I have 4 booms in my watch shop. They are terrific for getting over obstacles like a lathe and bench side panels. But they take up a lot of real estate.
As you can see, my temporary (while I experiment with configurations) lab bech is already cramped. I have about 20 feet of good horizontal space in the watch shop that is well lit and I am thinking of downsizing that operation and moving the lab to there. In the meantime, needs must.
![One answer to the Microscope Boom Problem 1998211-0](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=413338.0;attach=1998214;image)
Anyway, I do not have the space for a boom mount base. I did have an AO desk mount. Weighted down by my polishing block, it works well. The mount is attached to gasket paper with double sided tape so I can move it without screwing up my surface cover.
I may use a focuser to mount a PCB holder and clamp it to the end of the bench so I can raise and lower the board for focus rather than change my sitting position which would be required by focusing at the head.
I looked through the catalogs and there exists a desk mount with double slides on a U-foot that looks like it was made exactly for this purpose. I am now fishing for one.
I simply take the head off my watchbench and carry it to the lab bench. Here I use a .4x barlow which gives me the right head position and working distance.
![One answer to the Microscope Boom Problem 1998217-1](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=413338.0;attach=1998220;image)