DIY 4x5" scanner back

**Lenrick** · 3-Sep-2011, 07:50

Originally Posted by Steve Smith

Use the 555 circuit already suggested but instead of an LED, connect the output (pin 3) via a 10K resistor to the base of a transistor. Connect the rest of the transistor in place of the IR receiver. Run it from the scanner power supply.

Great idea! I have just stated to play around with 555 IC (actually 556 but at the moment I'm only using one of the 555 halves).

I'll post as soon as I have a new scan image, but at the moment I have a lot to do at work so things a progressing slowly. I managed to remove the lens array and lighting though.

Keep all the good ideas coming.

Thanks!

**Lenrick** · 4-Sep-2011, 01:14

Here you can see the first sample image of the IRIScan back. I hope I can improve on this.

I just built a solder free test setup with flashing IR LED. I can adjust the frequency with the potentiometer. If I can figure out how to improve the image, it could be worth trying to get a more permanent setup with a transistor instead of IR LED, and using the batteries in the scanner.

I need to try different combinations of IR LED frequency and camera turning speed. Also try with "high" or "low" resolution with color mode or black and white mode.

**rakkir** · 21-Nov-2015, 09:50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNEyIt0yqUU
http://cdn.makezine.com/make/scannercamera.pdf

**Abe c** · 6-Jun-2018, 08:19

I have been building/using scanner cameras for a long time. There is a trick to make the work almos as a digital camera. Right now I have a 9x12 and 2 5x7 and a brownie 4x5 with scanners.