Turn an old scanner into a new MTmini

Do you have an old flat-bed scanner that you are reluctant to get rid of because you can see the limit-less potential just sitting there going to waste (even though the eyesore makes you want to force yourself into blindness)? Well if you do you're not alone. I had been holding onto an out-dated Scanport SQ2030 (unfortunately, I don't know where you can get one, or why you'd want one for that matter) made by a company that doesn't even exist anymore and will not work with any computer newer than a Windows 95(Searching on the internet I found out that it's suppose to work with Windows XP, but I tried it and it does not). So if you're ready to turn that eyesore into a beautiful piece of equipment, read on.

This Instructable is currently being re-written

See Comments for full details and discussion

When you are done you will end up with a Mini Multi-Touch Interface. For more information on what these do click here.

You will need
a screw driver (Phillips)
some knowledge of mechanics
the patience of a saint

The scanner before I began working on it.

Step 1: Time to harvest - retrieving your parts

This step is actually big enough to fill several steps, but due to the differences in scanner models I have decided to leave the dissassembly up to you. My best advice - look for screws EVERYWHERE and when you find one take it out and see what moves. Also if this doesn't work post a comment with the model type and I'll try to find instructions for taking it apart, if one of our other outstanding members doesn't get to it first. :)

Only part from the scanner you will really NEED is the case. Also you will need a small webcam that you don't mind never seeing again (I went out and bought a $2.50 pink one at Walmart just so I wouldn't have to see it in the electronics isle anymore).

Originally I was hoping to use the scanners built-in processor to do the work so that you wouldn't need anything else, but since I don't have a Win95 handy and I don't want to program new drivers for an extinct piece of harware, it's worth the $2.50 until I get a newer scanner that I can take apart.

Note: You don't have to take your webcam apart, but I took mine apart because I wanted to add some more electronics to the circuit like a power light on the case and maybe some other fun gadgets. If you DO take it apart be careful to leave the built in lense cover on; i took mine off the first one to take pictures and had to get a new one because I couldn't get it clean after dust decided to settle on it.

Comments

[kelseymh]

You published a bit early, eh? Steps 3-8 need pictures, please :-)

[Brainiac90]

Yeah I had pictures, but my girlfriend fried my camera and I lost the pics. I'm working on getting a new camera so that I can add more pics.

[phant0m_sp00f3ra]

why you dont use the scanner webcam :P JK

[Brainiac90]

If I had been thinking more practical maybe I could. I went a little overboard trying to make sure that my camera didn't shift when I was carrying it around. I have it put in a plastic frame I cut out of an old styrofoam box that I hot glued and taped to the bottom of the case. Getting it out wouldn't be the problem, but I don't know if I could get it back in without changing my set-up. Sometimes I can't help, but laugh at my lack of foresight. Thanks for the idea though :)

[phant0m_sp00f3ra]

:P bitte! BTW i'm so gonna make one of this! i got the scanner from my mother, i'm just going 2morrow 2 buy teh webcam! i wanted to hook it to my 17" MBP but it doesn't have the correct conector :S so i'm gonna have to use it on my windows machine :( until i find a way to hook to the MBP

[app0]

If your webcam has USB connector, Mac can work with it using http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/ macam

[Brainiac90]

Thanks for the info app0, i added it to the software step

[app0]

Also, Add http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/30050/touch%E9 Touché to the software step.It's much better than the standard MTMini software.

[Brainiac90]

You always have the best inside information on Macs :D it has been added, and thanks for the update.

[app0]

And thank you for the great instructable, found my old and dead Mustek scanner with a dead laser, so i just must buy the cheapest webcam and build a MTScanner :) I'm just using a mac and don't want to reboot every time i want to use my MTScanner. And I've got an idea - project an image onto a paper that is placed onto the scanner's glass.Is it possible?

[Brainiac90]

It may be if you had a set up that would project it, but currently I know atleast the PC version uses the shadows so you 'd have to project light everywhere but where you wanted the image to think you were touching. I have actually been thinking about trying to adjust it to work with my new scanner without disabling the natural usage so I could scan my hands and use the printouts to control the computer, not very fast, but my offer unique control options.

[app0]

I've read (don't remember where) that if you'll use a camera, that has no IR filter and put the leds at the border of the glass, so they light into the glass, the camera will see only the big white square with black fingers on it

[Brainiac90]

Yeah, it's possible, but usually only used with some of the larger Multi-Touch systems as far as I know. The process is called Frustrated Total Internal Reflection search for that or Multi-touch systems on the web and you should find something within the first couple of results explaining how it works, I was going to upload a picture but it was taking to long, I think my Internet is going to go down a gain soon... (I found the picture I wanted to upload half-way down this blog.

As far as your previous post with projection, that is definitely possible. for some reason I thought you were talking about trying to record and reuse your actions, hence the strange response. I've seen a fair amount of white board based full-size Multi-Touch Systems on the web that actually have the full computer screen projected onto them (from behind) and use the light from it (which is only reflected when it is touched) to activate the optics.

[phant0m_sp00f3ra]

OMFG thanks m8! u rock! gotta try this (still haven't done it cause i was in exams :P)

[phant0m_sp00f3ra]

done it. Didn't worked out as good as i expected, but is pretty close. bloody brilliant sir

[Brainiac90]

Yeah, trying to do it the second time was a lot harder, so I'm not sure if I just got really lucky the first time or what. I was taking apart my lights so I could add some pictures of how I attached everything to the scanner, and how the switch worked and I ended up breaking nearly everthying trying to get it apart short of the glass. I don't know how thick that glass is, but it's pretty durable. I'm just glad that somebody else got this to work also, at least that means it can be replicated. :D thank you sir. Oh and if what your talking about is the quality of the optics, you can try seperating the top from the bottom and putting something in there as a spacer to give it better picture, just make sure it is stable otherwise yours will end up broken too.

[kelseymh]

Oh, okay :-) That sucks. Did it to my own SD card once, and my wife nearly killed me.

[Brainiac90]

I would like to say thank you to everybody for the wonderful comments and feedback, I'm going to be reworking the Instructable on my computer to help improve it. I got my camera fixed and in then i found out that the camera i used got damage while i was moving it (i forgot to put spacers inside to keep my parts separated BIG no no), so i had to go and buy a new $15 one because they were out of the cheap-o ones. Now that i finally have all the pieces again, I'm going to redo all the pictures, though most of the steps will stay the same. If anyone has anything they want to see in the new and improved Instructable, just post it as a reply to this comment and I'll see what i can do for you. Also, remember if anyone has any pictures they want to share, just pm me and I'll add them for you with your user name on the picture.

[jnixon]

What's an MTmini? Can't tell by your instructable.

[app0]

MTMini is something like that:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Cheap-Multitouch-Pad/

[thatmantheuser]

Agreed 100% Don't even know what it is.

[Brainiac90]

Sorry about that I'll update the intro

[phant0m_sp00f3ra]

i just got all the crap to do this :D it's gonna be my vacation project along with an USB bread toaster yay

[cantthinkof bettername]

I would try it if I had a scanner.

[blackghost]

im so confused at what this actually does

[Brainiac90]

watch this video. It will help explain the capabilities of the MTmini

[Brainiac90]

The main reason I published this so early was so that I could get input on things that i needed. If you need a further description of what it does click the link in step 8 (and soon to be also in the intro) to watch cerupcat's version.

[blackghost]

ohhhhh, its a touch screen lol , very useful