On 3/17/25 07:59, Dave McGuire via groups.io wrote:
On 3/17/25 00:02, Radu Bogdan Dicher via groups.io wrote:
Having done enough (red) eye cracking smd soldering jobs or inspections in case of suspected failure (cold joints, etc.), I've decided to invest a bit on a better optical setup.
There's plenty of cameras on the marketplaces and retailers out there, but what are some better choices? Good experiences with some specific models?
Also, what to watch for? Specs, minimal magnification that crosses over a good threshold?
I have a couple of large screens at my bench - I'm thinking this will be best done by shooting this over to one of those. USB, HDMI?...
Lighting/LEDs making a significant difference?
Thank you for your input.
? The Mantis by Vision Engineering.
? On the prototyping bench I moved from a Nikon SMZ-1 with an after-market LED ring light to a 1st-generation Mantis about ten years ago, and upgraded to a Mantis Elite last year.
? The Nikon is a binocular inspection microscope with great optics (typical of Nikon) and excellent overall performance.? I had an opportunity to try out a Mantis when visiting a customer's lab.? I was astonished by its capabilities and purchased one immediately.
? My upgrade to the Mantis Elite last year was a similarly impressive thing.
? Two important considerations are binocular optical paths and lighting.
? Binocular optics are, IMO, absolutely required for SMT work.
? Lighting is next.? People often skimp on this and use a random desk lamp or whatever happens to be lying around, but a proper lighting system makes all the difference.? There are cheap aftermarket LED right lights that are surprisingly effective; this suggests that the lighting really isn't that difficult a problem to solve.? The key is 360-degree, oblique, even lighting to eliminate shadows.? (lighting is built-in on the Mantis microscopes)
???????????? -Dave
Hi Radu,
I've got Greenough scopes (binocular) by Olympus and Vision Engineering (precursor to Mantis), and fiber light rings and sources to sell.
The Vision Engineering ones are kind of large, but trying an Olympus Greenough would be painless -- you could return it if not liking it.
When I assemble SMT boards I use a Greenough on a boom that lets me move with fine dials in X and Y (and of course Z for focus).
I've also tried the Vision Engineering and it would probably be a speedup tool, but Ive not afforded enough bench top space to use one effectively yet.
Also have Nikon SMZ-7 and a Vision Engineering Greenough for sale.
Booms to hold them are super heavy, so looking locally makes the most sense.
I agree with Dave, that if you want to do prototypes your speed and quality will
improve drastically with stereo vision -- it puts your "there" in the micro world... Also you will notice more since flat view onscreen doesn't translate to 3D in your mind well.
The large screens might be OK for some things, but not for active seeing when looking for tiny cracks, missing solder, adequate solder paste, etc.
Now to get busy cleaning and photographing the ones I mentioned...
--
John Griessen
Albuquerque NM
