

nice one..

[karbomusic]

I solder with one of those binocular head pieces, fits nicely down over my glasses and flips back out of the way when not needed.
dave

Me too and I doubt I'll change that practice for soldering etc, too easy with the flip back etc. I have this guy at the link below which has main lense, flip down for extra mag and then an additional one-eye for even closer and all three can be combined.... and who can argue with 3 bucks for the price. I have it on my head almost all the time when working...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UCODIA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

However, seems like inspecting/debugging a board as a whole would be better served otherwise. I know this because when I debug it is sometimes better to take a picture and zoom in. Thusly based this thread, this will be on my doorstep tomorrow for debugging and inspection duties.

[davent]

Lots of room under it as i had it set and you could seperate them further. SOme software offers digital zooming  sp you could could way out and zoom but the image does suffer with such a low grade optical device.

Gooseneck would work well, very adaptable, the scope is very small and light so only concern is the flexibilty of the support.

dave