Stereo Microscope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ximox
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2011, 08:27:36 pm
content: Hi All,I'd like to buy a stereo microscope like the one Dave shows in the #168 Video. Anyone know what model it is or can suggest something good? I'd like to stay in the $200 range or so. It's getting difficult for me to get by with the usual magnifiers, I need something better.Thanks,Antonio

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2011, 08:59:43 pm
content: Before the usual wave of junk suggestions set it, you can get a mediocre, usable, Made in China, boom microscope on eBay, likehttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190529429055However, the magnification of that particular one is already huge for electronic work. Pay $50 more and you can get a x5 version, too. And having a boom is great.

author: tecman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2011, 01:14:16 am
content: Go to amscope on the web. They have a nice selection of models. Bought mine direct from them for about $100. Works great.paul

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 08, 2011, 11:40:02 am
content: Mine is an old Olympus brand. (olympus are one of the worlds best in regard)Don't know the model number, someone mentioned the SZ series.Was about $250 inc postage on Ebay.7-40x zoom, which is ideal for PCB work.Dave.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2011, 05:26:29 pm
content: I have one like this:http://cgi.ebay.com/Americal-Optical-Spencer-Forty-Stereo-Zoom-Microscope-/330554383500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf6939c8cbut it's fixed 4x and 10x instead of a continuous zoom.It takes up less bench space which is good, but this is more than offset by its inability to handle larger boards. In my case, it was free, but I need to get the "boom type."

author: Zyvek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2011, 10:03:30 pm
content: http://store.amscope.com/se400-x.htmlI got this one, because I wanted the extra working distance 9" (220mm), which helps if I want to try to use the SMD hot air gun and not just a soldering iron.

author: daedalus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2011, 07:04:56 pm
content: i bought a lynx stereo dynascope recently, and would recommend this over conventional microscopes for surface mount work. The difference is this doesnt have two seperate eyepieces, but a special lense system that gives you a 3d view wherever you move your head in front of the viewer. This means you dont have to hold your head hunched over two eyepieces for long periods. I used to get lots of back ache using a normal scope, and this thing is a godsend.They are stupid expensive new, but come up on ebay regularly. Older models such as the TS1, TS2, TS3 show up as well, and whilst old are still very good. Bonus points if you can find one with the oblique viewing addon. This lets you see straight down, and 30 degree angle of board, which you can rotate around the part. This is great if your doing qfn's by hand with a soldering iron (not my favorite job).there are some demos on youtube, and also fromhttp://www.visioneng.com/

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2011, 12:49:18 pm
content: Quote from: daedalus on May 10, 2011, 07:04:56 pmAren't they huge?! And yes, "register to download a brochure" grrrr.

author: daedalus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2011, 11:41:42 pm
content: The head on it is larger then a normal microscope, but it takes up about the same footprint on the workbench as my last one. I found the register thing a pain too, here are a few vids showing off a similar scope, and the oblique on the one i have.https://www.youtube.com/user/visionengineering?blend=1&ob=5#p/a/u/2/Mhbcdiu3-awhttps://www.youtube.com/user/visionengineering?blend=1&ob=5#p/a/u/2/Mhbcdiu3-aw

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2011, 04:34:20 pm
content: Realising that this is a rather old topic:I morphed my Euromex (local brand) stereo microscope into a CCD camera-equipped one. This is an oldishPhilips color CCTV security cam I got for free. The LCD screen is one of these jobs you see hanging off the back of people's careheadrests (to entertain the kids I suppose). That one was also free. On a local ham fest I found a macro-zoom lens in C-mountwhich fits the camera just fine (EUR 15 for the lens). The whole shebang is screwed onto a piece of aluminium, andmounted on the Euromex stand.This whole concept works rather nicely. I am waiting for DealExtreme to ship me two LED-lights on flexible USB-arms. Once thatkit arrives I will at the same time unclutter the cabling and feed the LED lights from the Euromex base (it has a powersupply for thestereo microscopes's light).When I want the original Euromex on the stand it is a matter of unscrewing one UNC 1/4" . I was smart enough to bring some UNC tapsfrom my last trip to the US of A.enjoyWilko

author: SoftwareSamurai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2011, 05:56:42 pm
content: I've been toying with the idea of getting one of thosecheapo USB cameras off eBay from Chinafor inspecting PCBs.(I can feel Dave rolling his eyes at me right now...)

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2011, 04:02:04 am
content: I've never been wildly impressed with Stereo Microscopes for rework on boards,since I tried using them while fixing hearing aids for a living.The ones we had gave a distorted sense of depth,which made it hard to solder onto the tiny boards & components used.The magnification made the solder tip look like a crowbar.I usually used a Maggylamp for the rework,& the microscope for checking the job afterwards.VK6ZGO

author: bfritz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2011, 08:15:49 pm
content: I've used stereo microscopes before, but the main problem is their lack of portability. Seems that often I'd like to rework the circuit where I'm working, rather than have to disconnect and move everything. A large stereo boom microscope is not something you want to move around.So, I was thinking that Dental or Surgical Loupes might be a better solution. They are light and very portable. Just put them on when you wish to use them. I would think they would be more "natural" to use than a stereo microscope, as with the microscope you have to learn to move the work, rather than you head.I was thinking something like these:http://www.care-optics.com/products.asp?cid=1&pid=22&id=43The 3.5x with a working distance of 340mm/13.4in seems about right to me. At $170, these seem like they are probably more useful because of the portability factor, than a microscope is.Has anyone else ever tried Dental or Surgical Loupes? If so, what were you using them for? (SMT 0805? 0603? 0402?) What did you think the right tradeoff between power and field of view was? What working distance do you recommend?