Magnifier/microscope

[colin]

Hi,
Im having trouble soldering those ever so more itsy bitsy and teeny weeny
components, especialy those chip scale packages wich dont even have any
reference marks for the conections when viewed from the top.

I have a X20 pocket microscope but is handheld so only good for looking for
shorts and and reading the SMD codes
(i have good close up eyesight - i can just about read a 0603 code directly)

Ive done 2 of these packages so far using gouge technique to make the pcb,
and one with dead bug technique, ive found adapting a scalpel to take two
blades cuts 2 lines 0.5 mmm apart wich is just the right pitch. its tricky
but I need to be able to see it a bit better to get the lines exactly on
pitch.

But trying to line up the packages when you cant see where the leads are
underneath is a bit of a nightmare, So whats the most convenient and cost
effective magnifying device ?

bench microscope ? .. seem to be quite expensive for a good one, cheap ones
seem a bit to cheap and I havnt found much inbetween yet, and image would
need to be correct way up
Ive even thought a usb microscope camera wich seem surprisingly cheap might
do,
or just an eye glass ?
or binocolar magnifiying glasses ?
or would those round flourescent desk lamps with large magnifiying glass in
the middle do quite well ?

Colin =^.^=

 

[[email protected]]

You can't beat a full-blown stereoscope for this problem. I use a Kyowa
stereo with a relatively modest max. 10X magnification but you'd be
*amazed* how much difference that makes and lower magifications =
brighter images and better depth of field (all other things being
equal). Any kind of hand-held magnifier is a waste of time; you need as
many hands free as you can get even if you just want to inspect stuff.

 

[John O'Flaherty]

You can't beat a full-blown stereoscope for this problem. I use a Kyowa
stereo with a relatively modest max. 10X magnification but you'd be
*amazed* how much difference that makes and lower magifications =
brighter images and better depth of field (all other things being
equal). Any kind of hand-held magnifier is a waste of time; you need as
many hands free as you can get even if you just want to inspect stuff.

They have some on e-bay, though 'stereoscope' gets more Viewmasters
than microscopes. Stereo microscope, or stereo dissecting microscope,
gets a lot of them. I've used one to repair some very fine-pitch pc
board connectors, and they're great. It helps if the microscope is
boom-mounted, so that it can hang independently over the work.
Otherwise, you'd need to somehow position the work on the microscope
stage.

 

[John Larkin]

You can't beat a full-blown stereoscope for this problem. I use a Kyowa
stereo with a relatively modest max. 10X magnification but you'd be
*amazed* how much difference that makes and lower magifications =
brighter images and better depth of field (all other things being
equal). Any kind of hand-held magnifier is a waste of time; you need as
many hands free as you can get even if you just want to inspect stuff.

I'd vote for a Mantis as even better than a regular stereo microscope.
But the swing-arm magnifier/lamp things are pretty good if you don't
want to spend a lot of money.

John

 

[Phil Hobbs]

Hi,
Im having trouble soldering those ever so more itsy bitsy and teeny weeny
components, especialy those chip scale packages wich dont even have any
reference marks for the conections when viewed from the top.

I have a X20 pocket microscope but is handheld so only good for looking for
shorts and and reading the SMD codes
(i have good close up eyesight - i can just about read a 0603 code directly)

Ive done 2 of these packages so far using gouge technique to make the pcb,
and one with dead bug technique, ive found adapting a scalpel to take two
blades cuts 2 lines 0.5 mmm apart wich is just the right pitch. its tricky
but I need to be able to see it a bit better to get the lines exactly on
pitch.

But trying to line up the packages when you cant see where the leads are
underneath is a bit of a nightmare, So whats the most convenient and cost
effective magnifying device ?

bench microscope ? .. seem to be quite expensive for a good one, cheap ones
seem a bit to cheap and I havnt found much inbetween yet, and image would
need to be correct way up
Ive even thought a usb microscope camera wich seem surprisingly cheap might
do,
or just an eye glass ?
or binocolar magnifiying glasses ?
or would those round flourescent desk lamps with large magnifiying glass in
the middle do quite well ?
;
Colin =^.^=

I know the problem. Two things I can recommend: drugstore reading
glasses for larger stuff and an old Zeiss surgical microscope for
smaller stuff. Eye loupes will give you headaches.

Cheers,

Phil Hobbs

 

[René]

I know the problem. Two things I can recommend: drugstore reading
glasses for larger stuff and an old Zeiss surgical microscope for
smaller stuff. Eye loupes will give you headaches.

Same here. Drugstore glasses in the strongest prescription you can get
(stronger than you need for just reading).
My solution for soldering 0603's and fine pitch IC's.
I am 49, and wear varyfocus glasses normally; I put the reading
glasses just over them for soldering.

I do have a (quite expensive) lamp with magnifier combination. Fine
for inspection, bad for soldering as the soldering iron interferes
with the lamp most of the time.

For the real hi-density stuff I do use a 10x binocular microscope.

And a nice Weller pencil-style iron with fine tip and temp control,
together with a normal weller with coarse tip for desoldering and
other heavy duty work.

For looking at close objects you need to focus and slight cross-eye
vision. The glasses solve the focus issue. I can do the cross eye
trick effortlessly, but I know people who cannot sustain this without
incurring a blazing headache. If you are one of those, the microscope
might be the only option as it allows parallel vision.

 

[mc]

Same here. Drugstore glasses in the strongest prescription you can get

(stronger than you need for just reading).

To be precise, the "prescription" is the reciprocal of the focal length (=
working distance) in meters. Thus +3.00 is 1/3 meter, a little more than a
foot.

These can be worn over your regular glasses.

 

[colin]

You can't beat a full-blown stereoscope for this problem. I use a Kyowa
stereo with a relatively modest max. 10X magnification but you'd be
*amazed* how much difference that makes and lower magifications =
brighter images and better depth of field (all other things being
equal). Any kind of hand-held magnifier is a waste of time; you need as
many hands free as you can get even if you just want to inspect stuff.

Thanks for the reply, ive been looking on ebay and found some at about $800
wich is quite a bit of money if you cant try it out before you buy. theres
probably some cheaper, I can solder the 1 mm pitch ics ok so I gues a mag of
2 would even do.

Colin =^.^=

 

[colin]

Same here. Drugstore glasses in the strongest prescription you can get
(stronger than you need for just reading).
My solution for soldering 0603's and fine pitch IC's.
I am 49, and wear varyfocus glasses normally; I put the reading
glasses just over them for soldering.

yeah eye loupes kinda make you squint.
Im fairly short sighted so I just take my glasses off, 1mm pitch ICs/0603
stuff is quite easy.
not sure what effect reading glasses would have on me.

I do have a (quite expensive) lamp with magnifier combination. Fine
for inspection, bad for soldering as the soldering iron interferes
with the lamp most of the time.

I thought about getting one of those lamps, but I'm getting one of those
realy cheap magnifying glasses on an arm with a couple of spare arms with
crocodile clips to hold stuff, from ebay, claims 6x maginification although
im sceptical but might just be enough and cheap enough not to worry if it
isnt.

For the real hi-density stuff I do use a 10x binocular microscope.

And a nice Weller pencil-style iron with fine tip and temp control,
together with a normal weller with coarse tip for desoldering and
other heavy duty work.

I recently got a nice small weller tcp, but I find the fine point tips seem
to take ages to heat the joint up, usualy i can get away with a relativly
large wedge tip if its got a nice square corner. unfortunatly the tip style
I loved to use with my old weller TCP isnt stocked. (smallish long cone with
an angled flat)

For looking at close objects you need to focus and slight cross-eye
vision. The glasses solve the focus issue. I can do the cross eye
trick effortlessly, but I know people who cannot sustain this without
incurring a blazing headache. If you are one of those, the microscope
might be the only option as it allows parallel vision.

focusing for me is ok down to 200mm without my glasses, but with a series of
fine lines at 0.5 mmm pitch my eyes or brain just doesnt seem to have the
resolution and strangly it seems much more than twice as hard to see .5 as
1mm pitch, my eyes cant help jumping from one line to the next.

Colin =^.^=

 

[Jim Thompson]

Thanks for the reply, ive been looking on ebay and found some at about $800
wich is quite a bit of money if you cant try it out before you buy. theres
probably some cheaper, I can solder the 1 mm pitch ics ok so I gues a mag of
2 would even do.

Colin =^.^=

I have an OptiVISOR by donegan optical co. that I've had for close to
30 years.

...Jim Thompson

 

[David Harmon]

On Sun, 21 May 2006 20:05:35 GMT in sci.electronics.design, "colin"

Im fairly short sighted so I just take my glasses off, 1mm pitch ICs/0603
stuff is quite easy.

Yes, take off my glasses and hold the board about two inches away
from my eyes. However, I do not like to solder in that position.

 

[Rich Webb]

I have an OptiVISOR by donegan optical co. that I've had for close to
30 years.

I'll vote with JT here to recommend that the OP at least start with an
OptiVISOR. The "regular" 5 diopter (2.5 mag) is great for general close
work and there's a swing-down booster loupe available.

DO NOT get a cheap "tool warehouse" clone with the cast acrylic lenses.
Be kind to your eyes and get the real thing w/the ground glass lenses.

 

[colin]

On Sun, 21 May 2006 20:05:35 GMT in sci.electronics.design, "colin"


Yes, take off my glasses and hold the board about two inches away
from my eyes. However, I do not like to solder in that position.

2 inches is close for comfort, when I was young I once got a solder splash
in my eye from pushing a stiff pin through a pcb with a soldering iron, when
the pin snapped out .. splash .. ouch, hurt like crazy, think it might of
been just hot flux as no solder was found at the hospital ! fortunate was no
long term harm. my contact lense saved me from the similar thing once too.

I just make sure I close my eyes or have protection if im doing anything
that requires any force at all with molten solder.

soldering onto a terminal I thought I had disconected but was in fact still
live with an earthed soldering iron was a bit scary too, solder splashed up.

Colin =^.^=

 

[Joerg]

Hello Colin,

Thanks for the reply, ive been looking on ebay and found some at about $800
wich is quite a bit of money if you cant try it out before you buy. theres
probably some cheaper, I can solder the 1 mm pitch ics ok so I gues a mag of
2 would even do.

If you can get used to looking into another direction than where your
work is (I have no problem with that) try a camera and monitor. Many
cheap cameras come with a cable to display photos on a TV and some put
out video while turned on. You may be able to try that out without
buying anything.

What I don't know is whether a typical digital camera can withstand to
be turned on for a long time. At least I'd try to turn off its LCD if it
can be controlled.

The nice thing happens when you find something that you want to record.
Like a mis-stuffed part, a broken trace or simply to document rework.
Click, done.

Regards, Joerg

 

[John Fields]

I have an OptiVISOR by donegan optical co. that I've had for close to
30 years.

 

[René]

Aside, most webcams with manual focussing have remarkable macro
vision. Not much good for soldering, but nice for inspection and
documentation of problems.

 

[Rich Grise]

Hi,
Im having trouble soldering those ever so more itsy bitsy and teeny weeny
components, especialy those chip scale packages wich dont even have any
reference marks for the conections when viewed from the top.

I have a X20 pocket microscope but is handheld so only good for looking for
shorts and and reading the SMD codes
(i have good close up eyesight - i can just about read a 0603 code directly)

Ive done 2 of these packages so far using gouge technique to make the pcb,
and one with dead bug technique, ive found adapting a scalpel to take two
blades cuts 2 lines 0.5 mmm apart wich is just the right pitch. its tricky
but I need to be able to see it a bit better to get the lines exactly on
pitch.

But trying to line up the packages when you cant see where the leads are
underneath is a bit of a nightmare, So whats the most convenient and cost
effective magnifying device ?

bench microscope ? .. seem to be quite expensive for a good one, cheap ones
seem a bit to cheap and I havnt found much inbetween yet, and image would
need to be correct way up
Ive even thought a usb microscope camera wich seem surprisingly cheap might
do,
or just an eye glass ?
or binocolar magnifiying glasses ?
or would those round flourescent desk lamps with large magnifiying glass in
the middle do quite well ?

How about one of these:
http://www.google.com/search?q=visor+magnifier

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Joerg]

Hello René,

Aside, most webcams with manual focussing have remarkable macro
vision. Not much good for soldering, but nice for inspection and
documentation of problems.

How about the HP PP136? The sensor is only 352*288 but the thing retails
or $25 at Walmart. Might need another lens though.

Regards, Joerg