Build Yourself a Nipkow Scanning Disk
Although
patented in 1884 by Paul Nipkow, it wasn't until some 40 to 50 years later that
it finally came into significant use. By then it had developed into lens and mirror
types, multiple spirals and some even with color filters over the holes. Other
users bent the edge of the disk down all around and called it a "drum"
scanner. For movies, all of the scanning holes were located on the same radius.
The point being that the Nipkow disk was produced in many varieties, but by far,
the original design was the most common. And for the experimenter, it was and
still is the most popular.
However,
keep in mind that the scanning disks are an important part of the optical systems
that will be dissecting or reconstituting the image in your camera and receiver.
The quality of your scanning disks has a strong bearing on the final appearance
of the image you actually achieve. Building your own disks is acceptable if you
are willing to "just get by". But if you want to see images on your
system of the same quality as those experimenters that used Jenkins or Sanabria
parts, you need to use precision made parts. I have these parts available for
you at prices that are actually lower than their cost in the depression years,
considering inflation since those times. Check them out.
This
method of making your own scanning disk was first described in 1928.
For
your first attempt at making your own Nipkow disk, you might consider using cardboard
about .032 thick, generally obtainable from artist supply shops. A twelve inch
diameter disk is a good size to begin with and by whatever means you have, draw
an approximate twelve inch circle and then locate and mark the exact center. Using
scissors cut the disk out from the cardboard blank. By this time you should have
decided how many scanning holes this disk will have. For now let's say that this
disk will have 24 holes. The holes will need to be equally spaced in angle around
the disk.
A circle is usually divided into 360 parts or degrees. By dividing
360 by the number of holes, you will know that the angle between holes in this
case is 15 degrees. If you have limited tools, the easiest way to locate and mark
the angular location of each hole is to use a straight edge and pencil. Divide
the circle into two equal parts. Next, divide and mark each of the two halves
into two equal quarters and then into eighths. Finally, divide each eighth into
three parts. You now have the circle divided into 24 equal segments and the line
between each segment is the angular location of each scanning hole.
This
12 inch disk will provide an image that is approximately 1.5 inches square, horizontally
scanned when viewed at the 12 o'clock position on
the
disk. When viewed at the 3 o'clock position the image appears vertically scanned.
The scanning holes will be .063 inches in diameter and if you are using cardboard,
a drill bit, large needle or even a nail will do. With other materials, a 1/16"
drill bit should be used. No matter what material, a light center punch mark is
advised at each hole location, prior to drilling.
The first hole of the
24 holes in the spiral will be located on any one of the lines and .25 inches
in from the outer edge of the disk. The second hole is located on the next line,
1/16 inch nearer the center of the disk. Each hole, as you move around the disk,
is 1/16 inch nearer the center, in respect to the previous hole.
The final
step is to drill the center hole for the motor shaft and hub. It is important
that it be in the exact center, so careful drilling is in order.
Another
method for locating the holes, once the disk is divided into equal segments, is
to place a non-rotating peg of a certain diameter in the center of the disk
(in this case, just under .5 inches in diameter), and tie a
marker or stylus with a short length of piano wire or cord to the center peg.
As you move the marker around the disk, the cord wraps onto the peg, pulling the
marker inward the proper amount as it goes. As the marker crosses each line, you
can mark the spot for the hole.
Finally, for appearance sake, a light
coating of a flat black spray paint will give your work a more professional look.
Except
for mounting, your disk is ready. Good Luck.
Congratulations!