DIY High-Speed Book Scanner from Trash and Cheap Cameras

Step 9 Base: Drilling the Column

Now we need to attach the column. In this design, the base is attached to the column with four bolts so that the scanner can be torn down and moved easily.

I simply measured 4 holes and drilled them. It was necessary to countersink the holes for my bolts because my bolts were too short. If I had purchased the bolts new instead of pulling them from the trash, this would have been unnecessary. Since I have already collected tons of bolts, it was worth the small amout of effort to countersink, and it saved me ANOTHER trip to the hardware store.

I used the Harbor Freight Tools clamps to hold the column on the base and used the holes in the base as a template for drilling. This assures that everything lines up neatly and that the column is straight.