BookLiberator Updates / May 2014
For the past few months I've been working on improvements to the BookLiberator project. It's an innovative, lightweight design that's feature-complete, including scanning speed, with larger, traditional models. Constructing a basic "glass cube" and base using DIY tools was the first step; using this prototype, I've identified a number of design changes and novel digital workflow tools as noted below.
Design Changes:
—Semi-Permanent Glass-Adhesive Tape. A removable, double-sided acrylic foam tape along the outer edges of the glass cube is an elegant alternative to securing glass using angled metal brackets. The adhesive tape can be cleanly removed with a hair dryer or hot air gun and a plastic putty knife; the adhesive binds tightly enough that there's no risk of the glass detaching. Additionally, there's a surprising amount of glass vibration with metal brackets—the foam tape provides a noticeable cushioning effect as the cube is placed onto a book.
—Reflection-Control Glass. Although more susceptible to fingerprints and chemical glass cleaners, reflection-control glass provides a clear improvement in image quality. The material cost for two 13½" × 10½" panels is about $12 USD. Additionally, reflection-control acrylic panels are also available.
—Extended Camera Mounting Slots. The four additional mounting slots on either side provide flexibility on camera-to-platen distance – not all cameras are sufficiently wide-angle to cover the entirety of the opposing glass at 11" separation. Personally I think they compliment the overall shape of the cube.
—Ergonomic Cube Handle. The handle pictured is a rotated hand rail. It's interesting to note that the cube is ambidextrous.
—Part Interchangability. Using barbed inserts and corresponding machine screws (and perhaps threadlocker – still testing) storage/transport, rapid prototyping, and repair are possible without stripping out screwholes in the wooden frame.
—Weight Control. Glass-adhesive tape, smaller machine screws, lightweight cameras (Canon PowerShot SD940 IS pictured), and nylon rods and nuts (not shown) all limit total cube weight, currently about five pounds in total. The glass panels represent just under half of the total weight making the cube appropriately bottom-heavy. :-) A slimmer frame with a stronger wood type is the remaining factor under evaluation.
—Single-panel punchout routing. The entirety of the BookLiberator pictured was routed from a single laminated pine board, as shown. The design files are published on Gitorious. Corresponding design files for automated CNC routing on various board types are under preparation. Patches welcome!
A WiFi-Active Cube
…to be continued. The cameras use Transcend WiFi cards to broadcast images as they are captured over 802.11n to a base station for near-realtime monitoring of captured images. Follow my progress on the corresponding Gitorious code repository.
Book credit: Nguygen, Andrea. Asian Tofu. Published by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California.