Thread: inspection microscopes

I've been shopping for a microscope so that I can very comfortably check the edge of my blade.

At first I was under the impression that I would need a microscope.

The people at one company have told me that I should buy a "Stereo Inspection Microscope" because I'm looking at a "solid" object as opposed to something that is transparent.

I like the company an will likely buy from them, but they have at least five "stereo inspection scopes" and I'm not sure about the power ratings.

Does anyone here have experience with this? Can someone elaborate on successes and specifics in this area?

I have no problem spending $500 for the perfect scope. But if I can get the 'perfect' scope for $119, all the better.

I use a $10 60x-100x microscope for inspecting the edge and it works just fine No need for mega fancy optics, pretty simple stuff usually works well enough. Though it should be kinda fun seeing with that much resolution.

What's wrong with the $10 60x-100x Radio Shack model?

Originally Posted by joddpur

I've been shopping for a microscope so that I can very comfortably check the edge of my blade.

Here is the most comfortable option, but price wise I think its a little out there for honing an e-bay special or two:

http://www.globalspec.com/FeaturedPr...romSpotlight=1

Originally Posted by joddpur

At first I was under the impression that I would need a microscope.

If you want to see what is happening at the edge you do.

Originally Posted by joddpur

The people at one company have told me that I should buy a "Stereo Inspection Microscope" because I'm looking at a "solid" object as opposed to something that is transparent.

you do need an Inspection Microscope but a stereo microscope only means it has two eye pieces instead of one. Not needed but it does add to the comfort, and the cost.

Originally Posted by joddpur

I like the company an will likely buy from them, but they have at least five "stereo inspection scopes" and I'm not sure about the power ratings.
I have no problem spending $500 for the perfect scope. But if I can get the 'perfect' scope for $119, all the better.

Many scopes do not have enough power, a dissection inspection microscope for example is only about five to ten power but most have too much. You want something in the fifty to hundred power range. Thats total magnification. Many scopes have a 10x ocular lens by the eye piece, and a variable or interchangeable main lens at the bottom, say 3x, 5x, or 10x or more. To get the total power you multiply them together.

All that said a desktop model will be more comfortable than the little handheld most of us use, but you don't really use it that much and then usually in short spans so I can't see spending the bucks on a good one. Heres the one most of us use:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search


Hope this helps

You will probably also need a light source and probably a fiber optic ring light. McBain Instruments in Chatsworth, Ca. does the light sources and ring lights. They also handle a variety of scopes. I worked at a company involved in making small implantable medical devices. the assembly was done with variable power units that looked like this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/5X-10X-15X-30X-B...QQcmdZViewItem

Rick

I knew I should have stolen some of those high school microscopes! "I'll probably never have a need for one of these," I thought.

Its all a matter of what you want to see. If all your concerned about is inspecting the edge for chips and gross examination of the bevel a cheapee magnifier will do. I have a Zeiss hand lens which magnifies to 35x and its really perfect for this kind of work. I also have a Nikon Stero microscope I bought many many years ago in my rockhounding days. It only magnafies to 60x but what most people don't realize or appreciate is the important thing in magnification is the field of view and the resolution. Its the case with microscopes and telescopes. resolution will always beat out magnification. I can see more detail with my Nikon at 60x then you ever will with a 100x radio shack scope. It interesting to see all the crators and fissures and imperfections in the edge with that kind of resolution or maybe again its not. But I would never buy that Nikon for razor work, its a waste of money unless your really anal about this thing.