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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In response to your question about Microscopes and
Ring Lights.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have been using one from the <FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>"The Microscope Store" <A
href="https://www.microscope-store.com">https://www.microscope-store.com</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The model I bought about a year ago
is <FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>a Stereo Boom Trinocular Microscope
(OM2040TJW11) </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>It was priced
at $595.00 + $5 shipping at that time. I bought the Trinocular
version in order to allow a video camera </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> to be attached for a larger field of view while soldering or
positioning parts on the solder mask prior to</DIV>
<DIV>heating them. With my 65 year old eyes the view on a 21 inch flat
screen can't be beat.</DIV>
<DIV>The Microscope came with 20x-40x lenses which is too much
magnification , I bought some 5X and 10 X</DIV>
<DIV>which work much better for SMT work.</DIV>
<DIV>I bought a natural light ring from a local model / craft store which fits
right on the bottom of the Scope</DIV>
<DIV>and works very well to light up every thing. It was about $75 if I remember
right.</DIV>
<DIV>The other items I have found very helpful is a set of test tweezers from
MCM which allow you to</DIV>
<DIV>pickup the SMT passive parts and verify the value before placing it. The
last item is a portable Infrared</DIV>
<DIV>thermometer by Raytek for measuring temperature from a distance with out
touching the parts.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Of course you also need whatever soldering station
you prefer. I use a Hot Air rework station by </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Circuit Specialties together with a standard
soldering iron most of time. If the board is one with a solder mask</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I sometimes use Cash Olson's method.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you are interested, I can put photos of my
set-up in the photos / files section so you can see one of my soldering
stations.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Al White N0TVJ</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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