At 07:06 PM 2/15/2002 -0800, you wrote:
>--- Tony Eros <tony.eros_at_machm.org> wrote:
> > I started playing with fiche scanning using an Intel QX3 microscope.
>
>What a cool idea. I've seen them in the stores, but for $100, I've
>resisted the temptation.
Mine ran me about $40 on eBay.
> > The results are mixed, but tempting. I've put some sample images here:
> >
> > At the 60x magnification, it takes about 9 images to capture a single
> > frame from a fiche.
>
>That's a lot of work. If I were even going to consider a microscope, I'd
>also consider a motorized table to move the image around.
I've thought about trying to retrofit a 30x or 40x objective in place of
the 60x, but I don't know if that would work. It would be a great start if
I could get it down to one capture per frame. The QX3 software has a "time
lapse" function that does a capture at user-definable intervals. Combining
this with a motorized tray could allow me to scan an entire fiche without
having to "adjust, snap, adjust snap..."
> > I like the resolution, but need to find a way to expand the field of
> > view.
>
>Bigger optics.
Yup...
>I used to work for a company that produced the motor platform, the ISA
>control boards and the scanning software for a company that made "remote
>microscopes" - imagine a device that resembles a reflecting telescope,
>but less than 2' long. It could resolve a 1mm^2 patch into a frame of
>512 pixels by 512 pixels and could be moved around in a box several
>inches on a side. We sold it as an inspection system that could zoom
>in on defects. Customers used them to inspect hypodermics, optical
>glass (to map the flaws to cut around them) and more.
>
>No, I don't have one - the systems were $30K each. The company I worked
>for closed when the optics maker stopped paying invoices. We got the
>layoff notice on Monday evening (called at home); the company closed on
>that Friday.
>
>In any case, a back-lit fiche and a "remote microscope" might do the
>trick, should you run across one. In the meantime, a scanning frame
>with mechanical stops might be the simplest thing to do. If you have
>a broken fiche reader, you might be able to find a way to mount your
>microscope head where the mirror and screen go, and use the fiche holder
>and positioning tray as is.
Hmm -- food for thought.
-- Tony
>-ethan
>
>
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Received on Fri Feb 15 2002 - 21:35:18 GMT