Linear rail guide for horizontal movements

I have always struggled to get really good scans of very oblong items like slot cars with my Mini.

To try something new, I purchased a linear rail guide (like those used for 3d printers). The item arrived last Friday, so I quickly designed an adapter for a camera thread and start testing (the feet are provisional, btw)


What you see is the very first attempt I did. I am really pleased of how well it went :slight_smile: I used continous scanning + single mode to fill some gaps.

The second test was a bit more extreme. I tried to scan an old vacuform kit.

This time I only used single mode, and the result is -in my eyes- spectacular. All the details of the kit are visible on the scan (the panel lines, the doors…)

So, I strongly recommend to every Mini user to get something like this. It is cheap, easy to build and the results are fantastic!

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It is great Roberto , I am using a mic stand as it adapt to any position up and down and forward and back … best thing ever , even. Holds Miraco .

New options always welcome in the game …

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Hi Cath!
Another great idea! So you use it to keep the same distance from the object and I guess for stationary/single shot mode only?

Which Mic stand brand/model do you use, as depending on where the scanner is mounted especially with Miraco there is quite some load it has to be able to hold securely.

I surely wouldn’t mind a photo of
using such a mic stand with Miraco at some time😆

cheers

Yes, the key here is that you guarantee that the distance to the object to be scanned remains constant whilst allowing free movement. If you have a setup with a telescopic arm (the one that comes with Mini 1 tripod is very handy) you can have the same distance in the whole XY plane.

It is a bit like a Lazy Susan, but for linear instead of circular movements.

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I also like your object holding rig. :laughing:
I like developing scanning strategies. Thanks for sharing yours!

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Yes, really handy :grinning:. I got it here:

Evemodel 14 * 9 Holes Malerei Werkzeuge Lackierständer mit Farbe 20Stk. Clips Set Modellierung Neu GJJC09B https://amzn.eu/d/fLaonhB

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That’s excellent. I know what I’m making tonight :slight_smile:

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Can you give some recommendations regarding that linear rail? which one do you use? would you choose another one if you would build that jig again?

I got a pretty standard one, no special requirements:

MGN12H Mini-Schienenführung Lineares Schiebewerkzeug mit MGN12H Schlossblock für 3D-Drucker und CNC-Maschine (300mm) https://amzn.eu/d/hRMgb4M

It works just fine

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