P3D (Stereo slide -> film scanner) contraption

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>    Hey Dr. T,
>      Could you post details on this hack? (!!)

Hey Mark, I would not call it a "hack" myself, but I am nevertheless
flattered!!

It is really very simple... Film scanners are designed to take slides
mounted in 50x50 mm mounts.  Stereo slides are only 41 mm wide.  I
looked around the house to find some material that is stiff enough
and can be cut with a sharp blade.  Looked into cardboard, etc. but
did not work well.  Finally I located this thick plastic (sheet 
styrene) used for models, available in hobby stores (I use a similar
material for my reflectors, only thinner.)  Thickness for this one
was 1 mm. I had another sheet, 2.5 mm thick but I figured it would
be too thick to cut with a blade.  I cut a piece with dimensions
120 mm long and 50 mm wide.  Inside this piece I removed a piece
with the dimensions of standard stereo slides (41x101 mm).  I only
used a pencil ruler and a sharp blade for this "hack".

So, now I can fit any stereo slide inside this frame and feed it 
into the scanner.  I believe this contraption would work for many
scanners.  At first, I thought that the RBT mount was too thick to 
enter the HP Photosmart scanner, but it is not.  So now I am a happy
camper :-).

George Themelis


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