January 2008

How to Choose a Microscope

by Andy on January 21, 2008

Binocular Microscope If you’re out to buy a microscope and are confused, you’re not alone. There are many different types of microscopes out there to choose from, but I believe the easiest way to narrow down your choices is by determining what you are going to use the microscope for. For example, if you’re going to need a microscope with very high magnification to study the internal structure of cells, you’ll probably want a compound microscope. On the other hand, if you want a microscope to examine parts on a circuit board, you will benefit the most from a stereo microscope.

The main difference between compound and stereo microscopes are the images. A compound microscope shows a two dimensional image, while a stereo microscope shows a three dimensional image.

Lighting choices are also important when choosing your microscope. There are many options, but here are a few of the most popular:

Dimmable LED Ring Light: This choice prevents glare and reflections; it’s also ideal for inspecting defects and surface cracks.

Fiber Optic Illuminator with Dual Point Light: The benefit of this light is that it provides intense, shadow-free illumination, and each wand has an adjustable lens focus to allow you to choose the size of your light stream.

All-Spec Industries also carries microscopes that can be used for video inspection. These microscopes will allow you to view real-time images on a television screen.

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Weller WD2M Review

by Andy on January 2, 2008

Weller WD2M Control Unit Weller seems to outdo itself time and time again with their innovative products. With the Weller WD2M control unit, hand soldering is easier than ever before due to the vast amount of control functions built into its menu. The best part about this station is its small size that barely takes up any room on a workbench. Not only does its small size make it easy to use, its large LCD display is really easy to read as well. On the technical side, the WD2M has high speed regulation and its WMRTH thermal tweezers and WMRP micro soldering iron can reach a maximum of 150 watts. The temperature stability can also be guaranteed with its closed loop control and efficient thermal energy transfer from the heating element to the soldering tip. Other important features of the Weller WD2M include:

  • Dual outputs so you can use two tools at once.
  • Automatic tool recognition so you don’t have to reset the control parameters after switching tools.
  • Stop and go function: Placing a tool in the stand will switch the tool off and removing the tool from the stand will send it back to its correct temperature.
  • USB interface that can connect to a PC. If you use the correct monitor software, the station can easily document process temperatures and setting changes.

Take a closer look at the WD2M here, it’s pretty nice.

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