Use of Dental Surgical Binocular Loupes for SMD Work

[ilardi]

Has anyone tried these, or similar, cheap Dental Surgical Binocular Loupes, 3.5 X Dental Surgical Binocular Loupes Dentist 420mm - eBay (item 190486934809 end time Apr-04-11 17:57:45 PDT) for assembly of SMD boards. Clearly it would be preferable to use high quality dental surgical loupes, but at close to $1000 for a pair, they are out of reach. These at $65 are within budget and may be good enough for occasional use. My Optivisor works, but having to hunch over at 4 or 5 inches from the board I am working on is hardly comfortable.

Thanks for any thoughts or comments.

Terry

[c2cthomas]

Looks to be worth a try - I used something like these Gold Tone DOUBLE EYE LOUPE for Eye Glasses 3X and 3X - eBay (item 200586189999 end time Apr-11-11 21:52:41 PDT)

[marce]

I get cheap magnyfying spectacles from a pound shop here in the UK for delicate work. I have a variety of magnification factors as they are so cheap.

[Conrad Hoffman]

Those dental loupes look like a real deal. I use much more primitive stuff from Optics Planet. Their Carson brand magnifiers are inexpensive and work well- we use a lot of them in the shop at work, but there's a big difference between the telescopic gadgets and simple magnifiers, in terms of working distance and what you can see without strain.

Conrad

[VictoriaGuy]

Originally Posted by marce

I get cheap magnyfying spectacles from a pound shop here in the UK for delicate work. I have a variety of magnification factors as they are so cheap.

Are these what we call 'reading glasses' over here?
That's what I generally use for magnifiers, but the working distance is quite small.
Those magnifiers that dentists and surgeons use would be just the thing.... if I had a dentist/surgeon's income!
I'm interested to read a review of those eBay loupes.

[Eric1110]

I use 2.5x loops and I always give myself the gift of tons of light (don't skimp on the light).

It's great for SMD parts and for rechecking/inspecting any circuit work.

[wakibaki]

I have a few of the 'screw in eye' type of jewellers loupes, up to 10x, and some reading glasses. I have a few torches (flashlights) with Cree and other high power LEDs.

I have a close-work headset with interchangeable lenses too, but it doesn't get much use.

I'm naturally short-sighted so I can get away with most things by peering over the top of my glasses and checking afterwards with the loupe.

I make SMT circuits on homemade PCBs without really noticing, but I have been doing it for over 10 years. Everything I do is SMT, unless I'm forced to use through hole, which is kind of like it is in industry. I've done some pretty fine-pitch stuff, 24 pin TSSOP which fits 12 pins in 7.5mm. Course there's a technique for these, you just flood them with solder and then suck it off. Yes, I said suck it off.

I've taken to doing a few things in a toaster oven more recently, that's a pretty good method too, especially if you can get a laser-cut plastic stencil for the solder.

w

[marce]

VictoriaGuy,
yep, they are relatively cheap (£2 £3) so I have a few mag powers depending what I'm doing. 25 years in front of computers and old age have caught up with my eyes, and shrinking electronic devices dont help.

[dennyissmith]

I have some dental surgical binocular loupes. For more information please visit: Care Optical | Professional Dental Loupes and LED Headlights

[zeonrider]

I use this : 3 Magnifier 7X Watch Eye Loupe Magnifying Glass Tools | eBay

enough for SMD work.

Regards zeoN_Rider