Microscope for cartridge inspection

Anyone try this?

https://www.amazon.com/Microscope-SKYBASIC-Handheld-Microscopes-Compatible/dp/B0D78L92RZ

@wlutke Thanks for the response. What model do you have?

@johnss Do you have a different solution?

You may want to look for a direct view microscope either stereo or mono view with a 1500X or 2000x magnification range. 

If you are looking to determine wear keep in mind you'll need to focus only on the stylus tip area not the entire stylus so tons of magnification is needed to get to the detail you'll need to inspect the tip geometry and angles. 

I’m lucky, I live only 35 minutes away from VAS, they check them in seconds.

I bought an inexpensive USB microscope, says max 1000x.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SR7YPV5?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Has built in dimmable light (you need light without glare), and 2 hand tightened ball joints

You need a stand to hold it still and precise movement, this was the best I could get of my friend’s Soundsmith tip for a Grace F9 Ruby 

Some can take pics, if you remember the software and how to use it. If a button on the scope, you might shake it pressing the button. That is a SCREENSHOT pic on a windows pc, so you only press the keyboard buttons: hold the windows symbol key (bottom left side) and the ’Prt Sc’ (print screen, top row, right side) key at the same time.

Find: in ’pictures’ folder, a sub-folder named ’screenshots’. Open it, it’s the entire screen: crop only the part you want to save so it’s bigger to view. Rename it, move it wherever.

This cheap one, movement is not precise, you diddle till you get lucky, or, one trick is to move the stylus precisely by putting layers of thin paper below it, moving it incrementally closer to the scope which stays where it was. Tedious, but if not willing to buy something more professional, 

I thought the tip was damaged, turned out the aluminum cantilever is cracked just inside the rubber of the suspension (can't see it, but it had become a low rider and felt funny (my friend broke it, no getting away from the truth) Steve is changing it to a MicroRidge on Boron, it was a darn good sounding cartridge, ought to be terrific.

USB microscopes are fine for checking VTA/SRA, but to look at a stylus you really need a good optical microscope, and there you pay for quality! I was lucky when the hospital lab bought a new Leica they gave me their old binocular Olympus. I used it for years to do urine microscopy and hanging drop slides, but now it has a new lease on life!