The New "Standard Scanner"

[daniel_reetz]

Update: Anyone considering this build should check out Clemd973's New Standard build notes. He points out a lot of common problems and solutions to said problems. Excellent work and a good way to see what you're getting into. Now, on with the show:

The idea is to build a new "Standard Scanner" to replace the old Instructable. I hope to concatenate a number of the cool ideas from this forum into one design.

Goals:
1. Walk into Home Despot, leave with everything you need.
2. Vastly simplified from Instructables version.
3. Can be made with only circular saw, hand drill, clamps, t-square.
4. Reliable.
5. As few parts as possible without sacrificing functionality.
6. Total documentation, BOM, etc.

Plans:
Let's Go Shopping.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&start=10#p3197

Tools You Will Need.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&p=3221#p3214

Building The Scanner Base.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&start=20#p3216

How To Build The Cradle.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&p=3221#p3218

How To Make A Column.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&p=3221#p3219

How To Make A Platen.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&p=3221#p3220

How To Make Camera Supports.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=333&p=3221#p3221

Here's an excellent thread on how to use Book Scan Wizard to process your books:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=839

The materials for this project were funded by ODBS.

[daddyE]

This might be beyond the scope of a 4g scanner (maybe closer to 6 or 7th gen)... but have you considered using an Arduino board for automation?
http://arduino.cc/

I personally haven't used an Arduino, but it could help with automation of various aspects of the scanning system. (sensors to snap pictures automatically, turn on/off lighting, perhaps the control unit for a future automatic page turner?)

Plus, if the DIY community bands together then some standardized setups could be created...

[daniel_reetz]

I used Arduino to control the lighting in my 3rd-gen scanner.

The idea of this scanner is different, though. The idea here is to be able to walk into a hardware store and walk out with most or all of a scanner. I'm going to make these new plans available as a new "Standard Scanner" when they are done.

[daniel_reetz]

Just to clarify what I'm looking for in this thread, I'm looking for scanner builders from this forum to come in and share what they think the best ideas from their build or from other builds.

[daniel_reetz]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I made some great progress today, and, I think, solved the cradle problem for all time. Some pics attached. Thanks to Noah for freezing his ass off while taking pictures of everything.

Youtube video of improved cradle design:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewbUNtRzKaY

Shopping at Home Despot:

Shopping_IMG_0554.jpg (45.48 KiB) Viewed 99600 times

After 4 hours of work.

Dan_New_Scanner_CIMG8971.jpg (40.03 KiB) Viewed 99600 times

After 4 hours, 1 minute of work:

Scanner_Building_Is_Serious_Business_IMG_0762.jpg (52.65 KiB) Viewed 99600 times

[benjamin]

I'm pretty happy with the picture frames and it definitely made assembly easy, but for the larger platen I'll be using plexiglass so that I can bevel the edges to better clear tight margins. Going to experiment with poster frames, but will likely end up making my own.

One of the things I'm happiest with is really minor- using a protruding bolt and wing nut to mount the platen, which allows for quick changes and packing the glass separately for transport.

Single plane camera adjustment is pretty sweet, too.

I've also noticed that many of us make our slides much higher than necessary, which may not matter for v4 but could be implicated as some of us continue to work on foot controls. Lower edge of the platen just needs to clear a vertical height equal to the width of the cradle (eg., the widest possible page pointed straight up in the air).

[rob]

I just have to make a smirky comment. That fireplace mantel in the picture? It's like it's mocking you. "I look like a fireplace, but actually I generate no heat."

[daniel_reetz]

Fauxerplace?

AWESOME, thanks BEN. I'm going to be using your platen-mounting idea (and I think perhaps you were the one that originated the internally-mounted slides, too? Great stuff). I'll be finishing the first draft of this scanner today. More on that soon.

[cratylus]

Dan,

What again is the point of the adjustable cradle?

Also, in your experience, what is the maximum travel required for the cradle assembly as you flip from a book's front to back?

Does this design move up and down with ease?

I think all of my other questions will be answered when you post plans.

Thanks,

Joel

[daniel_reetz]

Dan,

What again is the point of the adjustable cradle?

Have you tried scanning any thick books yet? I ask because it's a little easier to see in person. Basically, books spines come in different widths, from magazines to encyclopedias. The cradle opens so that the spine rests flat on the base, and the sides are supported. If you don't do this, as you travel through the book, the spine will roll with the shifting pages and sit against one side of the cradle, causing you all kinds of weird problems.

Also, in your experience, what is the maximum travel required for the cradle assembly as you flip from a book's front to back?

I'm going with 2.5" on this design, I've tried a huge number of books in the cradle and it seems to be sufficient. In other words, not very much.

Does this design move up and down with ease?

Hope to test that today. If it doesn't, I'll add a spring or rubber bands as in the other designs.

Unfortunately, due to the constraints on this project (I'm producing this in conjunction with Margism and the ODBS) I have to rush through the design and get to the building documentation by... tonight. Insane.

I think all of my other questions will be answered when you post plans.

Hope so! I appreciate the more-complete documentation around here enormously, but from communicating with many people, they still think the Instructable is the master plan, which is reasonable but misses all the cool stuff here. I hope to make a new standard that they can refer to, which can be easily modified with the more difficult ideas from the fora.