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Anyone used a USB microscope to align cartridge?

I am both short and long sighted and its getting harder for me to visually align stylus especially using the MintLP protractors which require a 10x LUPE to be done right. I have seen USB Microscope camera's on eBay etc and some of them go for about $30 while others can run to about $400. All of these USB mmicroscope camera's claim magnification from 10x-200x and beyond. Was wondering if anyone has tried using these to align cartridges and what models you would recommend. The cheaper ones seem too cheap to be true and the more expensive ones should be fine but these offer magnification from 50x or higher and I am thinking this is too high for the prupose of cartridge alignement. Any comments or inputs would be appreciated.
ddriveman

Showing 2 responses by dctom

dctom
115 posts
 
Great pictures ninetynine.

I have used a cheapish scope, a Veho 400x from amazon.
http://www.veho-world.com/main/shop_detail.aspx?article=40

Not as good as the Dynolite but does give decent results. Needs a lot of patience to get clear images

this is a photo of my Lyra at approx 91/92 degrees in my 4point arm which has adjustable VTA.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hygrlyr7nm7ydsi/Atlas-92.5-degSmall.jpg?dl=0

It is a useful way of getting a ball park figure and yes there can be errors. Fremer gives step by step guide on his analog planet site.

After an approx initial set up with the microscope, I adjusted the SRA/VTA by ear. Then checked again with the scope, that is the image link above. I was reassured that the best sounding position correlated with the visual confirmation.

I use a mini oscilloscope and test tone LP to adjust the azimuth.
dctom
115 posts
 
Thanks Lubachl.
I used Adobe illustrator as it gives a bit more control over the placement of lines, then printed out the image and measured the angle.

The veho is fairly cheap, I believe the dynolite has some software to enable the placement of measurement lines.

I had to remove the clear plastic cowl around the lens on the veho to be able to get the scope close enough to focus. I think this also necessary for the dynolite.

It is very fiddly to position the scope relative to the stylus to get a good image. Time and patience required in abundance. A longer working distance might well be an advantage.

Fremer on his analog planet site describes his methodology for using a usb scope.
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