Old scanner = light table

Img 0203
Matt writes - "Well, my wife recently asked me to build her a small light table for her to use to copy the paper patterns that she uses for quilting. I started to design one in my head, and then decided that if I just pull all of the guts out of the old scanner and replace them with a fluorescent light bulb (so as to not generate too much heat), I'd have light table. I also put a translucent piece of plastic under the glass top of the scanner bed to diffuse the light from the light bulb a bit." - Link.

Matt's blog has a few other interesting Maker projects (garden railroading, o-gauge railroading, home-built CNC machine, woodworking, PC and home electronics projects, etc) check'em out - Link.

Posted by Phillip Torrone | Aug 14, 2006 03:50 PM
DIY Projects | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email This | Bookmark and Share | Digg this!

Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Shadyman on August 14, 2006 at 5:17 PM

How about a sheet of that light diffuser stuff they use for fluorescent lighting in office buildings?


Posted by: NateMC on August 14, 2006 at 9:32 PM

You can get varying degrees of diffusion sheets from theatrical lighting stores.

I've also seen light tables built out of old backlit beer signs.


Posted by: jmassaglia on August 15, 2006 at 9:12 AM

Great idea. My wife just sets the desktop color to white on her computer and uses that. I've got a scanner or two in my basement not being used. Maybe I'll try building one of these.


Posted by: MikeCat on August 15, 2006 at 10:27 AM

You can get the diffuser stuff right at home depot, with the related fixtures. They come in sheets that you can cut to fit. Its a little brittle however, so cut slowly and cleanly.


Posted by: spongebathe on August 16, 2006 at 12:44 PM

I was thinking about doing something just like this the other day ago.
Kudos for beating me to it.


Posted by: iBub on August 20, 2007 at 3:52 PM

Don't (as in DO NOT) buy plastics at Home Depot. Lowes or other big stores. If you live near a big orange or blue store, chances are there's a plastics distributor close by as well. Find the nearest plastics distributor where you can buy what you need sold at about $2 per pound for smaller stuff and $4 per pound for larger pieces.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

How-to videos for Makers and Crafers!


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out... Welcome to the Make Blog!

Features and more @ MAKE!


Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Add MAKE on Twitter.
Add MAKE on FriendFeed & the MAKE room.


Advertise here with FM.

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!


Phillip Torrone.Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311


Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
Robot Maker


Kip KayKip Kay
Video Maker


Jonah Brucker-Cohen Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Artist / Researcher

Suggest a Site!

Natalie Zee DrieuNatalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT


Becky Stern Becky Stern
Culture jammer


Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
Sound Maker


Marc de Vinck Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker

Current Podcast

itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Ultimate LED Fan Sign Here is the ultimate sports fan item, a portable Flashing LED Sign.To download Ultimate Fan Sign MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.... More...

Get the Make blog sent via email

Enter your email to receive the Make blog each day:



WOW! Thanks to everyone involved with Maker Faire Bay Area: attendees, makers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and crew...it was AMAZING! Over 400 Makers and 60,000+ attendees! Be sure to check out the photos @ Flickr, and our Maker Faire posts for all the action! The next scheduled Maker Faire is Austin: Oct. 18th & 19th, 2008 - Travis County Expo Center!

Make Categories

www.flickr.com
photos in MAKE More photos in MAKE Flickr Pool
www.flickr.com
photos in Craft More photos in Craft Flickr Pool

Advertise here.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog

Recent Posts from the Hackszine Blog