Stereo microscope for lathe and drill press?

[Hauk]

Since I am doing a lot of rather delicate machining I would love to add a stereo microscope to my lathe and drill press.

Have anyone done this?

Suggestions for affordable microscopes? (less than USD 1000)

Tips for making interchangable stands to use the same microscope for lathe and drillpress?

Best regards,
Hauk

 

[goldstar31]

As a follow up to your brass casting question, most of an older brigade appreciate a microscope. There was lots of info on 'Geometer's' writing in Model Engineer and called Microscope on the Lathe. I suspect that it is still on the 'net. I have two. One is a brass affair whilst the other is a cheap child's toy. Again, I have a pair of Surgeons Binoculars which my daughter gave me- as she is a surgeon!Somewhere is a home made affair and I suspect that it is in Hemingwaykits catalogue. Where you get the information is not from cheap Chinese tomfoolery but from the stuff used by classic clock and watchmakers. Nice topic- my old mate was Chairman of the British Horological Society. My old tutor was clockmaker and co author of Northumbrian Small Pipes and his collection formed the Bagpipe Museum in Morpeth. I grew up with Bronze Age skeletons and cistes and a trepanned skull. Life being what it is, I married a lady who had her own spare skull and it lived in a cream cracker box. Our dentist daughter has it now. Married a consultant heart surgeon.Different world!Norman

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Since I am doing a lot of rather delicate machining I would love to add a stereo microscope to my lathe and drill press.

Have anyone done this?

Suggestions for affordable microscopes? (less than USD 1000)

Tips for making interchangable stands to use the same microscope for lathe and drillpress?

Best regards,
Hauk

New scopes w/ stands run around $2000 but you can routinely find used for well under $1000. The best resource's are engravers... try here but you need to register...

http://www.engraverscafe.com/forumdisplay.php?3

 

[ShopShoe]

Hauk,

I don't work that small and don't have a microscope, but I have kinda sorta wanted one.

Frank Hoose has a shop microscope not attached to a machine: Visit his website to see his Microscope here:

http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/projects/mscope/mscope.htm

His microscope came from ENCO, but a search of their website does not now show one.

Travers lists one here:

http://www.travers.com/86595-57-020-850?Category=UserSearch=microscope

MSC lists several at a wide range of prices:

http://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn/...-Magnifiers-Loupes/Microscopes?navid=12107987

KBC lists two that appear to be the same Fowler models on page 732 online:

http://kbctools.com/usa/Navigation/NavPDF.cfm?PDFPage=732

I have been looking here myself:

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/stereo-dissecting-microscope/c/18

Another scientific house is:

http://www.fishersci.com/ecomm/servlet/home?LBCID=91263523&&storeId=10652

I can't remember who posted the use of a digital microscope on here, but this link was furnished for digital microscopes:

http://www.dx.com/c/electrical-tools-499/measurement-analysis-426/microscopes-endoscope-434

Digital microscopes are also sold by a wide range of electronics, computer and IT suppliers, but I have no current links to the microscopes.

Disclaimer:

I have no connections to any of the above sources. I have been a customer of ENCO, Travers, KBC, and MSC. I have not purchased from any of the other sources.

Let us know how this proceeds: We Like Pictures.

--ShopShoe

 

[kuhncw]

Sherline sold a microscope and mounts for their lathe and mill. Unfortunately, they no longer sell the microscope (per their website) but their site still shows how the scope was mounted.

http://www.sherline.com/Microscope.htm

http://www.sherline.com/2127pg.htm

Regards,

Chuck

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Be careful when shopping, most of the scopes carried by these resources lack sufficient focal distances for use on lathe work... they're designed to be used seated over the scope for mostly inspection work.

GRS tools has longer focal length scope and the engravers cafe forum has a listing for used equipment which usually has longer focal lengths you will require... unless you're a short hunchbacked person

 

[Toolguy]

Have you thought about a $30 USB microscope that you can view on your laptop?

 

[GailInNM]

I had a microscope on my Levin instrument lathe many years ago and used stereo zoom microscopes in the electronics industry for assembly and rework until I retired 15 years ago. currently have 3 microscopes that I use for hobby purposes. For machining inspection I have Mitutoyo tool makers microscopes and in the electronics room I have an Amscope inspection microscope that I am very happy with. It has a 3.5 to 45 power zoom range and about a 6 inch working distance. I have had it for 15 years but there is a more or less equal one on the market now that I will provide a link to that has a 3.5 to 90 power range.

A few key points.
The low power range is the most useful. It gives you a greater depth of field and wider viewing area. Be sure that what ever you buy it comes with or has available a easily changeable auxillary lens, commonly known as Barlow lens. I use a 0.5 lens on mine. Besides changing the zoom range they protect them main objective optics from cutting fluids and other things like chips and in my case soldering flux. It can be easily removed and cleaned or is relatively inexpensive to replace if damaged.

Rigidity and flexabillity in the mount is essential. Machine tool vibrations will cause viewing jitter. The head needs to be able to tilt in any direction. I have a double boom mount as I think it is a bit more rigid but you may want a single boom mount as it would be easier to fabricate for your different machine tools.

The flourescent ring lights are almost useless. The bulbs are expensive, hard to get and don't last long. I have a 144 led ring light on one microscope and a a high power two flex boom LED light on the other. Both work well but each has it's own disadvantages. The ring light is large in diameter and gets in the way some times. It has the ability to turn on/off each of 4 quadrants independently so you can get a better view by using the shadows to your advantage and the intensity can be controlled. The flex boom LED's can be positioned where you want them to control shadows and the intensity can be adjustaed but are easy to bump out of position.

Here is the current model of the Amscope like I have. It has a little longer focal range than mine and has the Barlow lens included as well as the what I consider useless light.

http://www.amscope.com/microscopes/...tand-stereo-microscope-fluorescent-light.html

The same scope is also available on ebay for the same price. I bought mine direct from the Amscope outlet.

Gail in NM

 

[wolframore]

I've seen used ones on sale on e-bay going for $50. I got mine when a local community college scrapped old equipment.