Treasure under the dust

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:17 am

Sometimes it pays to look closely at an item with calculated consideration before dismissing its potential.

I stumbled upon this item for sale locally, reluctant at first to make the purchase, but I'm glad curiosity got the better of me....this time.

Sometimes it is wise to walk away

but not this time!

Here it is after a clean....and some updated images

It is a 3 Axis Translation Stage XYZ. The 'top' platform is 60mm x 60mm.
I plan to attach a small rotation stage and a pair of goniometers on the top platform. I was inspired by the implementation of such devices by Chris S. It will be a subject positioning component of a horizontal configuration which I'm in the process of building.

Craig

canonian · Post by **canonian** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:28 am

You lucky ******* !

Such a great find.What's the Z travel ?
This seems to be the ultimate stage for stacking.
Nice cleaning job too, btw.
The 'after' pictures look like its prepared for ebay

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:18 am

Nice job, Craig! You may clean for me any time!

I've been very fond of your 'product shots' for a long time. Would you like to share how lighting was done on these?

--Betty

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:49 am

Fred,

Travel on all three axis is 12.7mm which should be excellent for 'tweaking' the position of the subject, especially when the other previously mentioned components are attached. It could be used for incremental slice adjustments; but I'm planning on using a StackShot for that role and using this XYZ device for subject positioning.

Craig

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:14 am

Betty,

My product shot setup is reasonably uncomplicated. I still need one more light.

I would take a detailed image of the arrangement now; but I'm embarrassed about the state of 'mess' in my workroom.

Basically, it consists of a small, square light tent with two 5500K fluoro lights and reflector dishes on either side. I sometimes use three lights.

Here is a quick 'snap' of the setup used for the shots in this thread:

P.S. The camera does not see those bare bulbs when I take photographs using this light tent.

Craig

naturephoto1 · Post by **naturephoto1** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:31 am

Craig,

Congrats and nice find. After clean-up the unit looks great. Enjoy it and I hope that it provides many years of useful service.

Rich

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:00 am

Craig Gerard wrote:I stumbled upon this item for sale locally, reluctant at first to make the purchase, but I'm glad curiosity got the better of me....this time.

Quite some stumble! Serendipity or responding to an ad?

Harold

SONYNUT · Post by **SONYNUT** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:21 am

You never know what you'll find unless you look....

ray_parkhurst · Post by **ray_parkhurst** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:05 am

That's gorgeous. Amazing what a little elbow grease can do! ...Ray

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 1:39 pm

Craig, Thank you for the snap shot and details of your setup!

Regarding the flourescent lamp bulbs, what power have you found to be appropriate for this kind of work?

--Betty

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:22 pm

Betty,

The bulbs displayed in the setup image are 5500K 65W.

Harold,

Serendipity

Craig

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 1:36 am

I plan to attach a small rotation stage and a pair of goniometers on the top platform. I was inspired by the implementation of such devices by Chris S. It will be a subject positioning component of a horizontal configeration which I'm in the process of building.

Just an update.

Add dough and knead

I replaced the original Z axis component in favour of the Thorlabs LJ750 Compact Lab Jack because in addition to Z axis translation the latter also has a rotatable platform directly beneath the goniometers as can be seen in the following images. Although, the original Z axis piece can still be added to the configeration if more height and fine adjustment is required..all the screw holes line up perfectly.

The rotation platform of the Thorlabs LJ750 Compact Lab Jack is independent of the Z axis adjustment (the top platform does not rotate when adjusting the Z axis).

To provide some concept of scale. The top of the goniometers measure 37.5mm x 37.5mm.

Thorlab Links:

Lab Jack:
http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.c ... up_ID=1496

Goniometers:
http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.c ... GNL10#2460

Craig

canonian · Post by **canonian** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 2:12 am

Amazing, a wonderful piece of fine craftmenship and mechanics.
you can position an object anywhere in space with it.
And again great product photo's. Thanks for sharing.

naturephoto1 · Post by **naturephoto1** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:38 am

Craig,

Very nice. I see that both you and I have followed Chris S in his choice of Goniometers. The set-up should prove quite valuable and functional. I would like to see some photos taken with your apparatus however.

Rich

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:21 am

Fred,

I have high admiration for the engineering incorporated into these precision pieces and other such similar items. They are rather photogenic, in a technical fashion.

Rich,

There will be images. I'm currently building an horizontal setup.....and believe I have all the pieces on my short list.....well not quite, there is still one major component to arrive and another I'm yet to find/finalise. I've been putting this together in stages over a period of time. I enjoy the gizmo process as much as the intended purpose. This is the first goniometer set I've owned and I'm looking forward to seeing what can be done with regard to subject positioning when looking through the camera.

I also believe gizmo reports are beneficial to the community as a whole.

Craig

Treasure under the dust

Treasure under the dust

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