I have been doing some relatively fine work on my lathes (schaublin 102 and 135) and it sure seems like being able to see what is going on would be helpful when doing things such as cutting very fine threads.
When looking at stereo microscopes what should I consider for working distance, magnification etc?
Should I go for a Leica A60 or are there better options on the used market? I would rather not spend 2k if i don't have to but hate low quality optics.
Thanks
Luke
As.. E.A. Myers & Sons / "Radioear" transitioned from body hearing aids to behind the ear and IN the ear.. they kitted out whole production lines with Bausch & Lomb 20X stereo over-arm mounts for soldering and assembly.
A smaller number, same family, of monocular 40X were in the toolroom area.
The monoculars were true RBK's to get used to - not even 'proportional' depth sensing. That said, it was human hand and tweezer or soldering iron under them, not a lathe and cutting-tool.
The binocular ones took some training to get hand movements down to scale, but at least had a semblance of depth perception. That 'might' matter in your lathe work as well.
Whatever you decide on, I'd make sure I had gone off and looked through it at typical tasking, first. A good 'fit' to the need is helpful, even relaxing. A poor one, stressful and frustrating. Very.
BTW.. All that was at the dawn of the 1960's. Closing in on 60 years ago already.
These days? I think I'd actually use a large flat screen and micro-cameras, just as my eye surgeon did. More than one choice of camera and/or lenses. Smaller. Cheaper to protect or replace. Lower risk if you have to put them in harm's way. Possible to use IR ones and read the heat pattern in the work and tool-tip. Or not. Whatever your needs of a given tasking dictate.