Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Built a scanner? Started to build a scanner? Record your progress here. Doesn't need to be a whole scanner - triggers and other parts are fine. Commercial scanners are fine too.

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Aegre Reminiscens
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Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

TL;DR: I am making an automatic page-turning open source book scanner and I create weekly videos about the project.

Sometimes I take on projects that are reaching far. This one is no exception. I wanted to share this project with all of you for a while now, and now as the project is well underway, I can do that. With the support of Wikimedia Deutschland and c-base I have created a project called Libreflip, a page turning book scanner! It is open source, because I want everybody to be able to recreate one of these machines. I tried to minimize the necessary tools as much as possible and I am creating a video series about every step of building the machine.

I believe that too much knowledge is bound to one place. Libraries are bound to opening hours and charge you to scan your books. Companies scan books but do not give you free access. By open sourcing this machine I want to enable makers and communities all over the world to create automatic book scanners. Information should be accessible for everyone and this is a important step towards it.

Current commercial book scanners, are usually cost-wise well in the 6-digits, Libreflip is in the lower 4-digits. This low price point keeps it accessible for communities, small libraries and book-rescue organisations.

Please support the project by telling others about it, on- and offline. I publish new content weekly on Youtube, which gives you regular helpful propaganda. And, Youtube still offers this rare and free feature called “subscribe” which helps you never miss new content, so please subscribe now ;-)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kFCG ... 06tcGcUrlg

Some more Links:
www.libreflip.org
twitter.com/libreflip
facebook.com/libreflip
github.com/libreflip

Credits go out to the user moose for beating me to it, thanks moose! His contributions are described in the first episode of the Youtube series.

PS: Actually, I just want to enable our future AI-Overlords to parse all of human knowledge, but please don't tell anyone.
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
L.Willms
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by L.Willms »

Could you please tell more about those "USB 3.0 Industrial Cameras with 13 Megapixel each" which are included in the "just electronics" package?

I had been looking for such, but found only cameras geared towards video, not stills.

Added somewhat later:

I found it on your website: http://libreflip.org/index.php/2017/04/ ... a-problem/
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Aegre Reminiscens
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

Yes, exactly. I am currently using the CU130 of E-Con systems: https://www.e-consystems.com/UltraHD-USB-Camera.asp

I would be thrilled to try the DFK AFU420-L62 of The Imaging Source (https://s1-dl.theimagingsource.com/api/ ... .de_DE.pdf) in the future, because it would allow to have a scanner whith more the 600dpi, which would be pretty cool.
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
L.Willms
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by L.Willms »

Aegre Reminiscens wrote: 17 May 2018, 07:13 I would be thrilled to try the DFK AFU420-L62 of The Imaging Source (https://s1-dl.theimagingsource.com/api/ ... .de_DE.pdf) in the future, because it would allow to have a scanner whith more the 600dpi, which would be pretty cool.
It would. But I would need a sponsor for buying even only one of those.

These industrial cameras are made for rather video or high frequency fotos, while for book scanning a reguar stills camera would be sufficient.

And I do not necessarily need color. Well, for the one newspaper published in exile during the Nazi rule in Germany, color might be useful, as an archival feature.
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

I just published a new Episode!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzynGkqinAo
L.Willms wrote: 17 May 2018, 10:53
These industrial cameras are made for rather video or high frequency fotos, while for book scanning a reguar stills camera would be sufficient.

And I do not necessarily need color. Well, for the one newspaper published in exile during the Nazi rule in Germany, color might be useful, as an archival feature.
there is not much difference there any more. It all comes down to the resolution of the chip - the higher the resolution, the lower the FPS. No one really makes "Photo"-Cameras anymore, digital cameras in smartphones don't have a (hardware) shutter anway, same with these industrial modules. It's just a chip with a big load of pixels.

I could've gone with a Canon-Camera and CHDK, but when I started (November 2017), there was not a single camera on the market that was still being made or from which I could've bought like 20 or more at a time for which a CHDK-port existed, so I had to change to something else. The industrial modules are nice, and if we (as a community) decide to massdrop/bulkorder on these, the prices will go down as well.
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
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Aegre Reminiscens
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

I just published Episode07 of the Series!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-J9I4xaz9U
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

Hi Forum,

I have refrained from posting every single new Epsiode of building Libreflip, to not spam this Thread. But there are quite some new Episodes!

E08 https://youtu.be/Z5X0ok9sZeU building Libreflip - E08 - assembling the structure of Libreflip
E09 https://youtu.be/EvfwnYQNkBc building Libreflip - E09 - What about the User Interface? Mounting the Touchscreen!
E10 https://youtu.be/nWBUQNt2fbY building Libreflip - E10 - assembling the Heart of the machine - the suctionbox
E11 https://youtu.be/wtB8egNEBLc building Libreflip - E11 - assembling all the Modules of Libreflip
E12 https://youtu.be/ObufwhcU7dQ building Libreflip - E12 - attaching the Cameras with custom 3d-printed mounts
E13 https://youtu.be/zNFibqmnyiU building Libreflip - E13 - how much of that Rubber do I need?
E14 https://youtu.be/3NQlh8RzaeY building Libreflip - E14 - Lets mount these rubber springs!
E15 https://youtu.be/zTO46xHdub0 building Libreflip - E15 - Does it suck or does it blow?
E16 https://youtu.be/5DU3je9K6HU building Libreflip - E16 - Wiring Part1 - USB-Port, Stepper, Pumps
E17 https://youtu.be/WtgF8ZHhWk8 building Libreflip - E17 - Wiring Part2 - Relaisboard, 230V
E18 https://youtu.be/9xsgOsX3_Vc building Libreflip - E18 - Wiring Part3 - More 230V, Relaisboar, Endswitch, Flutterfan
E19 https://youtu.be/VSluBTY96CA building Libreflip - E19 - I failed! Lets do the camera holders - again.
E20 https://youtu.be/aLIbjZoqYXQ building Libreflip - E20 - I like to move it, move it - First Sucess! - then FAIL!
E21 https://youtu.be/iPnD9JkA8E8 building Libreflip - E21 - Wiring Part4 - PSUs of odroid and usb-hub, pressure sensor and main switch
E22 https://youtu.be/PJzZ8V33C8A building Libreflip - E22 - Bad News, Good News, Big News - VLOG
E23 https://youtu.be/9uvjoiQ2kXg building Libreflip - E23 - Talk about Libreflip on the occasion of 23 years of c-base

If you like, you can binge-watch them all using this Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... lymer=true

If you don't want to miss new Episodes, maybe consider to subscribe to my Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kFCG ... 06tcGcUrlg
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
bestscannersearcher
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by bestscannersearcher »

When can I expect your project to be complete? I am does it have some sort of deadline or something? If yes, I'll order one for me for sure.
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

Hi bestscannersearcher,

I don't have a deadline. I will continue to work on Libreflip two or three evenings per week, as I have a full-time job and can't invest more time in Libreflip (although I would love to!)

I am not very far away from finishing the machine, but no one knows what will break next or what needs to be redesigned before the machine works really well. So I can't make a promise when the machine is finished, although I would love to.

Cheers
ijon
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
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Aegre Reminiscens
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Re: Libreflip - a new open source page-turning bookscanner

Post by Aegre Reminiscens »

Here is a new Update with some more Episodes about this project:

E24 https://youtu.be/0c4MxZ9e2bI building Libreflip - E24 - Will the cameras, the odroid and the touchscreen like each other?
E25 https://youtu.be/-pLCg1KQ-rs building Libreflip - E25 - making the new counterweight (part1)
E26 https://youtu.be/ugKC9G1Gy8g building Libreflip - E26 - changing the frame and installing the counterweight (part2)
E27 https://youtu.be/dA7t_Hp7J7o building Libreflip - E27 - finishing the counterweight (part3)
E28 https://youtu.be/MAardRyfhZY building Libreflip - E28 - making the Lights and replacing a part that broke

And if you like to never miss an Episode, please consider to subscribe to my Youtube-channel: www.youtube.com/c/ijonberlin
All my projects are documented here: http://www.ijon.me
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