Aoyue 638 pcb inspection station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: mainman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 05:06:07 am
content: I do a TON of SMD work and I finally decided to move away from the eye loupe I have been using for years. Let me start by saying I absolutely do not want a microscope, I repeat I do not want a microscope. Those usb inspection cameras have to much latency to be of use in real time.So I'm looking into a Aoyue 638 pcb inspection station which is a CCD Camera and lcd display unit, anyone with one of these I would appreciate it if you could give me your impression of it or a similar station in the same price range and functionality.

author: nixfu
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 05:17:19 am
content: Seems kind of expensive for basically a webcam. What this Aoyue looks like is just a vga camera with a cheap small 6-7" LCD monitor attached to it.I would think that you can build the same thing as the Aoye maybe cheaper. Get one of these $199these VGA camera microscope units, and stick a cheap little LCD onto it likethis $70 7 inch VGA LCD screen. Or for that matter you could stick a 15" or larger VGA LCD monitor on a stand behind it and have something even easier on your eyes for about the same $50-100. Even cheaper if you have an old VGA LCD screen laying around you can re-use. Ivideo of someone using one, and it the frame rate looks like its full 30fps. It also appears to have composite video out like a home video camera, so you could connect it to an external monitor with composite video as well for a bigger screen.That would be almost the exact same thing as the Aoyue for about half the cost.I sawFOR ONLY $139THIS video self-contained microscope with monitor attached from the same ebay sellernot to long ago as well when searching. It looks interesting as well if your boards can fit on it. It looks like someone took the guts out of home digital video camera on mounted it all on a stand like a Microscope. It says 30frames/sec. IF this would work, that would be a steal price wise for you. I really would like to see how well one of these works. I have considered this one for myself.

author: mainman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 05:50:30 am
content: Quote from: nixfu on December 02, 2014, 05:17:19 amThe devil in the fine print the stand for that $199 camera kit is sold separately. The pcb I work on are to big for that second station you posted.

author: nixfu
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 05:55:25 am
content: QuoteI think that listing is for the "KIT" of camera + stand + illumination ring. The stand is available separately, etc.. for cheaper.Here are the individual items as well for sale in separate listings:http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Hongkong-Lapsun-Wholesales-Store/Microscope-Magnifier-Loupe-/_i.html?_fsub=1211950010&_sid=827729720&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 05:57:47 am
content: Quote from: mainman on December 02, 2014, 05:06:07 amI have a similar one. I am trying add recording DVR so I can refer to the archive for details. They are very good for inspection. Anything real work I am sticking to my stereo microscope.

author: mainman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2014, 06:17:09 am
content: Quote from: nixfu on December 02, 2014, 05:55:25 amI will take this option under serious consideration, thanks.Quote from: all_repair on December 02, 2014, 05:57:47 amYour insight would be appreciated and is very important.My question is can you perform the same quality of SMD work using the CCD camera as you do with your microscope. Can you maintain focus with the camera while you solder fine pitched joints.

author: ielektros
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2014, 12:58:03 pm
content: Quote from: nixfu on December 02, 2014, 05:17:19 amI had the second one and I can say, that is electronic waste. No more. I used 2 hours and I sended it back. But the price mirrors the quality. Under a 1000€ I found nothing.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2014, 01:11:16 pm
content: Quote from: mainman on December 02, 2014, 05:06:07 amDo you mean you do not want a USB toy microscope or real binocular microscope? Anything with camera and display is useless for soldering not only because of latency but also because of lack of the volumetric vision. Because of that you cannot sense distance between PCB and Soldering iron what makes soldering much more difficult to do.

author: ielektros
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2014, 03:33:29 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on December 04, 2014, 01:11:16 pmI understand you 100%.Optical "analog" is the "best".

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2014, 06:46:45 pm
content: this is how the first one linked workshttp://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.elvikom.pl/kamera-i-obiektyw-do-inspekcji-pcb-t30532.html%26complete%3D0%26hl%3Den&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=pl&u=http://www.elvikom.pl/post123597.html&usg=ALkJrhiMi49uWNQxHiptrxe_4BCPcaHiow#p123597seems decent enough for $120 camera

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2014, 09:09:48 pm
content: and then there is working distance. look at how close the lens sits to the board. good luck poking an iron in there ...my 2 cents : get a mantis.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2014, 03:47:42 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on December 04, 2014, 09:09:48 pm20cm not enough for you?

author: mainman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2014, 01:56:08 am
content: Thanks for the feed back guys I decided to give a stereo microscope another try and if it does not meet my needs then I will go with a inspection camera. I just ordered a AmScope SE400-Z and will see how it works out for me.If it doesn't work out I will go with thisor the unit nixfu recommended depending on which will be cheaper after shipping with a included display.