Any one used a digital microscope for micro turning on a lathe

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Any one used a digital microscope for micro turning on a lathe

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  • #9845
    Chris TickTock
    Participant
      @christicktock
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      #427733
      Chris TickTock
      Participant
        @christicktock

        Hi Guys, Without magnification turning a balance staff on a standard micro lathe is probably impossible. So given there now are digital magnifiers has anyone found use of these for such machining. Alternatively connecting a stereo microscope with a boom is an option. I do have a stereo microscope on a stand and at the moment are assessing which way to go.

        Regards

        Chris

        #427734
        Ian Parkin
        Participant
          @ianparkin39383

          I use a Zeiss operating theatre stereo microscope in my workshop mounted on a boom for the small things i do

          it works great

          I think that using a digital device means looking at a screen rather than live at your work /tool interface and there always seems to be latency problems with electronics

          #427736
          ega
          Participant
            @ega

            Dan Gelbart of YouTube does: see his video about his "granite" lathe.

            #427741
            John P
            Participant
              @johnp77052

              The image here is of a 12 tpi whitworth thread gauge and ground
              form tool ,the USB microscope was from maplins so probably
              not so great as a precision instrument,but would you really want to use
              something more expensive in such a dirty enviroment.
              The image shows two places where dirt or swarf is bridging between
              the tool and gauge and this is after demagnitising and a good air blast
              i guess this is just static attraction and would be worse in a machining
              situation.
              The closer in you get to the job the more distortion you see in the image
              in this photo ,look at either end of the gauge .
              The obvious thing to do as you already have a microscope is give it a try
              and let us all know how you get on.
              John12 tpi whitworth.jpg

              #427743
              David Colwill
              Participant
                @davidcolwill19261

                I haven't been too impressed with the digital microscopes that I have (and I have 3 or 4 of them). I am considering one of the Chinese stereo zoom microscopes and had thought of making some kind of quick change mounting so that I could move it about.

                Regards.

                David.

                #427744
                Bob Stevenson
                Participant
                  @bobstevenson13909

                  The standard way of making bespoke watch parts is screw a loupe in your eye socket, take the graver in your hand and wrap yourself around the lathe……….

                  Personally, I have faired better with USB microscope than with Zeiss medical stereoscope.

                  #427746
                  roy entwistle
                  Participant
                    @royentwistle24699

                    I once knew a gentleman who would get drunk, pawn his lathe, knock three nails in the bench, file notches in two and use the third as a tool rest and turn balance staffs mainly for pocket watches. He would sell these and then get his lathe out of pawn. His lathe was actually a set of turns.

                    Roy

                    #427748
                    Joseph Noci 1
                    Participant
                      @josephnoci1

                      I tried, both on the lathe and on a small cutter grinder shaping very fine engraving tips. I did not manage well with the digital camera/microscope method. Using such a device requires that you select a type that does not have any image latency – most of the IP ( network type) camera have a good few hundred milliseconds latency which makes eye-hand coordination difficult and tedious – it is possible, but there is no room to maneuver and 'oops' reactions are interesting.

                      There are USB based cameras that have for practical purposes no latency, but there are three issues with any digital solution I find intolerable.

                      The image resolution is one – you should try for the highest pixel count you can – at least HD standard, NOT VGA…With low resolutions I found the specular artifacts drove me insane, with rapid onset of eye strain and headache.

                      The second is the difficulty in becoming accustomed to the misdirection between hand position and motion, and eye sightline. One is so accustomed to the hands on the handwheel in your peripheral vision, it takes a while to adapt. Not impossible, but when you only do a few jobs like this, I found it was like starting from scratch each time.

                      And last, for me the worst compromise – lack of depth of view – no 3D feeling – with a constant attempt to now and then 'look' around the corner to see the tool contact point better, etc.

                      I ditched all these – I did try no less than 5 systems, from VGA through to a 34Mpixel camera..- and settled for a decent 'analogue' Binocular Microscope.

                      This has its problems as well – it is always in the way when you want to take a visual of the workspace. You need a really decent support or suspension arm that is sturdy,vibration free, and easily manipulated with the ability to quickly swing it out of the way, and index it back in place.. But the viewing experience, with much improved mental and eye fatigue resistance, is in my opinion well worth it.

                      bausch&lomb microscope.jpg

                      Photo of engraving tip through the microscope – hard to photograph!

                      engraver tip sharpening1.jpg

                      mini grinder right view.jpg

                      For interest, My late Father-in-Law – a German Watchmaker, used the little lathe pictured below to do what you are doing Chris – he used to do so by clamping various magnification jewellers Loupe to his eye, bend down low over the lathe and get on with it…

                      watchmakers lathe.jpg

                      Joe

                      #427751
                      Chris TickTock
                      Participant
                        @christicktock

                        Thanks Guys I really appreciate posts and need time to reflect on points.

                        Regards

                        Chris

                        #427753
                        Phil P
                        Participant
                          @philp

                          Definitely not the cheapo chinese digital ones for me, I have borrowed one to try out on both my Boley watchmaking lathe and my Pultra 1770. I could not get on with it in either situation, so am sticking to my binocular microscopes.

                          I would be very interested to hear and see how other people have mounted a binocular microscope though.

                          Mine is on an old angle-poise type lamp bracket, but is not what I would call ideal as it can flex slightly when in use.

                          Phil

                          #427768
                          Chris TickTock
                          Participant
                            @christicktock

                            OK generally it seems the old method of using the stereo microscope is the safer route to take especially if like me you already have one. Mine has a mag of up to x35. The most flexible use would to get a boom but would this be a serious issue in terms of moving when working???

                            Like Phil I too would appreciate what other have done to mount their stereo microscopes. In the case of the Sherline 8 inch lathe Sherline used to offer a scope with mount but it was discontinued in i think 2013. The disadvantage with a fixed mounting point may be if you hold the stock in collets or something else rendering the scope in the wrong position. How likely that is I as yet do not know.

                            Chris

                            #427769
                            John Haine
                            Participant
                              @johnhaine32865
                              Posted by Chris TickTock on 06/09/2019 11:56:48:

                              ………….. The most flexible use would to get a boom but would this be a serious issue in terms of moving when working???

                              …………….

                              For heaven's sake, why don't you just try it, then you can tell us all!

                              #427770
                              Chris TickTock
                              Participant
                                @christicktock
                                Posted by John Haine on 06/09/2019 12:02:09:

                                Posted by Chris TickTock on 06/09/2019 11:56:48:

                                ………….. The most flexible use would to get a boom but would this be a serious issue in terms of moving when working???

                                …………….

                                For heaven's sake, why don't you just try it, then you can tell us all!

                                Possibly John because they are an expensive item that would be worth seeking the opinion of others on first.

                                Chris

                                #427772
                                Chris TickTock
                                Participant
                                  @christicktock

                                   

                                  The Sherline 8 inch being a tiny lathe mounted on a board on in my case rubber feet affords I guess the opportunity to just replace the stands upright with a taller inch pole and maybe rebate the board to allow the scope to sit on top of the work. This would be both cheap and flexible…now that might be worth a shot. Chrisscopeand lathe.jpg

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                  Edited By Chris TickTock on 06/09/2019 12:34:09

                                  #427774
                                  Ian Parkin
                                  Participant
                                    @ianparkin39383

                                    This my scope mounted on a monitor stand clamped to the ceiling joists its easily moved to wherever i need it

                                    as i recall this was <£20 on eBay and stays where its put

                                    This scope has a working distance of 7 inches from the ring light and fills the frame with my fingernail

                                    63070e6f-eaeb-487c-bf2c-57f363df1561.jpeg

                                    b0b03cb3-743e-4c2a-bc60-4ee2268dd4a6.jpeg

                                    f0aa50e2-18b7-418f-a323-cedc832e40e0.jpeg

                                    Edited By Ian Parkin on 06/09/2019 12:28:02

                                    #427775
                                    Michael Gilligan
                                    Participant
                                      @michaelgilligan61133

                                      Chris,

                                      If you have the space avaiable: You could build an 'overhead' and mount that scope [inverted on its column] very conveniently.

                                      MichaelG.

                                      .

                                      Examples of overheads for horological lathes will be found in this book:

                                      https://www.waterstones.com/book/wheel-and-pinion-cutting-in-horology/j-malcolm-wild/9781861262455

                                      … and in a multitude of other locations.

                                      Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/09/2019 12:32:16

                                      #427776
                                      Chris TickTock
                                      Participant
                                        @christicktock
                                        Posted by Ian Parkin on 06/09/2019 12:26:31:

                                        This my scope mounted on a monitor stand clamped to the ceiling joists its easily moved to wherever i need it

                                        as i recall this was <£20 on eBay and stays where its put

                                        This scope has a working distance of 7 inches from the ring light and fills the frame with my fingernail

                                        63070e6f-eaeb-487c-bf2c-57f363df1561.jpeg

                                        b0b03cb3-743e-4c2a-bc60-4ee2268dd4a6.jpeg

                                        f0aa50e2-18b7-418f-a323-cedc832e40e0.jpeg

                                        Edited By Ian Parkin on 06/09/2019 12:28:02

                                        Great idea to adapt the TV boom Ian . How wibbly wobbly is it in use?

                                        Chris

                                        #427777
                                        Ian Parkin
                                        Participant
                                          @ianparkin39383

                                          Well as i said it stays where its put

                                          its sprung and counterbalanced if you knock it it moves but it swings every which way and lifts up or down and stays where you want it

                                          I think this one was Very expensive new designed for a large heavy monitor on a desk

                                          Edited By Ian Parkin on 06/09/2019 12:41:46

                                          #427778
                                          Chris TickTock
                                          Participant
                                            @christicktock
                                            Posted by Michael Gilligan on 06/09/2019 12:27:36:

                                            Chris,

                                            If you have the space avaiable: You could build an 'overhead' and mount that scope [inverted on its column] very conveniently.

                                            MichaelG.

                                            .

                                            Examples of overheads for horological lathes will be found in this book:

                                            **LINK**

                                            … and in a multitude of other locations.

                                            Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/09/2019 12:32:16

                                            Thanks Michael I have that book and as good as it is I cannot at a quick look find much by way of microscope stands..probably me though.

                                            Chris

                                            #427779
                                            Chris TickTock
                                            Participant
                                              @christicktock
                                              Posted by Ian Parkin on 06/09/2019 12:41:00:

                                              Well as i said it stays where its put

                                              its sprung and counterbalanced if you knock it it moves but it swings every which way and lifts up or down and stays where you want it

                                              I think this one was Very expensive new designed for a large heavy monitor on a desk

                                              Edited By Ian Parkin on 06/09/2019 12:41:46

                                              Thanks Ian certainly then a viable option / alternative.

                                              Chris

                                              #427783
                                              Michael Gilligan
                                              Participant
                                                @michaelgilligan61133

                                                Posted by Chris TickTock on 06/09/2019 12:42:15:

                                                .

                                                Thanks Michael I have that book and as good as it is I cannot at a quick look find much by way of microscope stands..probably me though.

                                                Chris

                                                .

                                                Sorry if I didn't make myself clear, Chris

                                                … I was suggesting that you adapt the general concept of an 'overhead gantry' [as used with both horological and ornamental lathes] to mount your microscope.

                                                MichaelG.

                                                #427785
                                                BW
                                                Participant
                                                  @bw

                                                  Are these things useful for us shed dwellers or do you have to crouch dangerously close to the spinning workpiece to get it focussed ?

                                                  Bill

                                                  #427788
                                                  BW
                                                  Participant
                                                    @bw

                                                    …… and this chap seems to have done a good job relevant to the original question.

                                                    #427791
                                                    Michael Gilligan
                                                    Participant
                                                      @michaelgilligan61133
                                                      Posted by BW on 06/09/2019 13:27:17:

                                                      Are these things useful for us shed dwellers or do you have to crouch dangerously close to the spinning workpiece to get it focussed ?

                                                      .

                                                      I'm not sure about those ones, Bill

                                                      But the exepensive ones that Surgeons and Dentists use are based on this optical principle:

                                                      img_3314.jpg

                                                      and allow them to work comfortably.

                                                      MichaelG.

                                                      .

                                                      Note: In the Surgical Loupes, the supplementary lens is chosen to optimise the working distance [which is equal to its focal length] … Dentists typically work closer than Cardiac Surgeons.

                                                      Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/09/2019 13:55:44

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