Part Polishers, what type of microscope do you use?

ttrager · Sep 4, 2020

The title sums it up.

Our application is the polishing of tooling we make for molding customers. Typically, these are parts .300 to 1.5" in dia in some form of steel or perhaps Moldmax/Moldstar copper alloy.

Surfaces range from basic ODs and Radius to intricate molding surfaces.

We have two polishers who are currently using a basic, binocular type microscope as they dynamically handle the part during polishing.

We are investigating an improvement on that, as the current setup isn't ergonomic over hours worth of having eyes glued to the binocs.

There are digital microscopes out there with output to a flatscreen. But the one's I've seen so far have a fairly large screen sitting to the side of the microscope on the table. This is fine for a static part viewing / measuring. There's no real posture issue tied to real-time part manipulation.

Anyway, any feedback from a shop running polishers using microscopes would be helpful.

Regards

TeachMePlease · Sep 4, 2020

These are incredibly ergonomic, and much easier to get a full field of view without any blurriness than a standard stereo microscope, in my experience. More or less infinite adjustment for comfort, adjustable for different papillary distances (distance between the users' pupils)

Only downside I can think of is you need a different lens for each magnification level you want, and the max magnification is 20x.

Mantis - Vision Engineering

bryan_machine · Sep 5, 2020

There's also the rather cheaper USB/screen scopes that are small. They come with a stand that would be hopeless for OP's applcation - but there's no reason to not remount them onto some other sort of stand - make an adapter to put them at the end of one of the very large noga arms say. Then rig up some lighting.

I've had decent luck with mine, but I've not tried an hours long finishing task with it.

(Here's one made famous by a pointer from NY CNC - others have followed. - including me.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J4K3JV9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

M. Moore · Sep 6, 2020

The mantis looks excellent but no pricing on the website, any idea what these cost Teach?

TeachMePlease said:
These are incredibly ergonomic, and much easier to get a full field of view without any blurriness than a standard stereo microscope, in my experience. More or less infinite adjustment for comfort, adjustable for different papillary distances (distance between the users' pupils)

Only downside I can think of is you need a different lens for each magnification level you want, and the max magnification is 20x.

Mantis - Vision Engineering

MattiJ · Sep 6, 2020

M. Moore said:
The mantis looks excellent but no pricing on the website, any idea what these cost Teach?

3 to 4k usd

beege · Sep 6, 2020

I liked Bauscg & Lomb https://www.ebay.com/b/Bausch-Lomb-Stereo-Microscopes/185223/bn_7112099863

tmt · Sep 6, 2020

You might consider a Leica microscope. Depending where you look, some start around 1.5K and go up. They are used by many jewelers and engravers who spend hours behind them.

Here is a site that shows some pricing along with some reviews on them. I have No affiliation with this site. Leica S7E Microscope - Precision Artistry LLC

Thunderjet · Sep 7, 2020

You might consider a Leica microscope

Leicas are the bomb. Awesome optics.

If you use one, you'll throw rocks at everything else.

wesg · Sep 7, 2020

Do they have any eye relief? Most all I've looked at don't have enough to keep your glasses on. The only one I've seen, and should have bought on the spot, is an Olympus.

EPAIII · Sep 7, 2020

Most traditional microscopes are intended to primarily view things that are transparent or translucent: that is the light passes THROUGH them. If you are talking about viewing the surface of an opaque object, then it must be illuminated from above and the way it is illuminated becomes very important. Yes, the optics are important, but the illumination is, perhaps, more so.

Edmund Optics is one place where I would look.

Microscopy | Mitutoyo, Nikon, Olympus and More | Edmund Optics

ttrager · Sep 8, 2020

Beege,

Are you using these for polishing? I ask as the format of the scope is critical it would seem. Meaning, a free floating head that can be positioned as needed as Polishers are manipulating parts in their fingers. The Mantis looks to have that type of build. Thanks for the reply.

ttrager · Sep 8, 2020

I would like to thank all the responders in this thread. There are some good pointers in here. I particularly like the tip off to the Mantis, as well as to the Artistry site as that is a direct parallel in user environment, with a whole site dedicated to supporting that with tools and scopes.

Anyone else out there have more, obviously drop a post in this thread.

Stay safe out there. /salute

Tom

beege · Sep 8, 2020

ttrager
It's been almost 20 years...
B&L had several options for holding the scope head, including a cantilevered arm so that the stand could be offset and the head could be moved around

greif1 · Sep 8, 2020

We have had good luck with these kind of scopes on a boom stand;
AmScope 7X-45X Stereo Zoom Microscope with Single Arm Boom Stand 13964500172 | eBay

Cost around $400 with a big zoom range, less without zoom. Dozens of config available.

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Part Polishers, what type of microscope do you use?

ttrager

Cast Iron

TeachMePlease

Diamond

bryan_machine

Diamond

M. Moore

Titanium

MattiJ

Titanium

beege

Stainless

tmt

Hot Rolled

Thunderjet

Stainless

wesg

Titanium

EPAIII

Diamond

ttrager

Cast Iron

ttrager

Cast Iron

beege

Stainless

greif1

Aluminum

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