Homebrew PCBs

Hi
 
 I was looking for a through hole micro scope that can be used to examine the walls of a drilled hole after plating and also to examine the exposed rings in a multilayer pcb. I found one at this website http://www.startinternational.com/pdf/Optical/31a_OPGCP875.pdf but it is expensive. Does anyone know where i can get a similar instrument at a cheaper rate? Is there any similar instrument?
 
Balan





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,
    If you want something really cheap then have a look at:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=63-1133

    I have an older model and it is very fiddly to use.  Probably not the quality and performance you are after.

Cheers,
Darcy

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Balan 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 12:05 AM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Through Hole microscope


  Hi

  I was looking for a through hole micro scope that can be used to examine the walls of a drilled hole after plating and also to examine the exposed rings in a multilayer pcb. I found one at this website http://www.startinternational.com/pdf/Optical/31a_OPGCP875.pdf but it is expensive. Does anyone know where i can get a similar instrument at a cheaper rate? Is there any similar instrument?

  Balan





  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Check out the Intel Qx3 digital microscope and it's competitor.

These use your monitor as the display so you can 'keep looking up' 
and still see the action.

Seems they are going around $50.00 or so.


Can you let us know why this is a good idea ?

Dave





--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "DHC" <dcurrey@p...> wrote:
> Hi,
>     If you want something really cheap then have a look at:
> http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%
5Fid=63-1133
> 
>     I have an older model and it is very fiddly to use.  Probably 
not the quality and performance you are after.
> 
> Cheers,
> Darcy
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Balan 
>   To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 12:05 AM
>   Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Through Hole microscope
> 
> 
>   Hi
> 
>   I was looking for a through hole micro scope that can be used to 
examine the walls of a drilled hole after plating and also to examine 
the exposed rings in a multilayer pcb. I found one at this website 
http://www.startinternational.com/pdf/Optical/31a_OPGCP875.pdf but it 
is expensive. Does anyone know where i can get a similar instrument 
at a cheaper rate? Is there any similar instrument?
> 
>   Balan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
>   Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and 
files:
>   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 
> 
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
>   Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
>     a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
>     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/
>       
>     b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>     Homebrew_PCBs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>       
>     c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of 
Service. 

> 
> 
> 
>   ---
>   Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>   Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>   Version: 6.0.556 / Virus Database: 348 - Release Date: 12/26/2003
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Balan, are you a home brewer doing plated through hole ?
Not many are going to this level so I was curious what your 
accomplishments are.

The microscope you mentioned sounds kind of specialized. I don't 
think you will find something similar, unless of course you know 
how the optics function in the device, and look for low cost mass 
produced item with similar optical arrangement that's designed 
for another purpose. What was the price for the through hole 
microscope ?

Adam

Balan wrote:

> Hi
>  
>  I was looking for a through hole micro scope that can be used to examine the walls of a drilled hole after plating and also to examine the exposed rings in a multilayer pcb. I found one at this website http://www.startinternational.com/pdf/Optical/31a_OPGCP875.pdf but it is expensive. Does anyone know where i can get a similar instrument at a cheaper rate? Is there any similar instrument?
>  
> Balan
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

Adam Seychell wrote:
> Balan, are you a home brewer doing plated through hole ?
> Not many are going to this level so I was curious what your 
> accomplishments are.
> 
> The microscope you mentioned sounds kind of specialized. I don't 
> think you will find something similar, unless of course you know 
> how the optics function in the device, and look for low cost mass 
> produced item with similar optical arrangement that's designed 
> for another purpose. What was the price for the through hole 
> microscope ?
> 
> Adam
> 
> Balan wrote:
> 
>>Hi
>> 
>> I was looking for a through hole micro scope that can be used to examine the walls of a drilled hole after plating and also to examine the exposed rings in a multilayer pcb. I found one at this website http://www.startinternational.com/pdf/Optical/31a_OPGCP875.pdf but it is expensive. Does anyone know where i can get a similar instrument at a cheaper rate? Is there any similar instrument?

Another way is to saw the board near a hole with a fine
saw, polish up the cross-sectional cut on a belt or disc
sander, then use a conventional microscope.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" 
> Check out the Intel Qx3 digital microscope and it's competitor.
> 
> These use your monitor as the display so you can 'keep looking up' 
> and still see the action.
> 
> Seems they are going around $50.00 or so.

I've tried using one of these for solder inspection some smt work 
(tqfp pads).  It didn't have enough field depth to be much use for 
that.  The bottom lens had to be practically sitting on the board to 
see anything.  You'd have to modify the bottom of the unit --it has 
an cowling that gets in the way.  For very flat subjects it might 
work.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" <dave_mucha@y...>
wrote:
> 
> Check out the Intel Qx3 digital microscope and it's competitor.
> 
> These use your monitor as the display so you can 'keep looking up' 
> and still see the action.
> 
> Seems they are going around $50.00 or so.

I got lucky and picked one up at a yard sale for $5. Poor guy simply
didn't know how to install hardware under Windows, and didn't bother
to read the instructions.

It was all there, box and everything, like new.

Steve