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Articulated arm for magnifying glass, camera, microscope?

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PekkaNF:
I have rather big magnifying lense on my work/test desk and tired of it's parallel arm linkage. Looks very much like this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lite-Source-Magnify-Lite-Magnifier-Lamp-5-Diopter/17633689

That linkage has never worked for me, aft hits always something and height and positon adjustment interact.

I started looking for better linkages and noticed that microscopes seem to have nice ones, bit like this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/619CVSMLkYL._SY355_.jpg

I would have bought light/economical version, but could not find one. I checked TV-table/wall stands, but nah. Maybe it is not too hard to make one?

I found this thread, Stevensons articulated taping arm.
http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,1025.msg7894.html#msg7894

That looks like a good canditate, scaled down a little and maybe one more pivot added, because I want to pivot and pan the glass.

Just one thing caught my eye. On this microscope stand they seem to have one thick upper arm, which I suspect still is a parallel arm design. Started to draw one and realized that I could design it such a way that upper arm would be in tension, thin one inside the main arm would then do and there still would be space for a gas strut.

What do you think?

Pekka

PekkaNF:
Something like this:
http://www.microscope.com/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/o/m/omano_v7u_articulating_boom_base_4.png

I like the simplicity of it.

or maybe this is even easier, and I was thinking of arm length, this seem to show pretty good ratio:
http://www.sios.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/smz_07450.jpg

More joints would mean less wasted space on the back, but each joint will add weight and play. Compromise. Have to choose between three and four for lateral movements. Height adjustment arm will need four, but they should be loaded = play is eliminated.

I am over thinking it am I  :lol:

Pekka

hanermo:
The more joints You add, the better it looks.
Like a Quorn.

And yes, feature creep ..

PekkaNF:
I made a quick mock up of the lateral joints. Wood, screw, washers and now I know how many joints I need.

I checked the rest of the magnifying lamp: all joits are loose and the parallel arm structure is not at very good shape anymore. Have to deside if I'll try to mod it or replace it.

Pekka

David Morrow:
While this may be too far off what you had in mind or what you want but... products like Loc-Line can be used for mounting lights and magnifying glasses and then there are Ram mounts although the Rams aren't too conducive too frequent adjustments.

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