[HBQRP] SMD soldering vision ..

[Arnie Grubbs]

Hi Bill,

Well, I already have something for a SMD soldering  vision helper... 
I got tired of the magnifier head gear that you can get with lights built
in, to work on SMD..  so I came up with something else.

 Actually a couple of things.
The first thing I tried was small USB microscope something like this one..
http://www.adafruit.com/products/636


The one I used was a 1.3 Megapixel unit.  I had software that would let me
flip the image from the camera so that I could place it on the back side of
my soldering platform and still be able to view things in the proper perspective.
This way when you move your iron into the field of view from the right, it looks
like it is coming in from the right on the screen, and the bottom of the screen
is the edge closest to you.  The problem with this is that the processing
delay with the USB and PC made for a picture that was slightly behind 
all the time and it was annoying to use.

I also have tried a couple of  "digital document presenters"  that I got off E-bay.
Heres one something like mine..


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lumens-6X-Optical-Zoom-SXGA-Digital-Visual-Presenter-LUM-DC265-/121277116332?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3cadefac

Another one I got just to try is something like this one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AverMedia-AverVision300i-Document-Camera-w-Accessories/221362587390?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D18845%26meid%3D4909195012923968519%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D8532%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D231157727579%26


These are like the old "over head" projectors that were used in classrooms with

transparent sheets that you could draw on.  The difference is that you can place
an object on these and it does not have to be transparent.  It just shows an
image on your screen (S-Video,VGA , XVGA or composite video out) of what you have
on the table.  Some have magnification, color adjust, flipping of the image and image capture.
All have a lighting system and a camera support built in..

If you are lucky you can get some of these on the auction site for about $20-$25 if no one happens to want one at the same time.  They work fairly well and 
would make a nice soldering station video system.

I found that one of the better things to use is this Video microscope.  It looks
like the USB unit, but gives composite video out.  Very little delay when
compared to a USB camera.  Check out the video at the bottom of this page
for some info and to see it working on a small 7 inch screen. 

http://www.adafruit.com/products/1345


 I have a 17 inch TV/monitor that I use with this one.  I like it very much.

 I am thinking that I am going to build a small combo -work station/stand  out of some 80/20 brand hardware
that I bought from work as scrap metals. Look up 80/20 inc. on the web for info it that stuff..

I am thinking It will have a camera support and something to hold the vid screen. 
Also included will be mounting spot for the soldering fume extractor
fan on the far side of the work zone. I use a medium sized "muffin" fan to
draw fumes away  while working.  It makes it more pleasant not to have
to deal with fumes in your eyes and lungs.

 Also I was thinking since 80/20 is slotted,  I would use it to make a sliding x/y table work area so that you can lay the
board down on the work table and move it left/right or closer/farther away
from you so that it is easy to position the work under the video cameras
field of view, without having to mess with the camera.

It would also be nice to have fixtures on it to hold my home made vacuum placement tool, solder paste dispenser, hot air gun, wire solder and soldering iron. 
Not sure how that will all come together yet..still thinking about how to build
this so I won't have to re-do it when I think of something else!  

I hope these ideas help.  There are a number of good ideas on
YouTube for SMD soldering tools, re-flow ovens, ect.

73 - Arnie KA0NCR