Intel Play QX-3 Microscope Question.

BuffaloIronTail · May 30, 2005 3:20AM

Is there any way to get this unit to take decent coin pics? Can it be modified?

The only thing it does great is to take real good close-ups.

Pete

anoldgoat · May 30, 2005 3:34AM

I have had no luck. I just use it for close ups and uesea digital camera or scanner for the rest.

KurtHorn · May 30, 2005 3:36AM

I can use mine to take pics of doubling, recut letters etc. But only if it's not in a slab....

Cameonut · May 30, 2005 3:54AM

I use mine for closeups of doubling, mint marks, etc. Doesn't seem to work on anything else.

I modified mine by using a Dremel to remove most of bottom of the housing which interferes with getting closeups of slabs. To visualize what to remove, put a slab on the stage and try to focus. The housing will contact the slab and show you what to get rid of. Believe me, once the modification is completed, you can take good closeups in slabs with no problems.

MAD4MORGANS · May 30, 2005 3:54AM

<< <i>I can use mine to take pics of doubling, recut letters etc. But only if it's not in a slab.... >>

If you take and grind away some of the front bottom portion of the microscope's plastic, it will make it easier to to view slabs. I used my bench grinder.

JRocco · May 30, 2005 4:37AM

<< <i>I use mine for closeups of doubling, mint marks, etc. Doesn't seem to work on anything else.

I modified mine by using a Dremel to remove most of bottom of the housing which interferes with getting closeups of slabs. To visualize what to remove, put a slab on the stage and try to focus. The housing will contact the slab and show you what to get rid of. Believe me, once the modification is completed, you can take good closeups in slabs with no problems. >>

I agree with this and have done the same. The only thing I would like to add is that you can add lighting, using a mobile light source, to enhance a dark area or to balance out those annoying shadows.

mozeppa · May 30, 2005 6:48AM

<< <i>

<< <i>I use mine for closeups of doubling, mint marks, etc. Doesn't seem to work on anything else.

I modified mine by using a Dremel to remove most of bottom of the housing which interferes with getting closeups of slabs. To visualize what to remove, put a slab on the stage and try to focus. The housing will contact the slab and show you what to get rid of. Believe me, once the modification is completed, you can take good closeups in slabs with no problems. >>

I agree with this and have done the same. The only thing I would like to add is that you can add lighting, using a mobile light source, to enhance a dark area or to balance out those annoying shadows. >>

i copied what jrocco said.....

only i took it one step further!

the stand that holds the microscope unit itself is cheesey at best...if you move your coin just a 16th of an inch you'll be out of focus and out of the units focal point (where you want to look is gone!...and now you must slide your coin around until you find the area you want to see
and then re-focus...then maybe again if your grand baby bonks her head on the table your working at.

solution !

i went to the local microscope supply house (i know ...many places don't have one....indianapolis is fortunate in that regard)

and i asked if they had a microscope stand without the "head" on it. (i was corrected post haste....it is the optics unit)

i also made it known that i'd like to get one that has a position-able stage on it (x and y adjustable stage).
in effect...you lay your coin on the stage...then by using 2 adjustment knobs you move stage and coin under the microscope head in
small but very smooth and fluid like movements.

the man at the store said "have i got a deal for you!" and showed me this one in the picture below....i made a larger stage for it...
took a hack saw and cut part of the top off...cut the cradle off the intel stand and mounted it to the professional stand.

added 2 home made lights from a toy train set....incorporated the train transformer to power them....and ther you have it!

total cost...under a hundred bucks

also pictured is how much of the plastic housing that i cutaway to get that much needed clearance for slabs.

i got the stand for 35 bucks...because the bake-a-lite calibration rings on the adjustment knobs were broke off....no matter wouldn't have used them anyway.

rich · May 30, 2005 12:00PM

Mike, Cool set up

The other annoying thing is that in order to center the coin it has to slide in opposite direction you want it to go.

BuffaloIronTail · May 31, 2005 10:50AM

Mike: Thanks for all the time and effort it took you to reply to my post.

That's one heck of a mod you did! It never ceases to amaze me how resoursceful
we can all be.

So now...........it's time to carve up the Grandkids microscope! LOL. They think "Grampy" is a little strange anyway

Pete

mozeppa · May 31, 2005 12:57PM

no problemo....anything to help

Intel Play QX-3 Microscope Question.

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