HIgh working distance camera microscope lens for reworking 0201 components. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Erkel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 28, 2025, 01:00:20 am
content: Hi.Does anyone know of any optics assemblies that are c-mount that have good working distance when near max zoom for 0201 component rework?Using eakins camera and lens, we are on our third lens already, The spec pages are not very good, but guessing they are maybe 2-3x max magnification.This seems to be best one that they do but does not have the working distance at high zoomhttp://eakins.cn/en/productshow.asp?ArticleID=0&id=134&cid=002Ideally want 15cm+ working distance, but lucky to get 5-10cm at the moment at a reasonable zoom level.It is a 28" 4 monitor, so that is ready pretty decent for the display.Would prefer something optical, but are going down the path of doing a proof of concept using OBS for video capture and rescaling in the input for an digital zoom interface, but this is not ideal.

author: Exxor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2025, 01:08:07 am
content: I'm sorry I don't have any recommendations for you, but 0201 rework? Ugh, I feel for you!

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2025, 06:34:03 am
content: For optical inspection microscopes, the way to increase the working distance is to add a Barlow lens, a 0.5x or so magnification. That will reduce magnification in half, but will double the working distance.Overall magnification (with the Barlow lens included), you'll probably need somewhere between x3 .. x10 for very fine work, depending on each one's eyesight and preference.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2025, 10:26:44 am
content: I would not prefer a barlow lens if you can just replace the whole lens. Unless you want really top quality, lenses are not very expensive these days.I do have a barlow lens for my stereo microscope (Amscope (clone?)) 2x magnifes too much for electronics, but nice for very fine details. 0.5 has a working distance that is a bit too big (around 230mm), my eyes barely get high enough. I'm thinking of a 0.7x barlow lens just to get the eye pieces lower.Working distance of lenses varies a lot, the one below claims a working distance between 120mm and 500mm.http://eakins.cn/en/productshow.asp?ArticleID=0&id=128&cid=002

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2025, 09:21:27 pm
content: Something seems wrong with your setup, maybe take a photo of your lens and camera, and link to the specific listings you purchased. If it included a lens spacer try with and without.Cheap 100x lens and fixed cameraeakins setupgives about 20mm FOV at 160mm working distance. On a 24" monitor this would be a magnification factor of ~16x.To me this is enough for 0201, but maybe your expectation is different, so you'll need to specify what magnification factor or FOV you are aiming for.The higher end eakins autofocus camera, you get even better than this, its almost too much working distance.

author: Erkel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 30, 2025, 05:30:49 am
content: Hi,Using this lens and camerahttp://eakins.cn/en/productshow.asp?ArticleID=0&id=134&cid=002http://eakins.cn/en/productshow.asp?ArticleID=0&id=85&cid=001We can get plenty of height if we zoom the lens out, but then we cannot see the 0201's very well to rework them.It needs height too not get cooked by the preheat also.Got the digital zoom setup using OBS and working today and it is looking good.The camera is 4k, so it plugs into an elgato cam link 4k capture dongle, then there is a little GUI window from OBS where you can select the different zoom level and it display the zoomed output on the monitor rather than the camera plugging into the monitor directly.This is the notes for the OBS setup.OBS "Digital Zoom" (DRAFT)SetupSummary Table (OBS Crop Settings for 1080p):Zoom Level Scaling Factor Visible Source Resolution Left Crop Right Crop Top Crop Bottom Crop2x (200%) 1:4 960x540 480 px 480 px 270 px 270 px3x (300%) 1:9 640x360 640 px 640 px 360 px 360 px4x (400%) 1:16 480x270 720 px 720 px 405 px 405 pxZoom levels are made using the same source across separate Scenes. As a workaround for the Cam Link 4K only being able to be active on one Source instance at a time, the same source will be made under Groups to circumvent the issue while retaining proper resolution per zoom level. Each Scene will have a Group (folder) that has the correct Filters in place instead of the actual sourceUtilize Bicubic scaling (Right click source on OBS > Scale Filtering > Bicubic)Add separate sources per zoom Scene/level- OBS starts minimized- OBS settings: General > Projectors > Save Projectors on exit- Keep output(scaled) res the same as input- Install PowerToys and use (Ctrl + Win + T) on the Scenes pop-out window to ensure it stays on topFor the microscope, the input type is Video Capture DeviceNotes for workaround/setup on (re)boot:OBS must be hidden from System Tray > right click > hide if opened manually.OBS is set to launch hidden on startup, with the Scenes popout visible. Use Ctrl + Win + T to keep it permanently on top

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2025, 10:34:36 pm
content: Quote from: Erkel on May 30, 2025, 05:30:49 amOK but you haven't defined what that is, get it set to the image size you want for 0201, and take a ruler out and place it where the board is and measure the full height or width of the image (any digital zoom off). Calculate what FOV and magnification power you need. Then measure the minimum acceptable working distance.One of the higher end lenses here might work:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32952453410.htmlBut make sure you actually understand what you want before just spamming buy.https://www.vision-doctor.com/en/service-en/sen-t5/optical-calculations/calculation-working-distance.html

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2025, 07:19:14 pm
content: for rework, especially small 0402 components you want to use a stereo microscope.You will have depth perception with the stereo and this will help a lot is my experience.Benno