Please recommend a sub $1200 Articulating Arm Microscope in Sydney  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: M.A.L.S
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 01:17:27 pm
content: Hi All,After many years of regretting dropping out in my electrical engineering degree, and pussyfooting out, I've finally taken the dive and decided to start up a repair business to try start repairing some laptops, phones, consoles and the such. I picked up a Quick 861DW & TS1200A for cheap from crazy parts this week and was hoping I could use my crappy Digitech USB microscope for some Macbook 3437 repairs. Suffice to say it did not go well...Therefore I have decided to go searching for a microscope to make the next endeavor hopefully more successful and I was hoping to get some advise on which microscope I should look into, and also some stores in Sydney I can buy them from. Googling has sadly been a massive headache for this, or maybe my google skills are not what I thought they were. I basically cannot find ANY microscope stores in Sydney that sell articulating arm microscopes that are under 2K. Most like microscopes au, or others are QLD or VIC and shipping's more expensive than the device itself. Why articulating arms? Because I want to be able to sweep over the whole board and the double arm ones like most youtubers use does not allow you to do that. Yes that drives the price up, but it's something I really want to stick to. I do have to admit though I'm shocked how expensive articulating arms are, I mean the Optico ASZ400 I've found for 900 bucks but the articulating version of the exact same scope is 1800!I've been looking at Amscope, because their "affordable" and seem to have a reasonable reputation and decent customer support. But unfortunately they do not sell directly in oz which means importing, and no matter where I look, ali express, amazon, ebay, ali baba, amscope themselves, everyone's charging 330 - 600 for shipping! Has anyone ordered one off ali express? Experiences? I'm concerned that there cheap knockoffs despite being direct from amscope themselves, or at least "DFO" customized models to be of lower quality. Am I creating a mountain out of a mole hill? Or am I right? Buying direct from Amscope's website direct seems to only be about 150 bucks more so I'm thinking maybe I should do that, but it's still ending up coming out at over a grand so I'm hoping theirs a more reasonable model.I did find a Optico ASZ 400 from microscopes australia but it's 1800 bucks, and that is not including shipping so I'm a bit reluctant to stretch that far. Especially since I cannot find any reviews of Optico at all, let alone this specific model. I also found a few places selling Saxon gear, but again can't find any reviews or anything on them. Has anyone had any experience with these brands?One option I was thinking of is trying to find some cheaper brand articulating arms here locally than importing just the head, as the shipping on that is 130 or so rather than 300+. But unfortunately this idea has also fallen apart, I can't find anyone selling articulating arms that seem to fit a microscope for less than 500 bucks plus shipping. The ring that the scopes slide into is that normally standardized? Amscope on their website says the ring is 84mm but on their Ali express page it says it's 76mm.I've found some refurbished Meiji microscopes on ebay for 700 bucks so I'm really tempted by those, but there the head only and again I can't find any decent arms to mount them to that wont break the bank. Meiji would be ideal, I use to use them when working at Bose and loved them but bloody hell are they pricey! Any people say JBC are overpriced.....Thank you in advance for your assistance.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 03:35:50 pm
content: Quote from: M.A.L.S on February 26, 2021, 01:17:27 pmThey do when combined with the right microscope, specifically, one that mounts in a ringed focus block that lets you rotate the microscope within the horizontal ring. You rotate the block+microscope, around the boom stand, and move them toward and away from it: to put the 'scope over what you wish to look at. Then you finish rotating the scope within its cradle and look through the eyepieces. Here is a microscope, I am familiar with, a Wild M7A, that lets you do that:Wild made the microscope axially symmetric and almost begs you to let the microscope rotate within its white horizontal cradle and keep the eyepieces pointing at you. When you have got things right, you can turn the little black knob at the left side of the cradle to lock the microscope and stop it rotating.The placement is not quite as easy as with an articulating arm, but it is straightforward enough that people use a double arm boom stand at high magnifications when an articulated arm becomes too wobbly. Perhaps that opens up more possibilities!

author: Saskia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 06:19:11 pm
content: Amscope has regular 20% off sales via ebay and amazon, and they are also clearing out inventory every once in a while.Have one, quite happy with it. Even though I do not have the articulating gizmo, just the boom. Got it for about 700 Brussels-Pesos (trinocular, 3.5-90, 144 LED ring, boom stand).

author: twospoons
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 09:39:09 pm
content: Have you considered adapting a computer monitor arm? They usually handle 8kg or more so would easily handle a microscope.I bought an Eakins brand binocular microscope from Aliexpress some years back, and I'm very happy with it. Articulated and boom stands were expensive to ship back then too. Probably because they are very heavy.

author: Conrad Hoffman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 09:55:32 pm
content: IMO, eye position is so important with a stereo microscope that I'd always move the board, never the scope. That's how we do it here at work for every station.

author: M.A.L.S
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2021, 02:50:32 am
content: Thanks for the suggestions all. I was wondering if you could adapt a monitor mount to be used for a scope but wasn’t sure what parts would be needed to do so. Or whether the mounting ring is standardised or not. Has anyone got any experience in doing this?Otherwise I think I’ll just stick with a fixed scope. There much easier to find and locally available so I think I might just get one of those than worry about adapting to a rotating arm if absolutely needed later on. I can’t justify spending a extra grand just for that feature, especially when it means waiting several weeks for shipping and than having to pay import fees as well. Drives me nuts how hard it is to buy things in Australia, if I was in America I would of found 1000 options in 5 minutes and at 1/4 the price!Has anyone bought a scope in Sydney? Know of any good shops to check out? George’s in the city has some but they start at a grand so I’m a bit reluctant to go that high.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2021, 03:22:39 am
content: https://youtu.be/FOPt80HG7NoFor about the same price go with the double boom arm - it’s very flexible to get the scope positioned and it’s rock solid stable. Just don’t slide the head more than necessary; the steel rods can groove if you over use / abuse them, but if you don’t get carried away with sliding the scope head just because it’s fun to do so it should last. It’s a very good stand.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2021, 09:17:06 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on February 27, 2021, 03:22:39 amOr you could substitute quality, hardened shaft stock, and slide with wild abandon. I expect it would be reasonably cheap, even down under. Within Germany, you could get a couple 400x20mm shafts, which might be a good size, for roughly 20 euros delivered.

author: hitower
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 27, 2021, 03:44:09 pm
content: Quote from: M.A.L.S on February 27, 2021, 02:50:32 amLook for this or similar microscope arm on aliexpress -https://aliexpress.ru/item/4000207871947.htmlIt has 25mm mounting hole and rod.Check that your focus block has 25mm mount hole.You can make an 25mm adapter for monitor arm to microscope arm on 3D printer.One of my setups was 25mm furniture steel rod screwed vertically to table and microscope arm on it - very compact and cheap.

author: Saskia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2021, 04:53:48 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on February 27, 2021, 03:22:39 amI can vouch for the double boom, too.Would buy again.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 28, 2021, 07:58:37 pm
content: I am in Sydney (northen outskirts) and I have a lightly use Amscope trinocular with the dual arm boom that I am not using much.PM me if interested.It is this onehttps://www.ebay.com.au/itm/381671501901I also have ring lights and an add-on illuminator like thishttps://www.ebay.com.au/itm/273900019556

author: M.A.L.S
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2021, 12:13:52 am
content: Awesome thanks will do.