Finding a workaround.

[excoriator]

A few years back when I started using surface mount components I bought a microscope. Basically its a little camera on a stand with a magnifying lens and a small screen. Some of the components are only about a millimetre long, so you really need help to solder them. I debated long and hard whether to get a posh one with a good depth of field, but in the end reluctance to part with money won, and I got a cheapo one that works OK.

Having lost an eye since, I now have no depth perception and bringing together iron, component, and solder in three dimensions is a big problem, particularly with conventional sized components. But then I realised that surface mount stuff, which I had previously found a bit more difficult was easier to use and the penny dropped. I was subconsciously using the poor depth of field - i.e. the degree of blurring - to give me the missing depth information!

I had an old camera that I'd got to inspect a defective drain. That too has a lousy depth of field so I use that with a tablet to do larger scale soldering. I adjust the camera position to show the component unblurred then move iron and solder until they too are unblurred and bingo! They are all together.

[jonjel]

There is usually a way for someone with a couple of brain cells Exco. I take it the eye damage is permanent? Tough call.

[excoriator]

Yes, it's permanent. It has made simple jobs a lot harder too. This morning I replaced out old bedside lights, well bed-behind lights really. They are wall mounted. I had a nice piece of oak I'd polished which I wanted to mount above the headboard onto which I was going to mount the lights. This involved marking out and drilling some counterbored holes to fit the old screw holes in the wall, The lights would sit over the screw holes to hide them. Simple job once I'd marked it out, but even drilling the holes in the right place on the pillar drill was a problem. I had to look at it from several angles to make sure I was on the mark, and double check it etc.

Screwing it to the wall wall and mounting the lights with further screws was an even bigger problem, and I had to resort to feel to get the screwdriver into the heads of the screws.

It took a hell of a lot longer than it would have had I not stupidly wrecked an eye.

When I'd finished, Mrs E. remarked "You took your time! Was there a problem?"

"Yes" " I said. All the plaster fell off the wall onto the bed, but I've cleared most of it up. Might be a bit gritty to sleep in though." and strolled out. You'd think she'd know me by now, but I heard her shooting upstairs to see the damage at the rate of knots. It looks OK actually, but its a bit irritating to find simple jobs so hard to do.

Worse, I've had to be a lot more careful pouring wine. It's very easy to miss the glass entirely. What a nightmare!

[jonjel]

Oct 24, 2020 15:34:52 GMT excoriator said:

Yes, it's permanent. It has made simple jobs a lot harder too. This morning I replaced out old bedside lights, well bed-behind lights really. They are wall mounted. I had a nice piece of oak I'd polished which I wanted to mount above the headboard onto which I was going to mount the lights. This involved marking out and drilling some counterbored holes to fit the old screw holes in the wall, The lights would sit over the screw holes to hide them. Simple job once I'd marked it out, but even drilling the holes in the right place on the pillar drill was a problem. I had to look at it from several angles to make sure I was on the mark, and double check it etc.

Screwing it to the wall wall and mounting the lights with further screws was an even bigger problem, and I had to resort to feel to get the screwdriver into the heads of the screws.

It took a hell of a lot longer than it would have had I not stupidly wrecked an eye.

When I'd finished, Mrs E. remarked "You took your time! Was there a problem?"

"Yes" " I said. All the plaster fell off the wall onto the bed, but I've cleared most of it up. Might be a bit gritty to sleep in though." and strolled out. You'd think she'd know me by now, but I heard her shooting upstairs to see the damage at the rate of knots. It looks OK actually, but its a bit irritating to find simple jobs so hard to do.

Worse, I've had to be a lot more careful pouring wine. It's very easy to miss the glass entirely. What a nightmare!

Its a tough one Exco, but accidents happen so I don't think you need to beat yourself up about it. If we all think back most of us have had some very close shaves.

Not on your scale but my eyesight is a bit iffy. I have had one cataract done, and the other one is I know 'ripe' but it will wait until this bloody awful pandemic is behind us. However the first one was not as transformational as I know it has been for others because I have what is known as Fuchs disease. (In other words my eyes are fuched!) You are apparently born with it and it is a build up of chalk spots in one of the layers of the eyes. Makes life a bit difficult but I have been told I am still OK to drive.

[aubrey]

Engineer joke: