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Serious question, did anyone else think those cheap USB microscopes were a total gimmick?
I grabbed one for $35 on a whim to check a BGA reball job, and the clarity on the 8-inch screen actually saved me from missing two bridged balls. What's your go-to for board inspection now?
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campbell.elliot6mo ago
Honestly depends what you mean by serious. For checking a quick reball, sure, it's a lifesaver. But try using it for real trace work or checking under chips, the field of view is a joke and the stand is always wobbly. It's a toy that sometimes does a real job. I still keep a loupe on my bench for most stuff because grabbing the microscope feels like setting up a whole production.
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patjones6mo ago
Exactly, it's that setup time that kills it. I'll be mid repair and just need a quick look, but by the time I've fought the wobbly stand and got the light right, I could have just used my loupe three times over. @the_harper is spot on about fixing the flaws yourself, but why should we? For the price, a stable base should be a given. It feels like they spent all the money on the camera and forgot people need to actually hold it still. Great idea, half baked in the real world.
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the_harper6mo ago
Campbell's right about the stand being a joke, it's the main thing holding it back from being actually useful. You can hack it with a third arm or some blue tack, but then you're just fixing a basic design flaw. It's a tool that makes you work for it, which defeats the whole point of a quick visual aid.
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