[Metrology] Mill Spindle Mounted Microscope (aka Cheap Optical Comparator)

Just ordered one. Under $20Ca. Free shipping. Jim, I'd be interested in your crosshair software when you have it ready for this application.

Thanks, guys. Always need some new toys.
 
Holescreek said:
If you got the good software package you can actually calibrate them to take accurate measurements at various magnifications.
Click to expand...

Any recommendations for good software packages with calibration and measurement functions?
-brino
 
The software that came with the microscope has a calibration feature with additional features like drawing lines and shapes, annotating the image ,and the ability to measure angles and calculate areas of circles and rectangles. The calibration is in mm/pixel and seemed to be accurate. I haven't used it much, just a look-see. The software apparently only works with captured images, not the real time, and can be used with various image formats although the camera must be plugged in to open the software.

It works with a provided calibration grid with the crossed scales that I imaged, a series of different sized circles ranging from 100 microns to 1000 microns, a pattern of crossed lines on a 1 mm mesh size, line widths from .o3 to 1mm, inch and metric scales with .05 mm and .05in. divisions.

I am not really concerned about the calibration as both of my mills have a DRO and I intend to use the DRO to move the object under the crosshairs and obtain my coordinates from the DRO.

I have also used AutoCAD and SolidWorks for image analysis and I expect that other CAD packages offer similar capability.

Bob
 
Since it appears that a number of you have ordered or are planning to order the same microscope I have, here are the drawings of the clamping arrangement that I used. Microscope Clamp.JPG Microscope Clamp.JPG

Bob

Microscope Carrier.JPG
 
Unless you're using it to pick up scribed lines there isn't any real reason it needs to be centered under the mill spindle is there? You could stick it to the side of the spindle with a magnet if you just want to use it for measurement.

Also, for those buying them from Ebay, make sure the model you get works with your computer. There are both newer and older models on EBay. The one I bought works on my old XP system in the work shop but won't run on my W8 computer in the office.
 
Holescreek said:
Unless you're using it to pick up scribed lines there isn't any real reason it needs to be centered under the mill spindle is there? You could stick it to the side of the spindle with a magnet if you just want to use it for measurement.

Also, for those buying them from Ebay, make sure the model you get works with your computer. There are both newer and older models on EBay. The one I bought works on my old XP system in the work shop but won't run on my W8 computer in the office.
Click to expand...
You are correct. You can mount the camera anywhere on the head for use as an optical comparator. Mounting on the spindle axis enables locating a feature prior to a machining operation. For example , a while back, some wanted to locate the center of an irregular boss on a casting prior to drilling. This would be a good use.
 
I'll see what I can do to write a measuring function into my software. It already edge finds and will measure in the X and Y axis, actually Z also if you use a laser as a light source. But it's geared for high speed wood processing (+/- 1mm at 600 FPM) not high precision metal work, I'll play with it a bit and see what I can do.

This assumes that I can get my software to work at all with this camera.

I'll post a link in this thread if I can get it working, so watch this thread. It will be maybe a month before it's ready for test.
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I just happened upon this thread again at lunch (I work nights) and checked out our little digital microscope to see if it had a crosshair setting. It doesn't, but I found that it allowed me to make my own by drawing two perpendicular lines in the live viewing screen which worked the same as having a dedicated crosshair. The scopes we get here in the lab are very expensive versions of the $16 scopes on Ebay. These cost the company about $500 each for the same kind of scope. The brand name is DINO LITE (http://www.dinolite.us/).

The cool thing (maybe?) is that the software is available online for free download from the site. I haven't tried it but can't think of a reason it shouldn't work with another brand of scope.
 
Does any one have a link to the one the op has?
 
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