Digital microscopes. Anyone want one?

Nevol · October 11, 2013, 02:41:21 PM

My opinion of the KB stand is that it's a piece of junk. After the first 5 minutes, I discarded it. As I have had 3 KB's now, each stand was removed from the barrel ASAP. Too much movement, not enough height were the 2 main flaws IMO.

The last stand Jeff posted a link to looks a bit bizarre. To my mind's eye, if I place the scope in the soft plastic clamp thingee, it would be in a horizontal position, with no obvious way of pointing it downward.

Either that or I'd need a physics / engineering degree to figure it out. :scratch_one-s_head:

Fulvio · October 11, 2013, 02:41:51 PM

Quote from: 'trout' pid='30483' dateline='1381464126'This setup costs $0 and seems to work ok

Oh, that's clever. Thanks mate. :yahoo:

trout · October 11, 2013, 02:43:44 PM

Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='30491' dateline='1381464711'
Quote from: 'trout' pid='30483' dateline='1381464126'This setup costs $0 and seems to work ok

Oh, that's clever. Thanks mate. :yahoo:

I got the idea off nevol about a year ago I think :good:
The Missus did get a bit antsy when she saw me cutting holes in the Tupperware, But when I told her I got them from the tip she settled down.

Fulvio · October 11, 2013, 02:44:41 PM

Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='30490' dateline='1381464681'The last stand Jeff posted a link to looks a bit bizarre.

Because its not for a scope.

You attach the barrel to the eyepiece of a normal optical microscope or telescope. Then you bolt a standard point and shoot camera (not an SLR) to the platform using the standard screw mount. The camera can then photograph through the scope eyepiece, see?

Nevol · October 11, 2013, 02:49:00 PM

Quote from: 'trout' pid='30483' dateline='1381464126'This setup costs $0 and seems to work ok :good:

My set up is a bit similar with 5 different height tupperware containers for different sized coins, with holes cut out of the bottom. I jam the scope in the hole in the bottom, it rarely moves, get it focussed and always use the software to snap the image, never the button on the scope as it causes movement.

JeffH · October 11, 2013, 03:30:03 PM

Quoteif I place the scope in the soft plastic clamp thingee, it would be in a horizontal position, with no obvious way of pointing it downward.

My thought is you cut the base from the KB stand (or find a suitable size bead or ball to replace the pivot), tighten the wingnut right up and put the arm in the clamp. That way you can have the microscope pointing down toward the adjustable platform. Some packing might be needed in the clamp to get best range of height adjustment. Something like this...

Jeff
PS. I do have an engineering degree!
PPS. A second thought -probably no need to modify the KB stand; just have the base out the back of the mount.

Nevol · October 11, 2013, 03:44:31 PM

QuotePS. I do have an engineering degree!

Eesy for you, deefecult for me...cha cha cha. :whistle2: :winkextra:

Fulvio · October 11, 2013, 05:11:19 PM

If we're going to get into reengineering stuff, its probably easier to start from scratch. A length of pipe and a threaded worm drive would be easy to build, especially in ABS plastic.

But I do think the plastic containers are even easier. The scope probably fits right into the top of a milk bottle I reckon.

trout · October 11, 2013, 05:36:59 PM

Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='30522' dateline='1381473679'If we're going to get into reengineering stuff, its probably easier to start from scratch. A length of pipe and a threaded worm drive would be easy to build, especially in ABS plastic.

But I do think the plastic containers are even easier. The scope probably fits right into the top of a milk bottle I reckon.

Nothing wrong with the K.I.S.S principle Fulvio Mate :good:

JeffH · October 17, 2013, 03:57:22 PM

There you go Nancy. I will get it in the post, back to you, soon.
Cheers,
Jeff

Unicorn · October 17, 2013, 04:02:52 PM

Well done Jeff ....... looks great!

Fulvio · October 17, 2013, 06:07:39 PM

Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='31266' dateline='1381987642'There you go Nancy. I will get it in the post, back to you, soon.

Nice... now, what did you use? I recognise the arm from the KB mount, but is the rest standard or homebrew?

JeffH · October 17, 2013, 06:30:32 PM

QuoteNice... now, what did you use? I recognise the arm from the KB mount, but is the rest standard or homebrew?

The rest is an el cheapo that Nancy bought from HK but would not fit the KB. I basically drilled a hole and stuck a small bolt through. Mounting it that way the 'scope was overhanging the base so I used a bit of scrap steel -salvaged from an old TV aerial- as a longer base. I could have mounted the 'scope closer in but that would have involved a lot more (fiddly) work.

Homebrew one is well on the way and hope to show it off here in a few days. [Just doing a little bit at a time in some spare minutes.]

Nevol · October 17, 2013, 10:35:43 PM

Wow!!!! That looks great! Just goes to show what an engineer can do when something needs an adaption. I would never have been able to come up with that idea. :wavemulticolor:

The original stand as Jeff said was an $11 or so cheap jobbie from HK, that would only fit a pen. I bought it ages ago and just slung it away as I was so disappointed with it. Now it's custom made for my KB :yahoo:

JeffH · October 22, 2013, 08:27:41 PM

QuoteA length of pipe and a threaded worm drive would be easy to build, especially in ABS plastic.

It is probably a simple mechanism but, the point is, to build something from scratch can be rather time consuming. The secret is to think about it, make notes and sketches and then go away and come back later and repeat this process several times until you have a clear idea of what it might look like.

Incidentally, this coin was in the change from the supermarket today.