This project is a simple-to-build rig that makes surface-mount soldering much easier.
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There are some improvements to make over this design:
-Take apart the webcam and replace the existing lens with one of the magnifying ones. This should fix some of the image distortion.
-Build in some LED lighting to illuminate the board, removing the need for an external lamp.
-Find a combination of lenses that act like a telephoto (zoom) lens rather than a macro lens. This will allow you to have the camera higher up and reduce the chance of bumping it with the soldering iron.
After using this setup for soldering a few times, I found some minor problems with the original design.
Wood turned out to be a bad choice for the base; it soaks up solder flux and is easily burned by the iron. Also, the base is about 1/4” thick, so when trying to work on a larger PCB, or the edge of one, I had to shim it to avoid it falling off. I replaced the base with a nice thin steel plate.
My initial cut of the wood stand was a bit too short to allow for all board types, so I replaced it with a taller one. I only made it about 2” taller, but it was almost TOO tall. Using a longer bolt for the adjuster would make it so this measurement doesn't need to be so precise.
I added a little screw to the side that fixes the webcam cable in place. There's enough slack so that it can still travel the full height, but not so much that it jams things up.
At this point, I think the assembly itself is OK and it's time to look at the PC side of things. It would be nice to set this up on the bench as a standalone tool that doesn't require a computer to use. I've got a RPI and some single board Linux things sitting around, maybe I can shove one of those in a small monitor with a script to launch a webcam viewer on boot?
Attach the lenses to the front of the webcam with electrical tape. Clean off any smudges made during this process.
Before assembling anything else, it's necessary to test out the webcam and take some measurements:
Get something from the bench like a “helping hands” rig or a vise to temporarily hold the webcam.
Point the camera straight down at the table a couple inches off the surface. Angle the desk lamp so it is lights up the table without casting a shadow of the webcam on it.
Download a copy of VLC media player:
Nicholas Amrich
WJCarpenter
Ted Yapo
Wing Tang Wong
Pete Hoffswell