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Small print

liaemars

Jun 18, 2018
2
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Jun 18, 2018
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I'm just assembling a kit to control motor speeds. I had a lot of trouble reading the small printing on some semiconductors and identifying them with the list supplied. I solved it by photographing them with a macro lens on my mobile phone and then had a decent sized picture to work with. Old eyes are a bit of a problem at times!
Thanks
 

shrtrnd

Jan 15, 2010
3,876
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Jan 15, 2010
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3,876
Get yourself one of those eye loupes.
I have a 4x magnification for the small print, and use a 10x magnification loupe to actually physically inspect any small parts or solder joints that I suspect are damaged.
With today's circuits, you really need some type of easy magnification.
 

AnalogKid

Jun 10, 2015
2,884
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Jun 10, 2015
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2,884
"Reading glasses" come in several strengths, off-the-shelf at drug stores, Walmart, etc. For me, 2.5 or 3.0 diopter is a good compromise between magnification and depth of field. For detailed work, I have a 10x loupe.

ak
 

kellys_eye

Jun 25, 2010
6,514
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Jun 25, 2010
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I use a combination of devices - the good old reading glasses, magnifying lens and, on occasion, a webcam retrofitted with a macro lens.

Some chips also benefit from smearing (using the smallest amount possible) with white thermal paste that 'sticks' to the lasered-on etching identification making it easier to read.

But the biggest bugbear is SMD components, particularly those that don't have any designation at all.....
 

dave9

Mar 5, 2017
1,188
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Mar 5, 2017
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1,188
Complain to the manufacturer that the components should be in labeled bags if there are any that can be confused with one another.
 
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