Recommendations for a cheap c-size (18"x24") scanner ?

Bean

We have some c-size (18" x 24") cad drawings that we need to scan (black and white only).
But the scanners I have found that handle c-size are about $6,000 !!

Does anyone know of any cheaper options ?
The drawings are in sheets, so it can be a flatbed or a sheet feed scanner.
We would probably spend up to $2500 for one.

Thanks

Bean



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Tim-M

Hi Terry,

Just so you know...

When we need larger sheets scanned here at work (which isn't all that often) we head to our local blue print supplier. They are happy to scan large black and white formats and generate digital files at a rate of 85 cents per square foot of original. This assumes that you'd rather not own you own equipment or don't have a lot of volume to do.

Tim

Edit: Here is a link to the current price list from Bill's Blue Print - the shop we are using.

http://www.billsblue.com/bbp/pricelist2008.pdf

Post Edited (Tim-M) : 12/4/2009 4:36:36 PM GMT

John R.

large format scanning hardware + cheap

see also: Military Intelligence, Government Efficiency, Affordable Healthcare, Low Cost Beach Front Property, etc...

Back in the days of pen plotters, there were a few devices that attached to the pen carriage and could scan large format, but I don't think they worked that well, and I haven't seen them in quite some time.

Like Tim, I've always went to the blueprint house.

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John R.
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John R.

The other option is to scan in sections with a smaller flatbed and "stitch" the images together. I have an HP 4670 that works great for this, but I don't think they are in production anymore.

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John R.
Click here to see my Nomad Build Log

Bean

We can't use a service, and we have a few thousand drawings to scan, so the "stitch" method is out of the question.

Thanks anyways.

Bean.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1st rule of finance...Don't lose money.
Never be ashamed of making an honest·profit.
Live within your means...Make do, or do without.
·

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Go to eBay and search wide format scanner. There are several possible candidates there.

-Phil

John R.

Is the problem with the service confidentiality agreements, or physical location? You may be able to work out either of those by making arrangements to "rent" the scanner, either at the service location, or possibly even be able to take the scanner to the location of the prints.

Then again, at a few thousand drawings, compared to a service, the price of a scanner might be a bargain.

Going through some math:

17 x 22 = 374 Sq In
or
18 * 24 = 432 Sq In

Call it 400 Sq Inches

Using a 12 Megapixel camera (eg a high end digital SLR):

12M / 400 = 30k Dots Per Sql In yields about 170 DPI

Not great resolution, but depending on the nature of the drawings, it should be enough, at least of the prints are in decent condition.

You might be able to set up a camera to image the sheets. The secret would be getting the sheets to lay flat, and getting good, even lighting. For smaller sheets, I've used a piece of glass to keep them flat. If you light at an angle, glare is not a problem.

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John R.
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