Digitally scanning film is a time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating process. Using CAD, 3D-printed parts, and Arduino electronics, I built a system that automated my process of scanning film negatives, drastically decreasing the amount of movement required of my hands. I exhibited this project at Arduino's Official Arduino Day 2023 at mHub Chicago.
I utilized mechatronics to fix a problem identified by human-centered design thinking, thus learning how engineering could be the means to solve real-world pain points.
I am an avid film photographer but a painpoint in the hobby is digitizing my film negatives. The process is repetitive and time-consuming. For each frame I have to position the film, blow the dust off of the film, press the shutter, and hold the film flat. Doing this 36 times hurts both my arms and my love for film photography.
In order to design the system I listed the requirements I wanted from the final product. I want the product to reduce the amount of arm motion through automation while being easy to operate and aesthetically pleasing.
I sketched out the vision I had in my head to get a feel for the physical layout of the system and to determine the components necessary for the system to function.
First, I started off by 3D printing the pieces for the film carrier designed by DuckAfterDuck. I bought a 3D printer for this project, and I tackled the new challenges of tensioning the timer belt, setting the print bed level, and selecting the right settings for a successful print.
I also designed a camera base to hold my camera and a servo motor that would physically press the shutter button. I put a slot in the shape of a tripod mount so I could easily slide my camera in and out; screwing on the camera to the copystand was clumsy and had the potential of dropping my camera.
Then I got to work on the electronics. Using an Arduino Nano board as the brains of the circuit, I connected to it several buttons, a servo motor, and a stepper motor with its driver.
After debugging my Arduino code and designing a case to house the electronic components, the project was now complete!
Now film scanning is a much more simple process. I simply insert the film into the film carrier, advance it to the first frame, and then press a button to activate the scanning routine. My hands are now free to simply blow dust off of the film.
This was a very fulfilling personal project to complete since it solved a major painpoint in one of my favorite hobbies. I also gained valuable experience in using Arduino electronics, CAD, and 3D printing to build a solution to a problem identified through a human-centered design process. You can find a deeper look into the project in this Youtube video below!
I had the opportunity to present my project at Arduino's Official Arduino Day 2023 at mHub Chicago!
I also got to meet the co-founder of Arduino, Massimo Banzi, and received a special edition Arduino Uno board!
