Project: A Maker Loupe

This project is also published on Hackaday.io as Maker Loupe
Commercial Products that work - but don't meet goals and restrictions:

• Dental Loupes (Links Comming)

What I've tried so far:

• Simple Magnifying Glasses – hand held and fixed
  • need to be very close to object being viewed

• Reading glasses (various magnifications)
  • higher the magnification → closer you need to be to what you are viewing
• Binocular Microscope
  • works quite well but still need to be bent over the scope
  • a movable stage would improve its ease of use
• USB Microsope
  • not much experience but they can have a bit of a delay (what you see can be a fraction of a second behind what is happening at the moment).
• Video Scope – NTSC camera, lenses and composite display
  • works reasonably well
    • may be able to improve by moving view screen lower and angling it

 Project Goals/Objectives:

• Comfortably working with small parts, components, etc. without having to be bend over or bring the parts close to my face.

• More comfortable – better ergonomics
• same as above
• able to sit upright while working (not bending over)
• inexpensive (under $100 or better yet, under $50)
• hands free / wearable / light weight
• Magnification (at least 2x)
• Field of view (at least 3cm)
• Depth (about 3cm, enough that working on projects does not lead to neck strain from holding position).

Project Restrictions:

•  Price - affordable for most people
• ideal is re-purposed parts 

Updates coming soon.