Rework microscope - how to make laser-marked chips readable? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tatus1969
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 05:52:09 pm
content: I've recently bought a nice rework microscope (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/quick-review-of-(very-affordable-camera)-microscope-for-rework-and-inspection/). As many of you know, it is sometimes hard to impossible to read the markings on many components, especially those that are laser marked. For example, the accelerometer of my STM32F4 Discovery boards looks like this:To make this readable, you have to tilt the PCB, and the refocus the microscope. When done, refocus again. A strong additional light source coming from the side can also improve this, but at the expense of excess glare on solder joints...What would you say if you could do this?https://youtu.be/018YiwPHax0

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 07:43:44 pm
content: Thats normal with every microscope using direct light source creating unwanted reflection and erase some writing, you can ignore and use it like that and when you need to see the writtings you tilt the board and note down, if you want to fix you can always use a gooseneck or some kind of directional light source, but this mean more things on bench and more obstacles.If you are using the microscope from that post, a good match will be something that attach to the tube, like:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183040658759As a bonus you can use both direct light and gooseneck for best performance and shadow free, (Set gooseneck to max brigthness and ajust led ring to min, will give you a good and clean view with visible writtings)

author: tatus1969
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:03:17 pm
content: Quote from: sn4k3 on March 28, 2018, 07:43:44 pmThanks for the tip, but did you see my video? It's not post edited, I am achieving that with a simple trick without an additional light source.

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:28:41 pm
content: Quote from: tatus1969 on March 28, 2018, 08:03:17 pmThe trick is tilt the board? If so i have anwser about that on first paragraph. Or are you saying that if you tilt, refocus, put board flat again and refocus solve your problem?

author: Addicted2AnalogTek
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:43:39 pm
content: Would this be of help?https://www.ebay.com/itm/Andonstar-ADSM-201-and-ADSM-302-HDMI-microscope-POLARIZER-KIT-/282571649127

author: tatus1969
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:17:38 pm
content: Quote from: sn4k3 on March 28, 2018, 08:28:41 pmNo. As you can see in the video, I didn't tilt the board, and I didn't refocus. And I didn't add a second light source. Any new guesses? (I am making this a riddle, and I hope that you have the same fun as I have - how did I achieve that?)

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:18:48 pm
content: Quote from: tatus1969 on March 28, 2018, 08:03:17 pmIf you think you've found something useful then just say what it is. What's the point of this ridiculous guessing game? Are you waiting for someone to tell you how clever you are?

author: tatus1969
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:22:22 pm
content: Quote from: Addicted2AnalogTek on March 28, 2018, 08:43:39 pmThat is the riddle solved, and how I achieve the trick

author: tatus1969
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:23:50 pm
content: Quote from: Fred27 on March 28, 2018, 09:18:48 pmMeant not offense, I'm just someone who likes riddles, and likes to play.