i just wanted to thank everyone for their help, i never could have completed my build without it. Thanks to Daniel for creating the original instructables to get this rolling, had i not come across it by accident...i would not have been inspired to creating one.
I basically went with the original design with the addition of drawer slides. I chose to go with a halogen work light, simply because it was cheaper than buying the bulbs alone & made thing simpler for me as it slides on & off the main column easily. Plus, it can double duty if i need it for something other than scanning. I also found a couple lcd screens for pretty cheap...although i'm debating if i really need them. Having said that, i can definitely find double duty use for them as well when i'm not scanning.
I went with arms not fixed to the base. It seemed like less work after finding a lamp arm..plus i was doubting my ability to fix the cameras perfectly. Although i'm wondering if down the road i may need to got with a different option as i am running into problems with drifting of the arms, plus i only have mobility in 2 planes...but i'm not sure that's too big of a deal as my cams seem pretty flat to the page as is..& i'm hoping post processing can correct an rotational problems.
As for the platen connection to the main column, i decided to go with a tongue hinge & vertical drawer slide. However, I initially thought that I would be able to raise the platen at the hinge AND raise it vertically, but that is not the case. Perhaps this is possible with the hingellelogram design. The main problem with the hinge/drawer slide option is when the platen's flat on a book & you raise the platen, as you're bending the hinge, the drawer slide drops to its lowest vertical position. My solution was to fix a snowboard binding buckle to the drawer slide. It has a ratchet & quick release lever, so as I raise the platen vertically, the ratchet fixes the vertical height & only the hinge action is at play. It works quite well in fact, & i can manually ratchet higher or release lower as i please with one hand. The best part is as the book forces the platen to move vertically, the ratchet will click on its own...so i don't even have to manually ratchet it higher. With it holding the vertical position, i don't even need any vertical movement between scans, the bending of the hinge gives me enough clearance to turn the page.
Anyway, i know that's not an issue with those of you going with a vertically raising platen (which seems like the direction people are going). Perhaps its not an issue with the hingellelogram design either..& perhaps just a flaw with my design. However, it kind of adds a coolness factor...kinda like how someone mentioned they at times enjoy simply pressing the shutter button for fun (which i've been doing)..i also sometimes like to raise & lower my ratchet enabled platen..just for the fun of it.
Well, thanks again to everyone for their help. If you want to merge my other thread questions into this one, that'd be fine. I'm sure i will tinker a little bit with my design further & post up any changes here.
Now, to figure out how to do post processing. I hope my pc is powerful enough, as i recall the instructables mentioning some requirements such as a certain amount of ram that i don't have right now...i'll see. thanks!!
