Actually it would be less cumbersome, because you could see the drill
and not only rely on the camera.
Also you can do without the clamping foot for a top down drill.
When I built my drill stand I prepared it for an optical sight.
It is a top drill setup, and I was considering a simple projection
mechanism (think overhead projector) that looked on the board from
below. I experimented with a lens and some mirrors and I think it
might have worked.
Plan B was to use a small camera instead, if the optics didn't work out.
Turns out I don't need any optical sight after all.
ST
On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 10:09 PM, Mark Lerman <mlerman@...> wrote:
> Very nice solution, and an obvious (now that it's pointed out) way to
> go. A bottom drill with a camera sight, a modified microscope stage
> to hold the board and you're done! Of course, it would be just as
> logical to put the camera on the bottom and the drill on top. Just
> have to maybe use a little vacuum to stop the drill debris from
> covering the lens. Might be a little more cumbersome than a bottom
> drill because you would be completely dependent on the monitor, but
> still should work well and be easy to implement.
>
>
> Mark