The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

Day: November 18, 2011

  • SX230HS Adapter: Microscope Snout

    The microscope eyepiece adapter was easy enough: a cone with a cylinder punched out of it:

    Microscope eyepiece adapter - front view
    Microscope eyepiece adapter – front view

    The thin part of the tip is four threads wide around the eyepiece OD, which makes for good fill.

    The bottom has the usual four alignment pin holes:

    Microscope eyepiece adapter - bottom view
    Microscope eyepiece adapter – bottom view

    The main tube opening ID is equal to the diameter of the flat rim around the microscope eyepiece, which provides a positive stop with plenty of surface area.

    It looks about like you’d expect on the microscope, with the LED ring light from Planet Barbie around the objective lenses:

    SX230HS on microscope
    SX230HS on microscope

    The lowest magnification is much higher than I expected; it’s about 2.5 mm across. This is a 1206 SMD resistor:

    Microscope adapter - minimum magnification
    Microscope adapter – minimum magnification

    The highest magnification shows details of a laser etched numeral:

    Microscope adapter - maximum magnification
    Microscope adapter – maximum magnification

    The alignment obviously isn’t up to par and I think the exposure needs some work. All in all, though, it’s usable as-is.