@Dave,

I too went through the process of attempting to resolve the problem of soldering SMD components. I tried a variety of USB Microscopes because they were inexpensive while the vendors were promising performance that simply wasn't good enough. However, microscope also have their foibles. I came to find that its best to call the microscope company and tell'm your budget and your goal. If they are an authentic company, they'll help you make the correct choice.

If you are just soldering a few 1206 and 806s here and there, well its fairly easy to solder these by hand using a temperature controlled pencile soldering iron. If however, you are doing a bunch of boards with many different sized SMDs, I recommend ya take the extra effort to fabricate an SMD oven. The ovens are simple to make and are VERY easy and effective.

I used a Black & Decker 1200 Watt InfraWave toaster oven which have low mass 'crystal' heater elements that exhibit low thermal inertia.

Check out this inexpensive SMD oven controller and homebrew website.



tron nee

I do.? An old american optical, 5 different powers, boom stand. Old fashioned fiber optics light (bulb set on low).

Make sure that if you buy one used, that it's not made for chip examination, and that the working distance between the work and the lens is fairly large.? Chip microscopes have almost no working distance.

You'll want a good fan as well.

As for the "hold your head just right, mine doesn't seem to have that problem.

Harvey

I have the trinocular version of this scope. I needed the camera for creating YouTube videos. See website.

You are correct on viewing angle you need to see exactly through the center of the eye piece. Also the little fluorescent light isn't bright enough under higher mag so splurge for the led version. The other issue you'll have is solder fumes if you're working on a board. Get a good fume extractor too. You can see the quality of the view in some of my videos to give you an idea what you'll see.

73! Mark KA6WKE

I use one of these 


The built in light is a bit rubbish so you'll need a ring light as well 


The base is not really heavy enough so it is best to clamp it down but 
otherwise it works reasonably well. Forget the included 20x lenses - 
they are too powerful for PCB work. You do need to hold your head just 
right but that goes for pretty much any optical microscope. You get used 
to it and having binocular vision makes such a difference.

Les


On 01/11/2019 00:24, Dave wrote:
> Anybody using a microscope made for soldering? I finally realized I 
> need to be able to see better, and I will pay for the needed fix. I 
> don't think I want a USB style that has the little monitor/display but 
> rather something like these:
>
> https://www.amscope.com/applications/electronics/circuit-boards-general-electronics.html 
>
>
> Anyone use one? The only con I see often complained about is if you 
> don't hold your head just right, the view disappears, kind of like 
> with a rifle scope on high power.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> 
>

Anybody using a microscope made for soldering? I finally realized I need to be able to see better, and I will pay for the needed fix. I don't think I want a USB style that has the little monitor/display but rather something like these:



Anyone use one? The only con I see often complained about is if you don't hold your head just right, the view disappears, kind of like with a rifle scope on high power.

Thanks

Anybody using a microscope made for soldering? I finally realized I need to be able to see better, and I will pay for the needed fix. I don't think I want a USB style that has the little monitor/display but rather something like these:



Anyone use one? The only con I see often complained about is if you don't hold your head just right, the view disappears, kind of like with a rifle scope on high power.

Thanks


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anybody using a microscope made for soldering? I finally realized I need to be able to see better, and I will pay for the needed fix. I don't think I want a USB style that has the little monitor/display but rather something like these:



Anyone use one? The only con I see often complained about is if you don't hold your head just right, the view disappears, kind of like with a rifle scope on high power.

Thanks

What OS are you using. Maybe Win7 will have a better feel for me to try it again. I like it originally as it reminded
me of Circad from Holophase. Circad is really nice, but stupidly overpriced.

Otherwise, Kicad is hard to beat.

?