Where (and how) to get a GREAT LOUPE for free!

Leonardo · Oct 3, 2009

Hi all!

I realized some days ago when I was inspecting a circuit board, what I was using to read that microscopic printing on the SMD components.
I took off the lens from an old scanner a couple of years ago. These lenses are superb because its application. They must focalize the image on the scanner sensor with any aberration so they are built with excellent optical glasses in a sturdy body.
Then I remembered Jo (Artemis) post about the loupes and triplets and thought that you may be interested in recovering this wonderful lens from the trash.

There are a lot of scanner types made by also a lot of manufacturers but all the optics units are almost identical. It might be some differences in the mounting procedure but anyway it is quite easy taking that lenses out.

I hope many of you will be able to get one of this powerful optics!!

Cheers!
Leonardo.

spank7357 · Oct 3, 2009

Leonardo, Your posts are always well thought out and easy to understand. The photos are a tremendous help. It happens that I don't have a loupe so, "here scanner scanner scanner I'mmmmmm looking for you!" Thanks once again. Dave "Spank" Spanski

richard hall · Oct 3, 2009

Leonardo; you going to engrave it ?????? Very good thread, good advice. now to head off for the basement to make a mess of our old scanner; wonder what else can be salvaged ????

Kevin P. · Oct 3, 2009

Very clever Leonardo!
Thanks
Kevin

Dave London · Oct 3, 2009

Leonardo
Genius thanks, Dave:thumbs up:

Leonardo · Oct 4, 2009

Thanks to you all for your kind comments.
I would like to be able of showing you this lens in person to see the hight quality of it. I hope every one will be able to get one!

Rick, an scanner is quite "generous" in parts so what else?... a nice little fluorescent lamp with its own high frequency power supply (needs a low voltage main supply), a stepper motor and a pair of pulleys and timing belt...

All the best,
Leonardo.

SamW · Oct 4, 2009

Was going to discard my old scanner...not any more!

Thanks Leonardo.

Sam · Oct 4, 2009

Thank you, Leonardo! Now I'll be on the lookout for a discarded scanner!

I've added this to the Tips Archive. Many thanks for your great contributions to the Cafe.

~Sam

Gargoyle · Oct 4, 2009

Dang. We had a county wide electronics recycling three weeks ago, I dumped three old tower computers (hard drives removed), a big battery backup and a scanner.

Mario Sarto · Oct 4, 2009

Leonardo - i love you people who are able to use the screwdriver in conjunction with the brain and who are curious all time in live.
And now back to my old "ScanPrisa"...

Leonardo · Oct 4, 2009

You are all welcome! Thank you again for your compliments.

I would like that who be able to recover a lens from a scanner report the experience an opinion about the lens here. Some feedback would be great!

Good luck to all of you!
Leonardo.

John B. · Oct 4, 2009

Thank you for a great post as usual, Leonardo.
And to think I recycled two old scanners a couple of weeks ago.
Without your great salvage idea, will know better next time.
Best regards.

santos · Oct 4, 2009

Hola Leonardo ,
eres un real inventor , quizas sea por el nombre que llevas

Thank You Leonardo , you're very clever . May I add that you can find the same lens in old Photocopiers or Fax?

I 've made a loupe X3 with this kind of lens , it's a bit heavy but these optics are far better than the plastic ones .

Greetings

Jean

Leonardo · Oct 4, 2009

Hola Jean! Gracias... pero no es para tanto!!

By the way... that's great! But that lenses are quite bigger than the scanner's ones.
I liked very much your loupe... well done!!

Un gran abrazo!
Leonardo

Leonardo · Oct 4, 2009

Hi John!
What a pity! The same happened to Walter...

We have here in Catalonia places called "Deixaleria". This places are administrated by the City Council to let the people recycle the thing they do not need anymore, broken things, electronics, etc. I do not know how you call a place like this in USA.

Yesterday I was there to leave some objects and found that old scanner and suddenly thought in takeing it to home to take some pictures and arrange this post to the Cafe.

May be you be able to find a place like this to look for a discarded scanner...

All the best!
Leonardo.

Arnaud Van Tilburgh · Oct 4, 2009

Leonardo, I always thought a scanner was an empty box.

arnaud

Kevin P. · Oct 4, 2009

Leonardo, this is not John, but in some places they do have 'recycling centers' in the US.
Kevin

Leonardo · Oct 4, 2009

Thank you Kevin, I will remember it... "recycling centers" :thumbs up:

Cheers!
Leonardo

Leonardo · Oct 4, 2009

Hi Arnaud!

Yes, they are almost empty although they are able to catch the image by light reflexions and conducting it through that optical "funnel" push it into the wires to the computer... an authentic technical marvel!
I still remember that I paid almost $500 for my first SCSI scanner in the mid 1990s...

Best regards, Leonardo

monk · Oct 5, 2009

i got a couple very good ones as well from trashed hand-held video cameras. they are good as well.

Where (and how) to get a GREAT LOUPE for free!

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