Visor magnification for SMD work?

[John]

I've been looking into getting an OptiVISOR for surface mount
soldering work but am unsure about what magnification level to use. As
my eyesight gets worse and worse as the years roll on, I was
considering just getting the DA-10 lens plate (3.5x, 4" working
distance) now, but that's going to force me to work pretty darn close
to the boards.

The DA-5 (2.5x, 8" working dist.) seems to be the most popular model
but I'm wondering if that's enough magnification to be useful for
TSSOP and 0603 work.

Anyone have any experience with magnifying visors? What magnification
vs. working distance recommendations do you have?

Thanks!
John

 

[Rich Webb]

John wrote:

I've been looking into getting an OptiVISOR for surface mount
soldering work but am unsure about what magnification level to use. As
my eyesight gets worse and worse as the years roll on, I was
considering just getting the DA-10 lens plate (3.5x, 4" working
distance) now, but that's going to force me to work pretty darn close
to the boards.

The DA-5 (2.5x, 8" working dist.) seems to be the most popular model
but I'm wondering if that's enough magnification to be useful for
TSSOP and 0603 work.

Anyone have any experience with magnifying visors? What magnification
vs. working distance recommendations do you have?

I've been satisfied with the standard 5 diopter but also use the
auxiliary loupe. That is, do the work at 8" but, if necessary,
get a closer look to inspect an area. A "pocket magnifier" triplet
is also handy.

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

 

[Ecnerwal]

In article <8q4hn31l697jmdklhrgkpnbkqo08ceuhcj@4ax.com>,
John <jmuchow@SPAMMENOTcamlight.com> wrote:

Anyone have any experience with magnifying visors? What magnification
vs. working distance recommendations do you have?

If you don't already wear glasses, a set of reading glasses from the
drugstore is a lot cheaper than an optivisor. If you do (or should) wear
glasses, a set with the magnification you want added to your regular
prescription is a good option, and can still be cheaper than an
optivisor if you get it from one of the on-line cheap glasses places.
Won't flip up, of course, but I find that it's fine, and beats having
two separate lenses to get filthy and keep clean.

5 diopter is about as much as is reasonable for single-lens magnifiers,
the working distance is too nutty otherwise. I use a set of glasses with
5 diopters added to my regular prescription, giving an 8" working
distance. Lots of light also helps significantly.

Stepping up to about $100 at the low end and upwards of $1000 on the
high end, you can either get "telescopic magnifiers" offering longer
working distance with higher magnification (and tunnel vision) or move
to a microscope (binocular, long working distance).

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

 

[DJ Delorie]

John <jmuchow@SPAMMENOTcamlight.com> writes:

The DA-5 (2.5x, 8" working dist.) seems to be the most popular model
but I'm wondering if that's enough magnification to be useful for
TSSOP and 0603 work.

I use the 5 for 0603 work all the time, and for 0402 and 0.5mm pitch
TQFP. I have a 10, but I only use it for 0201 and 01005 and the
occasional inspections - it's stronger, but you have to be pretty
close to the board to use it.

I started with just the 10 but quickly realized the 5 was needed. I
might get the next weaker lens too.

Measuring...

The 5 focuses 5-8 inches from the lens.

The 10 focuses 3-4 inches from the lens.

 

[radiosrfun]

"Ecnerwal" <LawrenceSMITH@SOuthernVERmont.NyET> wrote in message
news:LawrenceSMITH-3D4B39.10164331122007@news.verizon.net...

In article <8q4hn31l697jmdklhrgkpnbkqo08ceuhcj@4ax.com>,
John <jmuchow@SPAMMENOTcamlight.com> wrote:

Anyone have any experience with magnifying visors? What magnification
vs. working distance recommendations do you have?


If you don't already wear glasses, a set of reading glasses from the
drugstore is a lot cheaper than an optivisor. If you do (or should) wear
glasses, a set with the magnification you want added to your regular
prescription is a good option, and can still be cheaper than an
optivisor if you get it from one of the on-line cheap glasses places.
Won't flip up, of course, but I find that it's fine, and beats having
two separate lenses to get filthy and keep clean.

5 diopter is about as much as is reasonable for single-lens magnifiers,
the working distance is too nutty otherwise. I use a set of glasses with
5 diopters added to my regular prescription, giving an 8" working
distance. Lots of light also helps significantly.

Stepping up to about $100 at the low end and upwards of $1000 on the
high end, you can either get "telescopic magnifiers" offering longer
working distance with higher magnification (and tunnel vision) or move
to a microscope (binocular, long working distance).

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

I have "somewhere" - a set of the magnifier visors. Notice I said
"somewhere". I don't use them, found them to be too much of a pain in the
ass. I bought them WAY back before I ever got Bi-Focals. Even my glasses
interfere with any close up work. I take them off for any up close
inspections or soldering. I find I can see much better - that way. Even my
magnifying lamp can be a pain in the ass. Although - I will say - "lots" of
light - is key! Without good lighting - glasses or no glasses, it is hard to
see what you might be missing.

 

[phaeton]

Now that you can see what you're doing, how do you keep your hands
from shaking?

0_o


Getting old sucks.

-phaeton

 

[John]

Thanks guys!
I hadn't considered using the magnifying glasses but they're available
at most of the larger drugstores around here and I can try them out.
And they have got to cost less than the visor. If they work well,
problem solved!

If not, I'll order a 5-diopter OptiVISOR.
John

 

[John]

Found a great pair of 2.75X glasses that seem to do the job pretty
darn well. And at half the cost of an Optivisor (and much lighter),
I'm pretty happy.

I do wish I could have a loupe with it though (as Rich mentioned,
great idea) but I have a B&L 7x Hastings Triplet loupe that I can grab
if needed for inspection, etc.

Thanks again all for your recommendations!
John

 

[Joel Koltner]

"phaeton" <blahbleh666@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:005f21b1-744e-4f71-a60f-c72fb069f21c@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

Now that you can see what you're doing, how do you keep your hands
from shaking?

Use your pinky (and potentially other fingers) as a bit of an "outrigger" --
it helps. I also use (and have used, even when I was much younger) the kind
of tweezers that hold themselves shut by default and require force to open --
far fewer "dropped" 0402 components that way.

 

[Nemo]

I'm a bit short sighted so this may not apply to well-sighted people,
but -

I use both x4 and x7 loupes (the single lens things that you hold in one
eye like a monocle) for inspection and real close-up work, and x7 stereo
magnifiers (about Ł20, that's $40) for normal assembly work, 'cos stereo
vision is much less wearing than squinting for several minutes, and
stereo vision really helps position the soldering iron etc correctly.

The thing to watch out for is not to get too low a magnification. Stereo
magnifiers clip round your head and mean the lenses are maybe 3 inches
from your face, then the PCB you're looking at is another 3" beyond that
to focus it. This means that if the magnifiers are only x4, the target
is so far away you lose the benefit of the magnification. I found I
could see things just as well with my short sighted vision as I could
with stereo x4 magnifiers, because I could get my eye nearer the target
without it going out of focus. Once I changed to x7, it was way better
than bare eyes.

A loupe, even one of just x4, is useful (and only about Ł2) because your
eye can get really near the components and thus gets the benefit of the
magnification.
--
Nemo

 

[XTL]

On Jan 17, 10:34 pm, Nemo <P...@nospam.nospam.nospam.nospam.co.uk>
wrote:

I'm a bit short sighted so this may not apply to well-sighted people,
but -

I use both x4 and x7 loupes (the single lens things that you hold in one
eye like a monocle) for inspection and real close-up work, and x7 stereo
magnifiers (about Ł20, that's $40) for normal assembly work, 'cos stereo
vision is much less wearing than squinting for several minutes, and
stereo vision really helps position the soldering iron etc correctly.

Would an eyepatch be any help for those who have to squint?
You'd get to keep both your eyes relaxed and open while only seeing
through one.

(I don't needed magnification myself, my eyes can adapt to a lot
and my +.5 eyesight is supposed to "correct" to perfect with age.)