Phorum homemade microscope for soldering small parts. We turn any webcam into a powerful microscope. place - imported microscope for soldering

Hello, habra users! This post will show you how to make one out of an old one. webcams qualitative microscope. It's really easy to do. If you are interested, continue under the hack.

Step 1: Required Materials

Actually, the webcam itself
Screwdriver
Super glue
Empty box
Brain and some free time

Step 2: Opening the webcam

First, open up your camera. But be careful not to damage the CMOS sensor.

You need to extend the capture button wires to get still images. I also took out the LED on/off wires. They were gray and yellow (yours may vary).

Step 3: Working with the Lens

Now we need to flip the lens over the CMOS sensor. Place it 2-3 mm from this sensor and secure it (for example, with superglue).

Step 4: Assembling the Camera

After turning the lens over, put the camera back together. It is now ready to use as a microscope.

Step 5: Final Stage

Now you need to attach the camera to the box, as shown in the photo. Now she is ready to receive images!
You can also put a mirror so that the light spreads throughout the “object of study” and under it. Now our microscope is completely ready!

Several pictures taken with this webcam/microscope

Enjoy! ;)

A microscope is needed not only for studying the surrounding world and objects, although this is so interesting! Sometimes this is just a necessary thing that will make it easier to repair equipment, help make neat solders, and avoid mistakes in fastening miniature parts and their exact location. But it is not necessary to purchase an expensive unit. There are great alternatives. What can you make a microscope from at home?

Microscope from a camera

One of the simplest and most affordable ways, but with everything you need. You will need a camera with a 400 mm, 17 mm lens. There is no need to disassemble or remove anything, the camera will remain working.

We make a microscope from a camera with our own hands:

We connect a 400 mm and a 17 mm lens.
We bring a flashlight to the lens and turn it on.
We apply a drug, substance or other micro-subject of study to the glass.

We focus and photograph the object under study in an enlarged state. The photo from such a homemade microscope turns out to be quite clear; the device can enlarge hair or fur, or onion scales. More suitable for entertainment.

Microscope from a mobile phone

The second simplified method for making an alternative microscope. You need any phone with a camera, preferably one without auto focus. Additionally, you will need a lens from a small laser pointer. It is usually small, rarely exceeding 6 mm. It is important not to scratch.

We fix the removed lens on the camera eye with the convex side outward. We press it with tweezers, straighten it, you can make a frame around the edges from a piece of foil. It will hold a small piece of glass. We point the camera with the lens at the object and look at the phone screen. You can simply observe or take an electronic photograph.

If you don’t currently have a laser pointer at hand, you can use the same method to use a sight from a children’s toy with a laser beam; you just need the glass itself.

Microscope from a webcam

Detailed instructions for making a USB microscope from a webcam. You can use the simplest and oldest model, but this will affect the image quality.

Additionally, you need optics from a sight from a children's weapon or other similar toy, a tube for the sleeve and other small items at hand. For backlighting, LEDs taken from the old laptop matrix will be used.

Making a microscope from a webcam with your own hands:

Preparation. We disassemble the camera, leaving the pixel matrix. We remove the optics. Instead, we fix a bronze bushing in this place. It should match the size of the new optics; it can be turned from a tube on a lathe.
The new optics from the sight must be secured in the manufactured sleeve. To do this, we drill two holes approximately 1.5 mm each and immediately make threads on them.
We stick in the bolts, which should follow the threads and match in size. Thanks to screwing, you can adjust the focus distance. For convenience, you can put beads or balls on the bolts.
Backlight. We use fiberglass. It's better to take double-sided. We make a ring of the appropriate size.
For LEDs and resistors you need to cut small tracks. We solder it.
We install the backlight. To fix it, you need a threaded nut, the size is equal to the inside of the manufactured ring. Solder.
We provide food. To do this, from the wire that will connect the former camera and the computer, we bring out two wires +5V and -5V. After which the optical part can be considered ready.

You can do it in a simpler way and make a stand-alone light from a gas lighter with a flashlight. But when it all works from different sources, the result is a cluttered design.

To improve your home microscope, you can build a moving mechanism. An old floppy drive will work just fine for this. This is a once used device for floppy disks. You need to disassemble it, remove the device that moved the read head.

If desired, we make a special work table from plastic, plexiglass or other available material. A tripod with a mount will be useful, which will facilitate the use of a homemade device. Here you can turn on your imagination.

There are also other instructions and diagrams on how to make a microscope. But most often the above methods are used. They may vary only slightly depending on the presence or absence of key parts. But, the need for invention is cunning, you can always come up with something of your own and show off your originality.

DIY microscope photo

A microscope for soldering is a device that allows many people to carry out precise work on electronic cards, microcircuits and much more. When you are engaged in repairs and restoration of all kinds of electronic devices, you are periodically faced with the need to work with small parts.

Thus, a USB microscope designed for, as well as other small parts, would be an excellent assistant. The modern variety of devices allows a person to choose an excellent microscope specifically for their needs.

Application area:

Precision work;
Inspection of surfaces, as well as quality control;
Soldering and installation of electronic boards.

A USB microscope, designed for soldering small parts and microcircuits, is used in most cases to detect microcracks in motherboards. The mechanisms of most modern USB microscopes are equipped with manual focusing, continuously variable magnification, illumination and other useful functions. The USB cable, through which information is transferred to a personal computer, also greatly simplifies the work, as well as the fact that it is equipped with backlighting.

Using special software with a scale, the USB microscope can also be used to measure angles, distances, areas and radii of magnified objects down to the micrometer.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that most modern microscopes are equipped with illumination, the ability to transfer data to a computer, as well as many other useful features for soldering. They also have the ability to work as a webcam.

With the help of this device, it is quite possible to take digital photographs of microcircuits, subsequently enlarge them, shoot videos and transfer all useful information to a computer for subsequent study of all the details of the work.

Technical data

A modern microscope is the latest device, equipped with illumination for soldering microcircuits and other small parts. In this regard, you need to know the technical data of the useful device.

Technical data:

Camera: 2.0 MPixel (most microscopes are equipped with such a camera);
Magnification: 20-200x;
CMOS image sensor;
Manual focusing within 10-500 millimeters;
Photo format: BMP or JPEG;
Video format: AVI with the possibility of 30 frames/second;
Lighting: in most cases there are 8 LEDs with the ability to adjust brightness (using the backlight makes work much easier);
Photo/video resolution: 2560×2048 (5M), 2000×1600, 1600×1280 (2M), 1280×1024, 1024×960, 1024×768, 800×600, 640×480, 352×288, 320×2 40 , 160×120;
The power source allows you to use the USB port of a laptop computer, without the need for an additional battery;
System requirements are mostly similar: Windows® in 2000 / XP/Windows Vista -/Windows 7.

What is included?

A modern soldering device includes the following components:

Microscope;
USB cable;
Tripod;
Guide to using the IC soldering tool;
Software with all necessary drivers;

Features of the microscope

It is worth noting that today solders are not too eager to purchase these devices for soldering, believing that the usual magnifying glass, worn on the head, is much more convenient and simpler. Of course, a magnifying glass is much simpler, but in all other respects a magnifying glass is inferior to a microscope (it is not equipped with illumination or communication with a computer).

Like any modern device designed to make work simpler and less labor-intensive, a microscope has a number of significant advantages over a device such as a magnifying glass, thanks to which the shareholder can forget about how he previously used a magnifying glass attached to his head for these purposes.

Microscope Features:

Compactness;
Portability;
Light weight;
Adjustable zoom (magnification) of the lens;
Possibility of illumination of the part being repaired;
High sharpness;
Equipped with high-quality lighting;
Ease of replacing any elements of the device;
Additional accessories for the safety of the device during transportation;
Ease of use;
Ability to work with photographs and videos.

DIY microscope

If you are tired of having a magnifying glass on your head, it will be interesting to know that you can make a homemade microscope for high-quality soldering. However, this will require a little skill and a minimum of old equipment. Of course, to make a microscope with your own hands you will need a children's equivalent - a toy microscope. You can use an old children's device, such as the Naturalist. In addition, you will have to use a webcam, which you are unlikely to use anymore.

Let's say right away that if you are not sure that you will finish the job, and a magnifying glass is a more familiar device for you, it is better not to start, because otherwise you risk wasting time, as well as using up materials that may still be useful. In this case, it will be better to purchase a new device for soldering microcircuits. But for those who are confident, the procedure is presented below.

Procedure:

First, we will prepare materials for work, organize a workplace;
After that, take the webcam, and then screw it into the eyepiece. You can use plastic glue to secure the camera;
Next, we use a transistor in SOT-23 (actual size 3x3 millimeters) or a resistor 1206, the length of which is 3x2.6 millimeters;
If desired, the microscope can be equipped with illumination.

With little effort and time, you can use a DIY USB microscope without straining your eyesight, and you won’t need a magnifying glass. Thus, a microscope successfully replaces a magnifying glass.

As you can see, a USB microscope from a web camera for soldering is quite easy to make from scrap materials within a few hours. For this will be needed:

Webcam;
soldering iron with solder and flux;
screwdrivers;
tripod spare parts;
LEDs, if they are not in the camera;
glue or epoxy resin;
program for broadcasting images to an LCD monitor.

This is the design of a homemade microscope from an SMD inspection chamber that can be obtained.

The following video is devoted to the principle of making a microscope from a webcam with your own hands. A tripod was used and a video of the soldering process of the USB connector is shown.

Microscope from a camera

To be honest, this “microscope” looks quite strange. The principle is the same as with a webcam - the optics are turned 180 degrees. There are even special ones for SLR cameras.

Below you can see the image obtained from such a homemade microscope for soldering. A large depth of field is visible - this is normal.

Disadvantages of a homemade microscope::

short working distance;
large dimensions;
You need to come up with a way to mount the camera comfortably.

Advantages of a camera for soldering:

can be made from an existing SLR camera;
magnification is smoothly adjustable;
there is autofocus.

Microscope from a mobile phone

The most popular way to make a microscope from a mobile phone with your own hands is to screw a lens from a CD or DVD player to the smartphone camera. This is the design of the microscope.

Lenses in this technique are used with a very short focal length. Therefore, using such a microscope, you can only monitor the state of soldering of SMD components and look in the solder. You simply cannot get a soldering iron between the board and the lens. Below is a video that shows what magnification such a homemade microscope gives.

Another option is a microscope for a mobile phone. This thing looks like this and costs just a penny.

In more advanced cases, a mobile phone is hung on an existing stereo or mono microscope for small details. I got some good pictures this way. This method is important when photomicrographs need to be taken for training or consultation with other artists.

4th place - USB microscope for soldering

Chinese USB microscopes are now popular, essentially made from web cameras on and or even with a built-in monitor, for example USB microscopes and. Such electron microscopes are more intended for visual diagnostics of electronics, video inspection of soldering quality, or, for example, for checking the sharpness of knives.

Let me remind you that the video signal delay in such microscopes is significant. With a built-in monitor it is much easier to solder, but there is no depth of field and three-dimensional perception of micro-objects.

Disadvantages of a USB microscope:

temporary lags that do not allow quick soldering;
low optical resolution;
lack of volumetric perception;
As a rule, this is a stationary option, connected to a computer or outlet.

Advantages of a USB microscope:

the ability to work at a comfortable eye distance;
you can take videos and photos;
relatively low cost;
low weight and dimensions;
You can easily look at the board at an angle.

Reviews about them are quite good. Both of them are certainly not role models, but they look impressive. The image quality is good, the working distance is 100 or 200 mm depending on the attachments. These microscopes can be used for soldering with proper setup and care.

See the mini-review in the video, the image through the lens is shown at the 9th minute.

2nd place - imported microscope for soldering

Among foreign brands, Carl Zeiss, Reichers, Tamron, Leica, Olympus, Nikon are famous for microscope equipment. Models such as Nikon SMZ-1, Olympus VMZ, Leica GZ6, Olympus SZ3060, Olympus SZ4045ESD, Nikon SMZ-645 have rightfully earned the title of folk binocular microscopes for soldering for their image quality. Below are approximate prices for popular foreign models:

Leica s6e/s4e (7-40x) 110 mm - $1300;
Leica GZ6 (7x-40x) 110 mm - $900;
Olympus sz4045 (6.7x-40x) 110 mm - $500;
Olympus VMZ 1-4x 10x 90 mm - $500;
Nikon SMZ-645 (8x-50x) 115 mm - $800;
Nikon SMZ-1 (7x-30x) 100 mm - $400;
good Nikon SMZ-10a - $1500.

In principle, the prices are not astronomical, but these are used microscopes that can be bought on eBay or Amazon with paid delivery. The benefit here needs to be considered in each particular case separately.

1st place - domestic microscope for soldering

Among truly domestic microscopes, it is well known LOMO and they make applied microscopes under the SME brand. The most suitable new microscopes for soldering are MSP-1 option 23 or . True, their price tag is not childish.

I have to say that Altami, Biomed, Microhoney, Levenhuk- all these are domestic sellers of Chinese microscopes. Many people complain about the quality of workmanship. We do not consider them for professional use. True, there are tolerable specimens. This depends on the conditions of transportation and storage. The fact is that their optics are adjusted using silicone glue with appropriate reliability.

From old stocks or used, truly Soviet ones can be taken on Avito:

BM-51-2 8.75x 140 mm - 5 thousand rubles. play around;
MBS-1 (MBS-2) 3x-100x 65 mm - up to 20 thousand rubles;
MBS-9 3x-100x 65 mm - up to 20 thousand rubles;
OGME-P3 3x-100x 65/190mm - up to 20 thousand rubles. (I have one at work, I like it);
MBS-10 3x-100x 95 mm— up to 30 thousand rubles;
BMI-1Ts 45x 200 mm - more than 200 thousand rubles. - measuring.

Results of the microscope rating

If you are still thinking about which microscope to choose for soldering, then my winner is MBS-10- the people's choice for many years now.

Rating of microscopes by purpose

Microscope for mobile phone repair

The following microscopes for soldering and repairing smartphones are sorted by increasing image quality:

MBS-10 (low contrast, unrealistic colors at high magnifications, discrete switching of magnifications, 90 mm distance);
MBS-9 (65 mm distance and low contrast);
Nikon SMZ-2b/2t 10cm (8x-50x)/(10-63x);
Nikon SMZ-645 (8x-50x) 115 mm;
Leica s6e/s4e (7-40x) 110 mm;
Olympus sz61 (7-45x) 110 mm;
Leica GZ6 (7x-40x) 110 mm;
Olympus sz4045 (6.7x-40x) 110 mm;
Olympus VMZ 1-4x 10x with a working distance of 90 mm;
Olympus sz3060 (9x-40x) 110 mm;
Nikon SMZ-1 (7x-30x) 100 mm;
Bausch and Lomb StereoZoom 7 (working distance only 77 mm);
Leica StereoZoom 7;
Nikon SMZ-10a with Nikon Plan ED 1x lens and 10x/23 mm eyepieces;
Nikon SMZ-U (7.5x-75x) working distance with Nikon Plan ED 1x 85 mm, with original 10x/24 mm eyepieces.

Microscope for repairing tablets and motherboards

For such applications, the issue of maximum resolution is not so important; magnifications of 7x-15x work there. They require a good universal tripod and a low minimum magnification. The following microscopes for soldering motherboards and tablets are sorted by degree of image quality magnification:

Leica s4e/s6e (110mm) with 35mm field;
Olympus sz4045/sz51/sz61 (110mm) with a field of 33 mm;
Nikon SMZ-1 (100mm) with a field of 31.5 mm;
Olympus sz4045;
Olympus sz51/61;
Leica s4e/s6e;
Nikon SMZ-1.

Microscope for a jeweler or dental technician

The following microscopes for the dental technician or jeweler with a long working distance are sorted by degree of image quality improvement:

Nikon SMZ-1 (7x-30x) with 10x/21 mm eyepieces;
Leica GZ4 (7x-30x) 9 cm with 0.5x lens (19 cm);
Olympus sz4045 150 mm;
Nikon SMZ-10 150 mm.

Microscope for engraving

The following microscopes for engraving with a large depth of field are sorted in ascending order of image quality:

Nikon SMZ-1;
Olympus sz4045;
Leica gz4.

How to check a used microscope when purchasing

Before purchasing a used microscope for soldering, it is easy to check (partially taken from this specialist):

inspect frame microscope for scratches and impact marks. If there are signs of impact, the optics may be knocked off.
check play of handles positioning - it should not exist.
Mark a small dot on a piece of paper with a pencil or pen and check if the dot doubles at different magnifications.
when turning the microscope adjustment knobs, listen for the presence crunch or slippage. If they are, the plastic gears may be broken and they are not sold separately.
inspect the eyepieces for presence enlightenment. It is often scratched or erased due to improper care.
rotate the eyepieces around their axis on a white background. If image artifacts are also spinning, then the problem is dirt on the eyepieces - that’s half the problem.
if visible gray spots, faded image or dots, then the prism or auxiliary optics may be dirty. Sometimes a whitish coating, dust and even fungus are found on it.
The most difficult thing in diagnosing a soldering microscope is to determine the weak ignorance vertically. If it is difficult for your eyes to adapt to the image in a couple of minutes, then it is better not to take such a microscope for soldering - it has severe misalignment. If, when soldering under a microscope, your eyes get tired within 30-60 minutes and your head starts to hurt, then this is weak ignorance. Slight differences in height between objects are difficult to determine when purchasing.
inspect the spare parts, if available.

How to mount a microscope on your desktop

There are many ways to mount a soldering microscope to your workbench. Manufacturers solve these problems with the help of a barbell. They keep the microscope from falling and make it easy to position it relative to the board.

A homemade microscope stand or tripod is usually made from an old photographic enlarger or other available resources and parts.

But Master Sergei made a microscope stand for soldering microcircuits with his own hands from furniture tubes. It turned out well. See a video review of it below.

Master Sergei and Master Soldering worked on the material. In comments write what microscopes you use for soldering microcircuits and how good they are.

Hi all! In this article I want to talk about a USB microscope from China. I bought this microscope for convenience when soldering small SMD components. It is well suited for this purpose as it comes with a tripod. The maximum magnification for this microscope is 250x, although on Aliexpress you can also find 500x and even 1000x. To enlarge the smallest SMD components, 250x magnification is enough, so it is better not to spend money on more expensive microscopes if you do not use all the capabilities of the device. The microscope is supplied in a cardboard box. The kit includes a tripod, a disk with the program and the microscope itself.

The tripod consists of three parts and can be easily disassembled. This is very convenient, since it can be placed in any position we need.

If you slightly loosen the bolt on the middle part of the tripod, the tripod can be rotated; when you have found the desired position of the tripod, you need to tighten the bolt back and the tripod will stand in the position you set.

The device itself has a plastic body, on the top of which there is a regulator for adjusting the focal length. The microscope also has two buttons. One zoom button and the second snap button (for taking photographs). I think you understood the purpose of these buttons from their name.

The illumination of the microscope consists of 8 LEDs, which are located along the perimeter around the camera.

The brightness of the LEDs can be changed using a regulator located on the microscope wire. This brightness adjustment is similar to adjusting the sound level on headphones.

The minimum magnification of this microscope is 25x.

The device is inserted into the tripod using a recess on the body.

Here's an example of using this microscope:

If the board does not fit under the microscope, you need to increase the height of the tripod; I did this by placing a thick notebook under the tripod. To show how this microscope works, I recorded a short video:

Video of USB microscope in operation

In general, a very useful thing, especially when soldering mobile phone boards. Good luck to all! Kirill.

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