I saw that too - seemed decent. I have a proper microscope for fish (diagnosing parasites) but it’s not right for electronics. I was looking at lens+light ring style anglepoise as i will need todo some SMD in future.
I would like a replaceable (ie a camera lens screw in style) glass protector. Protection against solder flux spitting and hot solder tips.
Of that microscope there are two variants - a 7” and a 10.1” screen (also one with and without HDMI).
I would like a replaceable (ie a camera lens screw in style) glass protector. Protection against solder flux spitting and hot solder tips.
Of that microscope there are two variants - a 7” and a 10.1” screen (also one with and without HDMI).
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Have a digital microscope and and old-fashioned 10x optical soldering microscope (long working distance). Always use the latter for soldering because my hand-eye coordination is far better when my head and eyes remain in a fixed location. YMMV, of course.
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SE400-Z-Professional-Microscope-Magnification/dp/B005C75IVM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3NYGQU0JF1IRU&keywords=soldering+microscope&qid=1669303134&sprefix=soldering+micro,aps,168&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840
Also use two of these to hold PCBs: https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-C1390C...7&sprefix=hakko+soldering+vice,aps,160&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SE400-Z-Professional-Microscope-Magnification/dp/B005C75IVM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3NYGQU0JF1IRU&keywords=soldering+microscope&qid=1669303134&sprefix=soldering+micro,aps,168&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840
Also use two of these to hold PCBs: https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-C1390C...7&sprefix=hakko+soldering+vice,aps,160&sr=8-1
All SMT soldering production factories have an optical stereo-vision microscope which is a lot better due to stereo nature i.e. your native hand-eye coordination is in use. USB one is wasting money and nothing more.
A USB microscope is Ok for flat 2D objects inspection, like PCB tracks and so on.
A USB microscope with zoom lens can be used for lots of things. Have used one to inspect vinyl record grooves for wear, for one example. The zoom feature can give a range of useful magnification. Just not so good where hand-eye coordination is especially important.
Also not mentioned yet, a good pair of soldering tweezers is also important. Aven makes some very good ones, including out of non-magnetic titanium. IME a very good one is: https://www.aventools.com/custitem_material_new_facet/Titanium/custitem_tip_name/7,709?custitem_anti_magnetic/Yes/custitem_tip_name/66,OO=&page=1
Also not mentioned yet, a good pair of soldering tweezers is also important. Aven makes some very good ones, including out of non-magnetic titanium. IME a very good one is: https://www.aventools.com/custitem_material_new_facet/Titanium/custitem_tip_name/7,709?custitem_anti_magnetic/Yes/custitem_tip_name/66,OO=&page=1
@IVX , Fair enough. I can do 0402 and .4mm pitch too. Good tools can make the job easier, but they aren't always absolutely necessary. IIRC Aven tweezers are often used in semiconductor manufacturing. Doesn't mean that's the only possibly way to do it though.
Like to use cheap ebay non-latching ophthalmic needle holders here too. Not very good metal, but they work okay and are reasonably priced.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224725454884?hash=item3452ae5024:g:G6MAAOSwgNJhrBBc&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAwL6elXUYZYzp70P5sg7rd1iSieZEVeueQR+L+L4llGb6cnI4GVTTJXIu62Yq3Y//CAXQCxJS73pB0f0XuhyDPH32KVbRQUSbr/dGAyr/zMTOszVjSdfcS+tbZ0EthU/qsIWHXo+kEST3VMjYnNVyl5IajU6uKl4yOAbqaOrYcRNhr2QyoYX9gxxlfnz+5ausqk/qkBW9im24wjtyMGpuzPFRCXm4Hgk522HMhhnVepk6r9/1O+3TXd7COIe/i0ogmg==|tkp:Bk9SR5z2x8aVYQ
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3629339313...sN7lQ7TgP93Z6CXI%2Fl|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675
Anyhow, what tweezers would you recommend to SMD newbies then? We can give them a try...
Like to use cheap ebay non-latching ophthalmic needle holders here too. Not very good metal, but they work okay and are reasonably priced.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224725454884?hash=item3452ae5024:g:G6MAAOSwgNJhrBBc&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAwL6elXUYZYzp70P5sg7rd1iSieZEVeueQR+L+L4llGb6cnI4GVTTJXIu62Yq3Y//CAXQCxJS73pB0f0XuhyDPH32KVbRQUSbr/dGAyr/zMTOszVjSdfcS+tbZ0EthU/qsIWHXo+kEST3VMjYnNVyl5IajU6uKl4yOAbqaOrYcRNhr2QyoYX9gxxlfnz+5ausqk/qkBW9im24wjtyMGpuzPFRCXm4Hgk522HMhhnVepk6r9/1O+3TXd7COIe/i0ogmg==|tkp:Bk9SR5z2x8aVYQ
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3629339313...sN7lQ7TgP93Z6CXI%2Fl|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675
Anyhow, what tweezers would you recommend to SMD newbies then? We can give them a try...
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To be honest, I still have some needs regarding comfortable soldering without my heavy Nikon SMZ66. I'm talking about some magnifying glasses frame + light, what I was capable to get from taobao was junk, I even replaced a plastic lense there with the optical multicoated one, I borrowed that from my photo lens. If anyone has a decent example of such type of tool I'll appreciate that.
I like reverse tweezers, they grip until you squeeze the handles.
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/apex-tool-group/XHT412N/397845
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/apex-tool-group/XHT412N/397845
Sorry for the typo, my heavy(4.55kG) Nikon SMZ660 with 10x and 30x(nearly never used) eyepieces.
100% agree - a digital microscope is suitable for inspection, etc., but not for soldering, where binocular (stereoscopic) vision is MANDATORY.
The best simple head-mounted magnifier I found is the one at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CDJKM2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Beyond that there are lenses that can be custom mounted to glasses, such as dentists and dental hygienists sometimes use. Quality devices like that are custom fit to glasses frames, kind of like: https://www.orascoptic.com/en-us/loupes I am told prices can start around a $200-$300 for entry-level of professional quality devices. Some include lights. Of course there are also high end units that are much pricier.
that one is plastic again, hence, no fun at all. I saw a similar Orascoptic stuff for surgeries $1000-2000 but they have a large distance of the focus.
I don't like the Mantis for soldering. Depending on the lens it gets in the way and I just feel more confident with a stereo microscope.
You can get over the counter reading glasses to help with soldering small parts. I suspect 2.5 diopter lenses will be fine for the 0402 or larger surface mount parts.
I have no trouble soldering the .050” pitch ICs. I also do the even finer ones, but cheat. I run a bead of solder along all of the leads and then use solder wick to pick up the excess.
I then use my “Digital Microscope” to inspect all the solder joints.
I now consider that unit to be absolutely the cat’s meow!
I have no trouble soldering the .050” pitch ICs. I also do the even finer ones, but cheat. I run a bead of solder along all of the leads and then use solder wick to pick up the excess.
I then use my “Digital Microscope” to inspect all the solder joints.
I now consider that unit to be absolutely the cat’s meow!
Intersting. I don't go higher than 8x for soldering. For me it's rather easy to avoid the lenses using an iron, appreciably more difficult with hot air.