Platen - how to build/best materials

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alyh
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Joined: 18 Apr 2014, 11:20
Country: United States
Location: New York City

Platen - how to build/best materials

Post by alyh »

Hello,
I am trying to build a scanner for university archives use. I am having trouble finding an explanation of how the two pieces of the platen are attached at a 90 degree or 100 degree angle.
Also, I saw recommendations for TruView Museum Glass, but is there anything else that is recommended for the most clear, precise image possible?
Thanks,
Alyse
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davidlandin
Posts: 134
Joined: 22 Feb 2012, 15:44
E-book readers owned: kindle
Number of books owned: 0
Country: UK

Re: Platen - how to build/best materials

Post by davidlandin »

alyh wrote:Hello,
I am trying to build a scanner for university archives use. I am having trouble finding an explanation of how the two pieces of the platen are attached at a 90 degree or 100 degree angle.
Also, I saw recommendations for TruView Museum Glass, but is there anything else that is recommended for the most clear, precise image possible?
Thanks,
Alyse
You could have a look at my YouTube video which shows a way of making a 90 degree glued platen

http://youtu.be/s97wZ5mzLSc

Look at the video at 3 minutes 42 seconds following. In another model of my scanner I've used 90 degree plastic joints which you can see in this page of my instructable

http://www.instructables.com/id/Book-Sc ... ic-platen/

However, I think 100 degree angles are going to be much more difficult for you to produce. On the one hand you can't just cut the edge square and then glue, as you can with 90 degree angles. Secondly, it would be difficult to find a plastic or metal joint that measured 100 degrees. Then you have another problem - the book cradle, which would also have to be set at an angle of 100 degrees. 90 degrees is a much easier option.

I have bought non-reflective acrylic for my platen from this UK supplier. This acrylic has a special coating that cuts down unwanted reflections

http://www.livsupplies.co.uk/product_li ... php?id=384


Hope this helps

David Landin
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scann
Posts: 79
Joined: 31 Jul 2011, 01:23
Number of books owned: 0
Country: Argentina

Re: Platen - how to build/best materials

Post by scann »

Hello alyh, and welcome!

I think you should start by reading this thread: http://www.diybookscanner.org/forum/vie ... =17&t=1149

I believe there was also a thread where all this stuff was explained a little bit different, but I can't seem to find it. It had some drawings.

BTW, how big is the collection that you're planning to scan? I really believe that if you are inside a university and you need it to scan archives, you might want to go with The Archivist: http://www.diybookscanner.org/forum/vie ... =14&t=3063 . It solves pretty much all the problems that this community has found through all these years in different designs, models and approachs. Experimentation is always welcome - but depends on what you need/want to do. Building a scanner is one thing, scanning books is another.
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