Recommend to a Friend
An Excellent Microscope For Electronics Assembly
5.0
I do a fair amount of circuit board assembly using surface-mount components. I design, populate, and program my own designs. For years I have been attempting to install surface-mount components using a variety of loupes and magnifiers. Several weeks ago I made the decision to order an "assembly scope."
I did a great deal of research online trying to find a scope that was well made and within the budget I set for this purpose (up to $2000). I was surprised to find there are very few user reviews of assembly scopes online. What a puzzle. I decided to order this Aven Tools package from Touchboards.com (I have done business with their sister company, Tequipment.net and have been very pleased with the quality, service, and price).
As a side note, I also ordered the .5X Auxiliary Lens to use with this scope - this gives me about 12" of space to work under the scope. That will allow me to hold PCBs in my PanaVise while I do my assembly work.
This scope and stand are excellent! The scope and stand arrived in two boxes. The "smaller" of the two boxes was listed as weighing better than 45 lbs. - it had the stand assembly inside. The scope, light unit, transformer, and Auxiliary lens were in the other box.
The stand for this scope is very well made. The base is an extremely heavy enameled metal casting. All parts are very well-machined. As an example of the substance of the stand, the vertical post (machined of solid steel) weighs 6 lbs 13.75 ozs. The tension knobs used on the stand are quality pieces; rather than round-end steel studs the threads of the knobs have brass inserts at their ends so they won't scar the vertical post/sliding double horizontal arm. The stand is a quality piece of equipment that will hold the scope very rigidly.
The LED ring light that comes in this scope package is simply great. It provides "more than enough" illumination for most any work anyone would want to do. I don't see well in shadows and, despite my visual limitations I find I don't turn the dimmer up more than "two notches." Over time the LEDS will lose some of their intensity (that's what LEDs do), but I think this ring light will serve me well for the next ten years or so.
Now, for the scope itself. This unit is actually made by Carton Optical, a Japanese Optical firm that has been in business since the early 1950s. They now have a plant in Thailand; that's where this unit was built. These folks make very nice optical equipment.
I have done professional photography since the 1970's and I can spot an optical problem very quickly. I have not perceived any problems with the optics of this scope; I rate it a very strong A. This scope is a fine example of what the Carton folks design and build.
Now, I need to address the reality of a "zoom" scope. Despite the fact that this is a rather "low magnification" scope, it is possible to set the depth-of-field such that it is difficult to work under the lens. I did not have the .5X Auxiliary lens attached when I first began to use the scope. I quickly found that I could get the label on a 0805 resistor in focus but the base would be out of focus - that makes it hard to solder. I quickly attached the .5X Auxiliary lens and raised the scope to about 10" above my circuit board. I then "zoomed out" a bit, focused again, and things were fine. My point to this? When you are buying a microscope be sure that you appreciate the level of magnification you actually need. And be sure, too, you have enough room to work under the scope. This includes finding a stand that will accommodate what you hope to do.
This Microscope package from Touchboards.com, Aven Tools, and Carton Optics is a very nice set of equipment. If you intend to do electronics work or metal engraving you might consider purchasing the .5X Auxiliary lens, too. I am very pleased with my purchase and the service I received from Touchboards.com.
Bill
Verified Purchase
Bill Havins of Havins Designs on
Jan 02, 2019
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