When I first started designing and assembling my own PCBs with SMD components, I invested in an optical microscope. It wasn’t cheap ~$700 but it was worth every penny. (There’s one detail I wish I had known before buying it, but that’s a story for another day.)
I’ve used this scope for years, but recently I came across a video from Engineer Bo that showed how adding a simple polarizing lens can eliminate the harsh reflections from shiny components. That instantly caught my attention.
I managed to grab a 52 mm circular polarizer for just $8 off Facebook Marketplace
Building the Mount
To make this work, I used three things:
- 52 mm Circular Polarizer: Found second-hand for $8 on Facebook Marketplace.
- 3D-Printed Mount: Files available on Cults3D.
- Polarised Film Sheets (Adhesive): Cut to size and glued onto the microscope’s LED light.
I printed the mount, and while it technically screws into the microscope, mine didn’t thread perfectly and ended up a little loose. Still, it was good enough to hold the filter in place and let me rotate it freely.
This was a quick, low-cost modification, just a 3D print, one second-hand lens, and a film sheet and it required no permanent changes to the microscope.
Results
The difference is obvious. With the polarizer in place, I can rotate the lens until nearly all reflections disappear, making tiny details much easier to see.
Here’s a direct comparison:
Even a metal splinter in my finger was easy to spot!
This small tweak transformed my microscope into an even more powerful tool for electronics work. If you do SMD soldering or inspection, I highly recommend giving it a try.
