Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi! This is Toby with HMC Electronics. We're going to be taking a look at the Scienscope
HD Video Inspection System.
So, we've got two boards here. One is obviously an older tech, and then one far smaller, modern
tech. We're going to review both of these under the system.
Let's go over the basic setup of this system, and then we'll go over the tech specs. So,
the unit features a macro lens, which has a seven-inch to infinite working distance.
Very different from a regular stereo, binocular or trinocular microscope system.
A macro lens can work as far away from the product as you wish, but you're losing magnification--for
our purposes, for the purposes of electronics--working at a seven-inch distance, you can have a 40-power
(40x) magnification on this monitor here. As you back up and back away from the product,
that 40-power goes down. The nice fact that goes with this system is that there is such
a thing as a two-x coupler. That camera goes between the camera and the macro lens, and
that increases your magnification up to a range of 80-power (80x). So you've definitely
got a lot of options on this system just with regards to magnification that you wouldn't
see on a trinocular system. So you've got loads of working distance between the product,
and you still have a really high magnification.
The system is available with a number of lighting options to suit both your budget and preference.
When it comes to trinocular systems where you've got a camera involved, we see a lot
of people going with the fiber optic, and we also see a number of people staying with
the LED. And let's quickly go over these for this video system.
LED, a very bright, white light. LED light sources are generally dimmable, which gives
you a lot of flexibility. Too much light and you've got a little glare; you can dial it
back down. They're very energy efficient. LED bulbs last for years.
Fiber optic, which is powered by a halogen bulb; those light sources still for the most
part are giving out more light than an LED. They're not particularly efficient. They can
be costly to run because it's a high-wattage bulb you're putting in there. But if you need
a lot of light flooding the area, we still see a lot of people going for those halogen
bulbs and fiber-optic light guides. So those are still popular.
When you look at fluorescent, it's the lowest cost option. We see them very often being
used on binocular microscopes. They'll shave a few hundred dollars of a price point. I
don't think for a $2,500 or $2,800-system saving a couple hundred dollars on a light
source is really worth it. So I would probably say that LED or fiber-optic is the best choice
to go for this system.
Just as with lighting options, all of the microscopes packages come with a number of
stand options. This system here is shown with the dual-arm boom stand with the gliding ball
bearings, making for a nice fluid motion.
The other options include a gliding arm, as they call it. It's an anodized material that's
designed for use in a cleanroom application because it's not a coated or painted material.
And it also has a surgical grade stainless steel, whereas this is just a stainless steel.
The lowest cost option is the single-arm boom stand. Single arm boom stand obviously just
having one post here and then your vertical post.
One thing to note on any boom stand is this extra collar that is around your vertical
post. This is a safety collar. As you need to move your height, set this down and this
is going to prevent your unit from coming crashing down if accidentally you loosen this,
it just falls onto that collar there.
We've already reviewed the properties of the macro lens, it's capability for magnification--up
to 40-power. Let's now review the camera that's supplied with this. This is an HDMI output
camera going into this 10-inch widescreen format monitor. The monitor is housed in aluminum
casing, so it's very robust; nothing plastic here.
The camera sends an image out at a rate of 60 frames per second. If you look at other
units--especially when you look at USB cameras--you look at a frame rate that's dependent on the
size of the image, scaling of the image. At full-screen resolution, which is the only
way this thing projects, it's 60 frames per second. So no choppy image. A very clear image
without any sort of delay.
The camera has a half-inch color sensor giving it great image quality and color definition,
which is very important--color and contrast--when you're looking at a circuit board.
The nice thing about this camera is that in the back of it, it has a slot for an SD-to-USB
memory card, which is provided. So you can do documentation. Let's say you're looking
at a circuit board and you find a fault, you can take an HD-quality snapshot of that and
then share it with the rest of your team just by simply removing that card, sticking it
in a USB port on your computer directly, downloading those images, and then sharing, adding text,
whatever you might need to do.
The camera has a number of features which are accessible by the remote control provided.
One of the things that it has is its auto-white balance. This takes a moment; it is very important,
though, that you do this at least once. Perhaps even on a weekly basis. Now what this does
is you'll see the screen is changing color, it is trying to figure out what is white.
And what I have done is put a piece of white paper under there and the screen is scrolling
through and now it's set. As you see it just takes a moment, but very important to do that.
And you can actually then tinker around with your brightness, your color and contrast.
They also have a contrast feature which I'll show you once we get a board under here, and
some video calibers. So let's show those off right now.
So this is the board that we are going to inspect under the system. Let's get that positioned
there. Right before I did this, I couldn't get the lens in focus and this is quite common.
I think a lot of people are used to having a very short working distance. I set it up
and it was only about five inches away. If you find you cannot get your screen in focus,
chances are your lens is just too close to the product. So it's important that it's seven
inches--you can get away with six and a half--but to be safe, seven inches away from the product
to whatever you wish. Right now it's probably closer to eight or nine inches away.
Taking a look at the features on the monitor again, a high dynamic range. We're going to
start with this application specific, process specific. As you can see as we scroll through
them we're getting a rather extreme contrast, but I think you'll agree going from having
it set completely off to the second setting, you actually get a better look of the board
on this second setting. I can also then digitally enhance the clarity, currently set to zero;
now one, two and three. Again, I would probably say on this board, for this application--obviously
we're just doing an inspection--perhaps clarity one with that digital enhancement looks rather
good.
Taking a look at the crosshairs here. Again scrolling though the remote. Black or white
crosshairs. Turn those off. And going to our video calibers. Now you have an option for
horizontal and vertical lines. When you get your lines set on, you can then scroll through
to get different colors. There you can see my colors there. And then you can move these
horizontally or vertically, positioning them where you may need to so that you can, in
essence, set up a video caliber and see that your product is the correct dimensions, within
a box that you preset, whatever might suit for your application. And again, you've got
your color options here scrolling through; white right there, and then moving it around
as needed.
Here at HMC Electronics we understand that a microscope is a significant purchase, and
with that being said we don't expect you to purchase this system without getting the opportunity
to try before you buy. HMC Electronics is proud to be a nationally franchised distributor
for the Scienscope line. That means we have access to their network of reps in every territory
across the United States.
If you are interested in seeing this, or any Scienscope system, reach out to us via phone
or email. We can arrange an on-site demo of the system, guide you through the process
of getting one of these wonderful units into your facility as soon as possible.