Thread: Loupe's and microscopes

Originally Posted by hendersr

A question then. Can you see the scratches on the bevel with the microscope like you can with a loupe? I was also reading a review on amazon about someone who had bought a 30x triplet and they were saying that because you had to get so lose to an object with it that there was no light left to illuminate the surface. Do you find that at all?

The light source is always critical. The 30x loupe I referred to @ Widget Supply has a 21mm objective. Plenty of light gathering but you still need to have a good lamp to illuminate the work. My B&L 20x is probably better optically, cost twice as much, but the objective is only 8.3mm. Still gets a great image but the eye relief (distance to focus) is only 1/2". The 30x is similar if not the same in eye relief but you work with them awhile and get the hang of it. The microscope is great and you can see things (scratches, whatever) much better but light is again an issue and an external light source is necessary.

hendersr,

As the loupes get higher in magnifying power, the working distance gets less, and 30x is not much at all !! It is your head that gets in the way of the light !!

For these higher powered loupes, I try and get the illumination to shine from the side, in-line with the blade and shining on the edge.

To get longer working distances a compound instrument is needed.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I use a Zeiss which is actually 3 in one and gives about 12x which is enough for me. I have an old Nikon Stereo Microscope which goes up to about 85x but I don't need that much detail.

With optics it's all about the quality and resolution and eye relief not the magnification.

I use a cheap Chinese USB microscope from ebay. It has been a great tool for me when I'm bevel setting. When I thought I was done on the 1K I actually had a long way to go.

I've been using this 20x/40x illuminated loupe for more than a year and I definitely recommend it for finding microchips. Works great.
I got it at widgetsupply.com

The illuminated 40x is my favorite..........

If you are serious about loupes and microscopes, try this site.....

microscopenet.com

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Friend of mine sent a ProScope to me to try. If I had a microsoft system it might have worked out but I run Linux and the only program that would run with it was Skype. The images weren't good at all. Sent it back to my friend. I haven't tried any of the other similar systems. Good concept though if you can get the quality images.

Did you try Cheese webcamstudio? That's what I use to test such things under Linux, had some good results with it. Never tried an USB microscope though...

Originally Posted by jefpunk

Did you try Cheese webcamstudio? That's what I use to test such things under Linux, had some good results with it. Never tried an USB microscope though...

No I did not. Thanks for the tip though. My friend sold that pro-scope a long time back. TBH I'm not one who gets off on seeing ultra high res photos of bevels. It is alright but I can do what I have to do at 30 to 45x. Looking at a razors edge at a res that appears like a plan view of the rocky mountains is interesting but not instructive for me. YMMV.

just getting off on getting things to work with Linux, so you can silence all those who say 'oh, but with Linux, u can't do the things you want to do'
Well, not actually getting off on it either... but o well... gently slipping

Originally Posted by jefpunk

just getting off on getting things to work with Linux, so you can silence all those who say 'oh, but with Linux, u can't do the things you want to do'
Well, not actually getting off on it either... but o well... gently slipping

Please excuse the I love Linux. I'm running Mint and haven't messed with microsoft systems in years. Since so much is proprietary for windows it can be a hassle when the software is not open source but Linux is still the best thing since sliced bread AFAIC.