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  1. #1
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    Default Hand held machinist's loupe

    I have two of these loupes: one made in Japan by Peak. It is highly regarded, and I like it very much, but it only has one reticule. The other, a Fowler, has the complete set and the little torch/holder which illuminates the subject.

    This is the Fowler along with its collection of screw-on reticules which show angles, lines, grids, gear and screw forms, etc. You can use it quicker and easier than a shadow comparator.

    Ebay for these, and a search I'd highly recommend for anyone doing fine work or restoration work of any kind.

    The photos are cell-phone, so make allowances. The image through the loupe is of the right eye of the guy on the twenty dollar note.

    Greg

  2. #2
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    Wow, so that's what they use to forge bank note plates?

    Seriously, that's a nice purchase. AB will probably come back with a super dooper stereo 3D version with miniature colour camera in a gold lined titanium case........

    Ken

  3. #3
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    Hi Greg,

    Thanks for posting that..

    I've been looking for a good loupe, I have a vast collection of cheap plastic ones that do what I want (up to a point) for surface mount soldering. I've lately been playing with a USB microscope to see if that's useful, but to be successful it really needs a nice rigid mounting arm and a good light source. A good circuit board inspection system can cost many thousands...

    Regards
    Ray

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by neksmerj View Post
    Wow, so that's what they use to forge bank note plates?

    Seriously, that's a nice purchase. AB will probably come back with a super dooper stereo 3D version with miniature colour camera in a gold lined titanium case........

    Ken
    AB and I aren't in any kind of competition, so I hope he does: I am always happy for some like-minded fellow-traveller to unearth something that I wouldn't have discovered.

    On the loupes: I bought a Nikon optical comparator dirt cheap (<$100) on ebay. What a useless contraption in this day and age. You can do the same thing with a photocopier and some art work from a drawing program for comparison. If I can find some project that needs its guts I'll strip it. Otherwise I think it might be a case of heave-ho to reclaim the space.

  5. #5
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    On the loupes: I bought a Nikon optical comparator dirt cheap (<$100) on ebay. What a useless contraption in this day and age. You can do the same thing with a photocopier and some art work from a drawing program for comparison. If I can find some project that needs its guts I'll strip it. Otherwise I think it might be a case of heave-ho to reclaim the space. "


    HOLD ON !! Tell me more.

  6. #6
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    Default

    Hi Bob,

    Try the "quote" tags... if you click the quote button on a post, it will automatically wrap the post you are replying to in quote tags... in the edit window it will look something like this..

    [quote] Testing...1..2..3..[/quote]



    Then it will render like this in a post

    Testing...1..2..3..
    Regards
    Ray
    Last edited by RayG; 18th Apr 2011 at 11:03 PM. Reason: Fiddling with tags...

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post
    On the loupes: I bought a Nikon optical comparator dirt cheap (<$100) on ebay. What a useless contraption in this day and age. You can do the same thing with a photocopier and some art work from a drawing program for comparison. If I can find some project that needs its guts I'll strip it. Otherwise I think it might be a case of heave-ho to reclaim the space. the space. "


    HOLD ON !! Tell me more.
    Where to start? using a photocopier? or about the comparator? (of which I know next to nothing)

    Greg

  8. #8
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    Hi Greg,
    I've had a go at a few of those on ebay, though I've never see one with 8+ reticules. Like Ray I have a collection of cheap ones. One $4 delivered 60X one that has 2 white leds an one UV led built in. Its certainly not great with a tiny field of view but good enough to check knife edges.
    Stuart

  9. #9
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    Default

    The comparator Gregory.

  10. #10
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    My offerings are modest. I detailed my assortment of Behr and Bausch and Lomb loupes in an earlier thread. Again, the devices below are optical aids. The English punch is invaluable. The slide hammer type punch is a recent acquisition and hasn't had much bench time.

  11. #11
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    It's a Nikon 6C Bob...it does shadow and surface. The x-y table micrometer adjustments are gone, so I've only ever used it to inspect the pressure angle on a gear I want to make. (For which it does pretty well).

    In the home shop I'm more impressed by the cheapness of modern technology used in new ways. Like scanning a gear (for example) on a cheap flat bed scanner in order to get a true image, then comparing it on a drawing program to whatever you want. (Imagination being the only limiting factor).

    As far as detail inspection goes, the loupes are fantastic down to about 0.001". For surface inspection and resolving ambiguity I frankly just use my iphone. There's a free app called Sherlook, whcih is a digital magnifying glass/camera. You can focus pretty closely...enough to resolve most shop things short of s microscope.

    The loupes have their many comparator reticules which is fantastic, and direct. The comparator requires you to purchase, or make, transparent overlays with the feature you want to check. Like gear p.a. for example.

    When optical comparators were invented those guys never dreamed of scanners, copiers and cheap cameras.

    GQ

    I'm happy to delve deeper into it in a couple of days if you want.

  12. #12
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    Default

    here 'tis:

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post
    My offerings are modest. I detailed my assortment of Behr and Bausch and Lomb loupes in an earlier thread. Again, the devices below are optical aids. The English punch is invaluable. The slide hammer type punch is a recent acquisition and hasn't had much bench time.
    That Centa-Scribe thing looks great! Reminds me of surgical tools. I have one of those little Starrett punch hammers with the magnifying glass in it. It's kinda useful, but not as good as the optical centre punch. Mine's a Skidmore, which is exactly what you don't want it to do, so I wonder what they were aiming for in the marketing department when they called it that. I hope it wasn't truth

  14. #14
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Q View Post
    As far as detail inspection goes, the loupes are fantastic down to about 0.001". For surface inspection and resolving ambiguity I frankly just use my iphone. There's a free app called Sherlook, whcih is a digital magnifying glass/camera. You can focus pretty closely...enough to resolve most shop things short of s microscope.
    I read the reviews for that app and (having been largely disappointed with most iPhone apps) it didn't sound very convincing so I didn't bother - is it really anywhere near as it its advertized? Could you perhaps post a picture of something magnified?

  15. #15
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    This is a photo full-sized from the Sherlook app. It is of a $0.75 item on my phone bill, which is in the smallest type I can see unaided.

    It takes a steady hand for the autofocus to work at very short ranges, but I find it most useful to use the phone in places I cannot get my eye lined up with.

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