[Noisebridge-discuss] Binocular microscope (was Re: eZ430 Chronos)

[Andy Isaacson]

On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 01:03:21AM -0800, Mikolaj Habryn wrote:
> build, but find the idea of soldering tiny 0.5mm pitch devices into
> quarter-inch-diameter enclosures faintly daunting, and would rather

Sounds like we need a microscope, some fine pitch solder, and a
sharpening stone for Weller tips.

I used a scope like this one at a previous job:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-10x-40x-Binocular-Stereo-Microscope-w-Boom-Light_W0QQitemZ370346425279QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item563a5dfbbf

I am not very good at fine soldering (I'm better than I was then, but
still not great), but I watched people hand-solder 0.5mm and smaller
pitch devices with that scope.  IIRC it had a ring light and a 2x
objective lens taking it to 20x-80x rather than 10x-40x, but the extreme
end of magnification was unusable.  The ring light is way better than a
bulb light, but workbench light is good enough for a start.

Looks like less awesome stereo scopes are available as cheap as $150
used on EBay.

I can donate $50 towards a NB stereo scope suitable for fine circuit
work.  Anybody else interested in contributing?  And, who can organize
the purchase -- I'm too busy until April.

-andy