Browsing for Magnifying Tools

[D from BC]

I did some searching for magnification tools for inspection of
homebrew PCB's....

I checked out the toy digital microscope at:
http://www.playdigitalblue.com/products/qx5/info/

I read what the pros are using:
http://groups.google.ca/group/sci.e...910ac?lnk=st&q=&rnum=9&hl=en#9245d771fcc910ac

Looked at stereo microscopes dental/surgical binoculars on ebay.

Then I discovered a hack-your-digicam website
http://www.hoagieshouse.com/macro/

How about this idea..
I'd like to find a handheld digital camera with a video output and
attachable 2x or up to 10x macro lens.
I'd mount it on a stand to magnify, video or photograph PCB's.
Then I can move the PCB around and watch the enlarged footage off my
computer monitor.

Since the camera is not dedicated for macro use, I can remove it from
the stand and take it with me for vacation photos/video.

Has anybody done this? Is it a good idea?
I did a little google searching and became impatient..
D from BC

 

[Rich Grise]

I did a little google searching and became impatient..

Do a little more google searching. I've seen digital cameras that still
accept real lenses from real cameras - you could zoom in arbitrarily
tight, or photograph the Lunar Explorers, depending what's the budget to
buy the lenses.

As far as finding one, you know I'm not about to do your homework for
you! ;-)

Have Fun!
Rich

 

[D from BC]

Do a little more google searching. I've seen digital cameras that still
accept real lenses from real cameras - you could zoom in arbitrarily
tight, or photograph the Lunar Explorers, depending what's the budget to
buy the lenses.

As far as finding one, you know I'm not about to do your homework for
you! ;-)

Have Fun!
Rich

Just gambling that someone here might have set up a video/photo
cam+macro lens to create a computer based PCB magnifier.
I'll also be looking into crazy junk yard ideas like maybe getting an
ebay security camera and stick on any cheapo ebay macro lens.

I'll keep searching and check out digicam's with ~ real~ lenses too
D from BC

 

[Rich Grise]

Just gambling that someone here might have set up a video/photo
cam+macro lens to create a computer based PCB magnifier.
I'll also be looking into crazy junk yard ideas like maybe getting an
ebay security camera and stick on any cheapo ebay macro lens.

I'll keep searching and check out digicam's with ~ real~ lenses too

Now that you mention it, I have a "web-cam", which has, I think, 320 x 200
resolution, that I got off ebay for $0.01 + $5.00 shipping. It plugs
into the parallel port, and has a Windows driver, somewhere around here.

It's about the size of a golf ball, and has the quality of lens that
you see on disposables, but when you unscrew the lens you can see the
element itself - if you had the proper setup, you could probably point
just about any lens at it - if you think you'd be happy with 320x200
resolution. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[john jardine]

Just gambling that someone here might have set up a video/photo
cam+macro lens to create a computer based PCB magnifier.
I'll also be looking into crazy junk yard ideas like maybe getting an
ebay security camera and stick on any cheapo ebay macro lens.

I'll keep searching and check out digicam's with ~ real~ lenses too
D from BC

I've a colour CCD video camera with a zoom lens. Can have it on it's tripod
about a foot away from the pcb and with zoom, have useful close ups. Camera
video plugs straight into a Haupannuage? TV card in the PC, so I've a live
picture on the iiyama monitor and can adjust zoom and focus at will.
A click and a pic is frozen to a jpg. Camera needs as min' a 1/3rd inch CCD
sensor and at least 500k pixels of video on display. (Preferably 1M).
Beats farting about with those useless, back of camera LCDs and crappy USB,
low res', low frame rate video. I originally modified a webcam but found
the video quality from those things is barely at 'toy' level.
john

 

[D from BC]

I've a colour CCD video camera with a zoom lens. Can have it on it's tripod
about a foot away from the pcb and with zoom, have useful close ups. Camera
video plugs straight into a Haupannuage? TV card in the PC, so I've a live
picture on the iiyama monitor and can adjust zoom and focus at will.
A click and a pic is frozen to a jpg. Camera needs as min' a 1/3rd inch CCD
sensor and at least 500k pixels of video on display. (Preferably 1M).
Beats farting about with those useless, back of camera LCDs and crappy USB,
low res', low frame rate video. I originally modified a webcam but found
the video quality from those things is barely at 'toy' level.
john

Interesting
I do plan on using above web cam quality..
Likewise, I have a TV card too with video in.
Thanks the resolution recommendation.
D from BC

 

[Rene Tschaggelar]

I did some searching for magnification tools for inspection of
homebrew PCB's....

I have a set of strength 4 reading glasses, available
at the drugstore or in the supermarket for 10 bucks or so.

Rene

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

I have a set of strength 4 reading glasses, available
at the drugstore or in the supermarket for 10 bucks or so.

Good for you, but they don't work for everyone. All "reading
glasses" do is make my vision worse. My uncorrected vision was 20/200 &
20/400 when I was 20, and has become even worse over the years

In the US you can find them for a couple dollars at flea markets. I
used to sell over 100 pair a day at $1 a pair. Some people bought them
by the dozen.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Jim Thompson]

Good for you, but they don't work for everyone. All "reading
glasses" do is make my vision worse. My uncorrected vision was 20/200 &
20/400 when I was 20, and has become even worse over the years

In the US you can find them for a couple dollars at flea markets. I
used to sell over 100 pair a day at $1 a pair. Some people bought them
by the dozen.

Michael, Get cataract surgery... aka lens replacement... fastest way
from 20/400 (which I used to be) to 20/20 ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[amdx]

Good for you, but they don't work for everyone. All "reading
glasses" do is make my vision worse. My uncorrected vision was 20/200 &
20/400 when I was 20, and has become even worse over the years

In the US you can find them for a couple dollars at flea markets. I
used to sell over 100 pair a day at $1 a pair. Some people bought them
by the dozen.

"Hey I resemble that remark"
I usually buy 10 at a time, last time they had a sale, I got 12 for $10.
Mike

 

[Barry Lennox]

I did some searching for magnification tools for inspection of
homebrew PCB's....

I checked out the toy digital microscope at:
http://www.playdigitalblue.com/products/qx5/info/

I read what the pros are using:
http://groups.google.ca/group/sci.e...910ac?lnk=st&q=&rnum=9&hl=en#9245d771fcc910ac

Looked at stereo microscopes dental/surgical binoculars on ebay.

Then I discovered a hack-your-digicam website
http://www.hoagieshouse.com/macro/

I have 2 (soon to be 3) solutions;

1. A pair of the cheap magnifying goggles that sit on a head-band and
you can flip up and down, I find they work very well with my normal
prescription specs.

2. A Swift stereo microscope (x10 and x 20) I bought mine from a used
microscope dealer (I Miller) in Philly, he usually has a good range.

3. Soon to be. In Oct 01, "Silicon Chip" published an article on
building one from a cheap digicam, an old SLR lens and PVC waste-pipe
fittings. It looks pretty good.

Barry

 

[Barry Lennox]

I have 2 (soon to be 3) solutions;

1. A pair of the cheap magnifying goggles that sit on a head-band and
you can flip up and down, I find they work very well with my normal
prescription specs.

2. A Swift stereo microscope (x10 and x 20) I bought mine from a used
microscope dealer (I Miller) in Philly, he usually has a good range.

3. Soon to be. In Oct 01, "Silicon Chip" published an article on
building one from a cheap digicam, an old SLR lens and PVC waste-pipe
fittings. It looks pretty good.

You can see the Silicon Chip "Videoscope" here

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_101654/article.html

 

[D from BC]

You can see the Silicon Chip "Videoscope" here

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_101654/article.html

Ahhh I've been wondering what to call a digicam+macro lens+videoOut to
a PC.
Is Videoscope the globally accepted name ?
D from BC

 

[Barry Lennox]

Ahhh I've been wondering what to call a digicam+macro lens+videoOut to
a PC.
Is Videoscope the globally accepted name ?
D from BC

Nope, but it's not a bad start, A much better one does not spring to
mind.

Micro-cam has a bad ring to it.

 

[Jim Thompson]

I have 2 (soon to be 3) solutions;

1. A pair of the cheap magnifying goggles that sit on a head-band and
you can flip up and down, I find they work very well with my normal
prescription specs.

2. A Swift stereo microscope (x10 and x 20) I bought mine from a used
microscope dealer (I Miller) in Philly, he usually has a good range.

3. Soon to be. In Oct 01, "Silicon Chip" published an article on
building one from a cheap digicam, an old SLR lens and PVC waste-pipe
fittings. It looks pretty good.

Barry

Here's the way I do it....

http://analog-innovations.com/SED/OptiVisorMonster.jpg


...Jim Thompson

 

[D from BC]

Here's the way I do it....

http://analog-innovations.com/SED/OptiVisorMonster.jpg


...Jim Thompson

Headgear!!!
Looks like it does the job
Stereoscopic too for depth...
I do wonder where that's sold..

But I can't resist the "cool" factor of a DIY PC based videoscope.
Just makes me feel like a kid again. New toy microscope
It'll be good for inspection and documentation of PCB's.

D from BC

 

[D from BC]

Nope, but it's not a bad start, A much better one does not spring to
mind.

Micro-cam has a bad ring to it.

Scopecam?? It's composed like webcam.

Could make up an acronym such as:
Digital Video Microscope or DVM?

I'll have to do some googling.. I've seen doctors on tv using similar
equipment.. Endoscope??
D from BC

 

[Jim Thompson]

Headgear!!!
Looks like it does the job
Stereoscopic too for depth...
I do wonder where that's sold..

I bought that visor around 1980.

But I can't resist the "cool" factor of a DIY PC based videoscope.
Just makes me feel like a kid again. New toy microscope
It'll be good for inspection and documentation of PCB's.

D from BC

...Jim Thompson

 

[JeffM]

Michael, Get cataract surgery... aka lens replacement...

I would think "resurfacing a watch crystal"
would be the analogy for cataract surgery.

Messing with the lens seems much more invasive.
http://www.google.com/images?q=eye+lens+cornea

 

[Jim Thompson]

I would think "resurfacing a watch crystal"
would be the analogy for cataract surgery.

Used to be that way... fuzzy vision and various infections.

Messing with the lens seems much more invasive.
http://www.google.com/images?q=eye+lens+cornea

You obviously haven't had it done... I have.

They blast away you existing lens with a laser, make a small slit and
slip it an artificial lens.

Takes just a few minutes.

...Jim Thompson