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?
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.
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).
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.
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).
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…
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.
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.
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.
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