Old scanner becomes light table

From intheworkshop.info

Our old flatbed scanner for the computer recently died and we replaced it with a new multi-function printer. Of course, I saved the old scanner in the basement for some reason.

Well, my wife recently asked me to build her a small light table for her to use to copy the paper patterns that she uses for quilting. I started to design one in my head, and then decided that if I just pull all of the guts out of the old scanner and replace them with a fluorescent light bulb (so as to not generate too much heat), I'd have light table. I also put a translucent piece of plastic under the glass top of the scanner bed to diffuse the light from the light bulb a bit. More...

Scanner Parts - Desk Lamp

by jpitz31on from instructables.com
Transform your old scanner that is just collecting dust in the closet into a cool tech lamp.

“This instructable shows you how to make a desk lamp out of scrounged scanner parts and a few extras from Home Depot. I have set up a small solar array, controller and a storage battery. I wanted to make some low power lighting that I can use in my office that would not consume a lot of power. I had a bunch of scanner parts lying around and decided to put them to good use.”

See Also..

• intro The return of the dead flatbed scanner from instructables.com , Makezine , hackedgadgets
• How Scanners Work from howstuffworks.com
• Using the scanner lamp inside your computer from ovelha.org