Andonstar AD407 Digital Microscope

A microscope for soldering and inspection: under it you can see missed and bridged joints on fine-pitch leads, the marking on resistors the size of a sesame seed, cracks in traces. The screen is on the stand, so you solder right under the lens while looking at the screen, not into an eyepiece. Photos and video go to a microSD card, which is inserted. There is an HDMI output, but it is not connected to anything.

How to use

1. Check that the microscope is plugged into USB power and switched on with the button on the power cable. The button on the unit alone does not switch it on; that is not obvious.
2. Put the board on the stage, move the head up or down the stand until the image is sharp. Fine focus is the ring on the lens.
3. The IR remote lies next to it: it controls the brightness. If the spot you need is washed out or in shadow, fix the brightness first, then move the lamps on their flexible arms.
4. The button on the body takes a photo; a long press or the separate button records video. Files are on the microSD card, which can be taken out and copied to a computer.
5. When done, switch off with the button on the cable and put the remote back.

Take care

• Do not solder right under the lens at minimum distance: flux fumes settle on the glass. Clean the lens only with an optics cloth.
• Move the head along the stand gently; the stand is plastic.

Access

The microscope is on the electronics bench in the hackspace room, so a plan with hackspace access is required. No induction is needed. The microscope stays in the room.