Mechanical adjustable arm for microscope camera

chookey

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I need to fit a camera to my hot air rework station stand. The camera will give me about 6" working distance but is a fixed focus, therefore I need to incorporate some sort of fine adjustment.
The camera itself is a microsoft webcam which I have fitted a different lens to. The lens came from a Company in Hong Kong where they also supply the fully built model, but at approx £280 inc delivery I opted for the lens only.
I'm struggling to find the parts I need mainly cos I don't know how to phrase it in a google search. If I knew someone who worked on a lathe I would get it custom built but struggling with the design. Any ideas would be most welcome. The camera would need to be to the left hand side of the hot air gun and coming in at a slight angle approximately 6" above the workpiece. I need to fit a flexible light also, something similar to the one on my scope.

1080p-smt-microscope.jpg csi618-1.jpg SE-400Z.jpg
 

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I need to fit a camera to my hot air rework station stand. The camera will give me about 6" working distance but is a fixed focus, therefore I need to incorporate some sort of fine adjustment.
The camera itself is a microsoft webcam which I have fitted a different lens to. The lens came from a Company in Hong Kong where they also supply the fully built model, but at approx £280 inc delivery I opted for the lens only.
I'm struggling to find the parts I need mainly cos I don't know how to phrase it in a google search. If I knew someone who worked on a lathe I would get it custom built but struggling with the design. Any ideas would be most welcome. The camera would need to be to the left hand side of the hot air gun and coming in at a slight angle approximately 6" above the workpiece. I need to fit a flexible light also, something similar to the one on my scope.

View attachment 97934 View attachment 97938 View attachment 97935
Could you use a magnetic base clamp?

MB-2 DURATOOL, MAGNETIC BASE, FINE AJUSTMENT | Farnell element14
 
I had checked that guy out @miggy but he seems to be more to lens adapters and he's definitely out my price range. I'm going to start from scratch with this project as I've been overcomplicating it I think.
No use trying to come up with a design before having the materials first. A trip to the car boot sale on Sunday I think, may be able to find something I can adapt.
 
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I had checked that guy out @miggy but he seems to be more to lens adapters and he's definitely out my price range. I'm going to start from scratch with this project as I've been overcomplicating it I think.
No use trying to come up with a design before having the materials first. A trip to the car boot sale on Sunday I think, may be able to find something I can adapt.

Keep to light aluminium gauge kind of thing chookey. The camera housing is a simple piece of aluminium trunking with a hole drilled in to compensate a threaded round bar beam. The adjustable bit is a simple tubed collar with a hole drilled in the side and a nut attached. This will slide up and down and a bolt will tighten up as required. A wing nut type of thing no point in pishing about with spanners. I am really sorry I don't live near you it is such a simple idea that I could easily make. I used to be a fabricator welder by trade until my knee replacements made me quit.
 
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It's just the bulk of it to be honest @Spectre. This setup is mainly for working on Mac logic boards and IBM motherboards so need the workspace that the stand affords. Also on the bench is my hot air station, soldering station, microscope and whichever tools I am using. So I'm trying to find a solution which will fit in the confines of the stand.
I have an idea forming which may just involve a custom bracket and a couple of short rods. The fine adjustment can be had by using the airgun holder to nudge the camera into focus and then sliding it back down into place.

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Keep to light aluminium gauge kind of thing chookey. The camera housing is a simple piece of aluminium trunking with a hole drilled in to compensate a threaded round bar beam. The adjustable bit is a simple tubed collar with a hole drilled in the side and a nut attached. This will slide up and down and a bolt will tighten up as required. A wing nut type of thing no point in pishing about with spanners. I am really sorry I don't live near you it is such a simple idea that I could easily make. I used to be a fabricator welder by trade until my knee replacements made me quit.

You shouldn't have mentioned the knee replacements miggy, that's why I'm doing this. I have to try and make a living again at this game now.
 
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If you have a steel frame bench, like Kaymar or such, you can clamp the magnet to part of the frame or shelf.
 
Found this in a skip just up the road. I think some of this has possibilities, has the thumbwheels I need and that part in the 2nd pic is ideal for getting an angle on the camera.

IMG_0152.JPG IMG_0153.JPG
 
If you have a steel frame bench, like Kaymar or such, you can clamp the magnet to part of the frame or shelf.
It's more a cottage industry at the moment Spectre. Will be working from home and a better workspace will be something I need to look at soon. Have been busy upgrading some of my equipment over the last few months. The monster 4ch scope has gone and made way for a very nice portable Hantek.

Recent surgery has forced me out of my usual occupation but I knew it was happening so am trying to put a decent workshop together whilst still maintaining some sort of living space.
 
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Certainly worth thinking about @Spectre.
Using the description from your link I found this one here

As you mentioned though the only problem with this solution would be to fine tune the focus. If I were to go down this route I would be looking to mount it on a bracket, upside down from the top of the stands' upright.
 
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