microscopes for PCB inspection?

Community PCB Design
1

Hi all,

I have spent a lot of money buy various magnifiers and microscopes for PCB inspection but I am mostly unsatisfied. Mostly they are good if you are inspecting vertically, that is looking at an IC or componenets from above. But if you want to look at compoents at an angle, say 45 degree, it is difficutl. Is there any small microscropt for inspect the components on PCB at different angles?

Thanks

smdfan

2

Other than a standard 10x loop, this mini-45x with led light is the best I’ve found. It is much smaller than it seems in the product page but the optics are really clear, the led is really helpful and it doesn’t have to be held right against whatever you are focusing on. I removed a small piece of stopper plastic to allow the focusing slider to drop down farther.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22831

Otherwise the standard 10x loop lens is the best. Turn it upside down and the focusing distance is about an inch away (2.5cm for the cooler part of the world).

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14893

EDIT: don’t get the 16x loop. The focusing distance is much shorter and the depth of field is terrible.

3

TheDirty:
Other than a standard 10x loop, this mini-45x with led light is the best I’ve found. It is much smaller than it seems in the product page but the optics are really clear, the led is really helpful and it doesn’t have to be held right against whatever you are focusing on. I removed a small piece of stopper plastic to allow the focusing slider to drop down farther.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22831

Otherwise the standard 10x loop lens is the best. Turn it upside down and the focusing distance is about an inch away (2.5cm for the cooler part of the world).

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14893

EDIT: don’t get the 16x loop. The focusing distance is much shorter and the depth of field is terrible.

Thanks for the links. Recently, I bought two of the one with LEDs. It is good but still I have problem looking at parts at an angle. I was hoping for a powerful, USB kind of microscope where you can put it near components at very small areas…Something like fiber optics lines…

Thanks

4

At work we have a few stereo microscopes. Work great even when I hold the board at an angle to peer under chips.

I think we bought them from TechniTools, not cheap.

5

smdFan:
Thanks for the links. Recently, I bought two of the one with LEDs. It is good but still I have problem looking at parts at an angle. I was hoping for a powerful, USB kind of microscope where you can put it near components at very small areas…Something like fiber optics lines…

Thanks

Your requirements are tougher than I expected. There are a bunch of high powered USB scopes on that site but I don't think any of them will do what you are looking for, unfortunately.
6

The Bodelin Technologies ProScope HR would work for you. I am pleased with the one I bought. The stand is useful–holding the scope by hand is awkward. You can take still and video images with the software.

John

7

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/larg … 497709.jpg

I was wondering if a dissecting microscope would be good for such a thing.

8

Dissection scope is likely to have too much magnification and not enough throat. You want you likely want is a stereo scope with a large throat with about 0.5 to 3X magnification and a ring light. They run new about $1,500 for one with good optics.

9

Amscope makes some decent stereo inspection scopes.

http://www.amscope.com/Inspection-1.html

They are no Nikon, but do have decent enough optics.

10

My Nikon D80 camera does quite a good job:

http://www.leonheller.com/Designs/Kent% … apter1.jpg

I redid the dodgy joints. It’s a home made PCB and was a bit difficult to solder.

I normally use a cheap dissecting microscope (about £60). Magnification is 20x and the optical quality is surprisingly good.

11

^Interesting white looking PCB.

12

It’s FPC-16 material - fibreglass-paper composite. I like it because it’s easy to cut and drill. it’s cheaper then FR4, as well.

13

I found the 300x USB scope from Maplins or any standard retailer does a pretty good job. If I had the money I would love a better one though.

Leon, do you have a UK supplier for the paper composite board as I cannot find it?

14

I buy mine from Mega Electronics. Farnell sells a different brand, it isn’t as good.

15

I use my webcam ( Logitec webcam pro 9000) and have the image displayed on my computer screen. This also allows me to take a snapshot of the things I’m seeing. For a sample picture go here. viewtopic.php?f=20&t=22981