Thx for the reply!

Hundreds is not the qty I'm thinking of, maybe a handfull at most. If
it's more, well then I would be geniunely surprised.

But maybe creating a moving EL strip would be just as easy/hard as
assimilating a scanner into my device.

Any idea's on a general approach of connecting to a scanner with a
serial port? Or is this a one-way ticket into the proprietary protocol
swamp?

Claudio

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of M. Adam Davis
Sent: zaterdag 6 april 2002 3:51
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [EE] Canibalizing a flatbed scanner

As far as a one off, I'd wire directly to the motors and the circuit
which drives the lamp.  The motor is likely a simple stepper motor with
some limit switches.

The lamp driver is likely part of the board inside the scanner.  It
shouldn't be too difficult to find that section and the on/off line for
it.  These lights are not rated for a long life, though, so either turn
it off when you aren't 'scanning' or consider replacing it with a
cheaper light (or even EL strip...)

If you decide to make more than a hundred of these, you might consider
talking to a few companies that make the generic scanners (and often the
scanners that are rebranded for others).  You may be able to convince
them to sell you the major components, or partially assembled scanners
for much less than the $50 cheapies you would get elsewhere.

Or, if you are into mechanical engineering, contract with a plastics
company to make the shell.  Since you don't need precision you can forgo
the metal guides.  Maybe put a gear track on the bottom of the scanner,
and have the motor on the moving assembly with the light (and all the
rest of the circuitry, for that matter).

Have fun!

-Adam

-Adam

Claudio Tagliola wrote:

>Hello,
>
>
>I need to canibalize a flatbed scanner for a certain project.
>Unfortunately, I cannot disclose specifics of why I need it. The only
>parts I have to keep are the control of the scanning light and the
>movement of the scanner beam (don't know the exact words for the thing
>that moves inside a scanner :). As you can surely figure out, I only
>have to fake the workings of a scanner, that's all. No scan input is
>needed at all.
>
>Now my question: what would be the advisable option? Connect to the
>serial port and work the scanner through it's normal operation modes?
>Or would it be easier to solder connections right onto the inner
>workings of the scanner and hook the lamp switch and motor control
>directly to a micro?
>
>Further remarks:
> - as the housing of the scanner will be dropped (at least the cover),
>aestetics are only important from the top view;
> - the scanner to use has to be cheap and widely available since this
>thing may be produced in a > 1 qty;
> - a more general solution would be convenient, however not
>
>As allways, I'm confidend this question will trigger a multitude of
>suggestions :)
>
>
>Regards,
>
>Claudio
>
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