Wayne Parham Messages: 18754 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
I read a lot after visiting with you here the last few days. One of the documents I read was from Shure, who offered a microscope and instructions (attached below) for stylus inspection. Their instruction document shows illustrations of the wear patterns expected on common stylus shapes as well as actual photos of what is seen in the microscope.
I have guarded optimism that I will be able to see well enough to get good results using the 'scope. As you've said, USB microscopes are inexpensive, and I've found solid-state cameras to be pretty good these days. I've worked with remote 'scopes to see things inside automobile engines, and their solid-state cameras create surprisingly good pictures. So I'm somewhat optimistic about the USB microscope photos I'll get.
This is the Shure SEK-2 instruction manual, which describes what to look for as well as giving some examples: