VR headset forSMD soldering and inspection - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: saddle_au
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 18, 2017, 01:59:20 am
content: I was wondering if anyone has thought of using a VR headset for smd soldering. The problem with usb and camera microscope is the direction you are facing isn't natural because you are not looking at the thing you are working on.I've searched the forum but could not find references to this.If you wore a VR headset and mirrored the usb camera image to the headset, could this work better than looking at laptop or separate computer screens? Finding gear around the bench would be harder, but working on the board sould be more like operating a micoscope (directionally).

author: NF6X
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2017, 11:56:31 pm
content: It doesn't bother me much to use a microscope for assembly, but many times I have wished that I could see an oscilloscope or meter screen at the time time that I am using magnification to probe a tiny pin. So, I'm also interested in VR and AR applications on the electronics test bench.

author: saddle_au
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2017, 12:34:32 pm
content: I'd love to try a stereo, long focal depth, bench microscope like Dave has, but it's currently beyond my means for a speculative purchase. I went to Jaycar today and they had a special on the HeadSet, I could imagine the following with some out-there thoughts:Two cameras, one between me and the work area pointing at the board and a second one pointing at the bench (maybe on the VR Headset). A footswitch to flip between them or some combination. The ability to spilt screen it to have schematics and/or voltage, current or oscilliscope waveforms shown (semi-transparent maybe). Seems a large work around, but its in my price range.I'm finding the manual soldering of fine pitch leads really difficult to avoid shorts. Visually I pickup none with normal optics, but they are there when measured pin to pin. Pads used by various board manufacturers I deal with for chips like QFP-48s tend to bridge in behind the leg at the back of the pad and are just not visible. At the moment I'm shying away from leadless soldering, but I can see it's inevitable. Soon its going to cost me $2k or more just to put a chip on a board (back on a board that is).

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2017, 09:09:34 pm
content: Quote from: saddle_au on December 21, 2017, 12:34:32 pmTake a look at AmScope SE400 or SE410. They are cheap ($150-$200 depending on eyepieces' option you choose - I'd recommend x10/x20), and have a decent focal length (23 cm for SE400 and 15 cm for SE410). I have no issues placing 0201 parts with it, or hand-soldering 0402's. Stereo is a BIIG advantage!

author: saddle_au
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 07:13:00 am
content: I have had a look at the microscopes mentioned the AmScope SE400 looks fine, but alas, wrong voltage and no delivery to my location from Amazon. EBay says price and delivery all up of $317 from precision*world.Feel like the shop owner in Brother-Where-Art-Thou, "I don't carry Dapper Dan, I carry Fop." "Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity. (infinite) weeks from everywhere!".

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2017, 10:28:27 am
content: If you ever had a VR headset on you, you know, that their resolution near your focal point is just too low, and you see the gaps between the pixels. This is called screendoor effect. It is also difficult to read small text in VR.Also, VR is good to represent a virtual world. For a real one, if you move your head, the camera would need to follow you it in about 5ms, and make a picture in 6ms, otherwise you get dizzy and sick.

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 03:54:03 pm
content: Quote from: saddle_au on December 27, 2017, 07:13:00 amI bought mine directly from their website (www.amscope.com) - have you tried ordering directly to see what kind of shipping charges there will be?Also you can try sending them an email asking if they have any reseller that is local/closer to you. They did point me to Canadian one, but I ended up ordering directly from US because my specific SKU was temporary out of stock on their Canadian warehouse at the time of order.But in general shipping is going to be quite expensive because the unit has a very heavy base in order to be stable (I think it's like 15 kg total shipping weight or so). I paid $63 for UPS overnight express shipping from their factory (they are in California AFAIR) to the location near Toronto, ON, Canada.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 04:20:23 pm
content: Quote from: saddle_au on December 18, 2017, 01:59:20 amYou can always move the object under microscope, but with a Mantis optical microscope you can look "around" from different angles just by moving your head, without moving the object under microscope, as it can be seen here at minute 16:05

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2017, 12:46:16 am
content: there used to be a product made by Metron optics... a 3D viewer whic was the real thing. Mantis is fine but Metron used mirrors t project a virtual 3d image and you could move your head around this image to view the item in 3 d.A superior effect.Sadly Metron optics dont do it any more. I guess the new oners figured electronics would give better performane.