Phucking a photocopier beyond all recognition
J. Tyson 2004-2007. Last updated 10-10-06.
| alternate spectra copiers |
Find something and burn it
| Phucking a photocopier beyond all recognition. |
Some time ago I rescued an EP-2080 analog
photocopier from the scrap pile at work and brought it
home where it became a long term restoration project to
occupy me during my search for a suitable bat truck.
Although it presently sits in better than new condition it's
quite worthless and I have little use for a copier at home
considering there are hundreds of them at work at any
given moment. Perhaps I just felt sorry for the old dog.
It's made less than a dozen actual copies in the past
three years which unfortunately is nearly as bad for it as
running the snot out of it. So I began to ponder other
possible uses for the beast: What kind of truly weird
modifications could I do to a copier like this to amuse
myself and perhaps make it worth keeping?
photocopier from the scrap pile at work and brought it
home where it became a long term restoration project to
occupy me during my search for a suitable bat truck.
Although it presently sits in better than new condition it's
quite worthless and I have little use for a copier at home
considering there are hundreds of them at work at any
given moment. Perhaps I just felt sorry for the old dog.
It's made less than a dozen actual copies in the past
three years which unfortunately is nearly as bad for it as
running the snot out of it. So I began to ponder other
possible uses for the beast: What kind of truly weird
modifications could I do to a copier like this to amuse
myself and perhaps make it worth keeping?
At first I considered childish "armpit fart" modifications
such as hacking the touch panel firmware to replace the
various operator and error messages with more
colourful choices, but that just didn't satisfy my desire to
build something so entirely different that I could claim
supreme geekdom of the copier underworld.
such as hacking the touch panel firmware to replace the
various operator and error messages with more
colourful choices, but that just didn't satisfy my desire to
build something so entirely different that I could claim
supreme geekdom of the copier underworld.
| The venerable but irrevocably obsolete Minolta EP-2080 analog frankencopier. |
Of course to attain such status there are unwritten rules to follow. Gutting the cabinet and installing a
bottom lit python terrarium in the scanner section really doesn't count although some would say it may
come close.
Ideally for my purposes the machine should by definition and function remain a copier, modified to perform
either an entirely different from intended purpose or to output a useful, interesting, or at least novel image.
This leaves little room for varying the process of placing the image onto the actual media (paper) or
significantly altering the media itself. The logical and remaining conclusion is that any hacking will need to
be aimed towards the image input and how the machine accepts or translates it.
bottom lit python terrarium in the scanner section really doesn't count although some would say it may
come close.
Ideally for my purposes the machine should by definition and function remain a copier, modified to perform
either an entirely different from intended purpose or to output a useful, interesting, or at least novel image.
This leaves little room for varying the process of placing the image onto the actual media (paper) or
significantly altering the media itself. The logical and remaining conclusion is that any hacking will need to
be aimed towards the image input and how the machine accepts or translates it.
Analog copiers work by illuminating an object placed on the original glass with a quartz halogen exposure
lamp. The reflected image is transmitted via a series of mirrors and a focusing lens onto the
photoconductive drum - an aluminum cylinder with a coating of materials that alter their electrically
conductive properties when exposed to light. The drum's sensitivity ranges from infrared to near violet
wavelengths with peak sensitivity occurring near 670 nm. A full technical explanation of the copy process
can be found here. (Link not active 02-07.)
Although this particular machine contains significant intelligence to monitor and control various parameters
such as the exposure lamp intensity and original density, I can easily bastardize, defeat, or otherwise alter
the process as required to function with whatever mods I perform.
So... What can I do to debauch this particular puppy? A few thoughts:
Oscilloscope copier: Place an oscilloscope CRT face down on the original glass to copy the displayed
trace. Presumably the output would be called an oscillograph. Not only is this impractical as the trace
would need to remain stable for (or synchronized to) the copy cycle, but the output would be uninteresting.
Otherwise this is too easy with no real challenge or fun and no real useful application. There might have
been a use for such a device in the days when good 'scopes were offered with an optional Polaroid
attachment to capture trace images, but in the digital age most 'scopes are capable of printing to the local
network printer. (Edit: See "Other ideas revisited" below.)
Infrared copier: This should in theory be quite easy. Replace the exposure lamp with a string of Infrared
LEDs and place an IR low pass filter in front of the focusing lens. But what is there to see? What use would
it have? I've seen all of the old Quincy episodes where all manner of hidden evil are revealed under IR
illumination, yet armed with boxes of IR sources, night vision tubes, CCD detectors, and all manner of crap
imaginable I have never seen anything remotely interesting not detectable with the naked eye. Not enough
of a shift? Maybe I'm just missing something. The other end of the spectrum interests me much more but
the drum's sensitivity rapidly curves downward beyond blue, Although I've never actually tested sensitivity
at short wave ultraviolet, the glass optics would not be suitable for transmission anyway.
It might be interesting to modify the machine for adjustable narrow spectrum exposure by placing a
carefully apertured triangular prism between the lamp and original glass in such a manner that it's angle
could be electrically adjusted to select the desired exposure spectra. Obtaining a 13 inch prism as well as
finding room to mount it on the mirror carriage would be the greatest obstacles. As I write this I mentally
make a note to Google gas spectrometers to investigate possible further uses for the idea. (Edit: See
"Other ideas revisited" below.)
Holographic copier: This idea really turned me on for awhile and still does. The physical layout and
modifications that would be required to assemble holographic interference patterns from a three
dimensional original, suitably expose the drum, and print the pattern to a transparent media are not
horribly complicated. I had exciting visions of owning an uber-geeky Star Trek copier and wondered why it
hadn't been attempted before. However, upon further investigation I found two major issues that seem
totally insurmountable. First, mechanical noise. The holography process requires vibration free apparatus
and I just can't see how this old clunky chunk of ugliness could ever stay quiet enough for a proper
exposure. The second issue is developing resolution. Although the drum latent image likely matches film,
the developed image is a function of the toner particle size - far too large for holography. It would seem
that such a device is simply not possible. Damn.
Microscopic copier: Possible. Some issues with the light gathering ability (f-value) of the lens and focal
length to be sure, but perhaps an interesting possibility that could be investigated.
As it stands, there's still an EP-2080 in the corner of the lab awaiting it's eventual and hopefully bizarre
destiny. It's fate has been considered and reconsidered - often under the influence of Irish whiskey. If you
have any ideas email me. I'll post them here credits due and we'll see if it can be done. Hopefully we can
attack this turd with tools one day soon.
lamp. The reflected image is transmitted via a series of mirrors and a focusing lens onto the
photoconductive drum - an aluminum cylinder with a coating of materials that alter their electrically
conductive properties when exposed to light. The drum's sensitivity ranges from infrared to near violet
wavelengths with peak sensitivity occurring near 670 nm. A full technical explanation of the copy process
can be found here. (Link not active 02-07.)
Although this particular machine contains significant intelligence to monitor and control various parameters
such as the exposure lamp intensity and original density, I can easily bastardize, defeat, or otherwise alter
the process as required to function with whatever mods I perform.
So... What can I do to debauch this particular puppy? A few thoughts:
Oscilloscope copier: Place an oscilloscope CRT face down on the original glass to copy the displayed
trace. Presumably the output would be called an oscillograph. Not only is this impractical as the trace
would need to remain stable for (or synchronized to) the copy cycle, but the output would be uninteresting.
Otherwise this is too easy with no real challenge or fun and no real useful application. There might have
been a use for such a device in the days when good 'scopes were offered with an optional Polaroid
attachment to capture trace images, but in the digital age most 'scopes are capable of printing to the local
network printer. (Edit: See "Other ideas revisited" below.)
Infrared copier: This should in theory be quite easy. Replace the exposure lamp with a string of Infrared
LEDs and place an IR low pass filter in front of the focusing lens. But what is there to see? What use would
it have? I've seen all of the old Quincy episodes where all manner of hidden evil are revealed under IR
illumination, yet armed with boxes of IR sources, night vision tubes, CCD detectors, and all manner of crap
imaginable I have never seen anything remotely interesting not detectable with the naked eye. Not enough
of a shift? Maybe I'm just missing something. The other end of the spectrum interests me much more but
the drum's sensitivity rapidly curves downward beyond blue, Although I've never actually tested sensitivity
at short wave ultraviolet, the glass optics would not be suitable for transmission anyway.
It might be interesting to modify the machine for adjustable narrow spectrum exposure by placing a
carefully apertured triangular prism between the lamp and original glass in such a manner that it's angle
could be electrically adjusted to select the desired exposure spectra. Obtaining a 13 inch prism as well as
finding room to mount it on the mirror carriage would be the greatest obstacles. As I write this I mentally
make a note to Google gas spectrometers to investigate possible further uses for the idea. (Edit: See
"Other ideas revisited" below.)
Holographic copier: This idea really turned me on for awhile and still does. The physical layout and
modifications that would be required to assemble holographic interference patterns from a three
dimensional original, suitably expose the drum, and print the pattern to a transparent media are not
horribly complicated. I had exciting visions of owning an uber-geeky Star Trek copier and wondered why it
hadn't been attempted before. However, upon further investigation I found two major issues that seem
totally insurmountable. First, mechanical noise. The holography process requires vibration free apparatus
and I just can't see how this old clunky chunk of ugliness could ever stay quiet enough for a proper
exposure. The second issue is developing resolution. Although the drum latent image likely matches film,
the developed image is a function of the toner particle size - far too large for holography. It would seem
that such a device is simply not possible. Damn.
Microscopic copier: Possible. Some issues with the light gathering ability (f-value) of the lens and focal
length to be sure, but perhaps an interesting possibility that could be investigated.
As it stands, there's still an EP-2080 in the corner of the lab awaiting it's eventual and hopefully bizarre
destiny. It's fate has been considered and reconsidered - often under the influence of Irish whiskey. If you
have any ideas email me. I'll post them here credits due and we'll see if it can be done. Hopefully we can
attack this turd with tools one day soon.
My cat Rex had been using the copier as a place to hang out when
he was alive and I regret not hitting the copy button just once to have
a picture of his furry little butt. I miss the little booger knocking stuff
off my bench and snoring in my ear at night.
he was alive and I regret not hitting the copy button just once to have
a picture of his furry little butt. I miss the little booger knocking stuff
off my bench and snoring in my ear at night.
| Rex the Quat. 19?? - 2003 |
| Relegated to such duties as cat bed and coffee table. The copier sits ignored but not forgotten in a corner of the shop. |
Page updated - February 2007: I received a very interesting and informative email in 2005 from a gent
named Chris who somehow stumbled upon my original site, regarding modifications that might allow a
copier to actually produce a rudimentary x-ray of an original - A thought that had originally crossed my
mind when I was writing this page, but had quickly been dismissed as impossible. Although the email was
intended to only be a thought experiment and began with a disclaimer about doing bodily harm to my
unborn children, I learned a few things from him that made me think this was actually possible to build after
all. Now, after rethinking the original experiment and concept several times I've decided to proceed with
attempting to build the world's first x-ray photocopier.
X-ray copier (revisited): Key issues at the time beyond safety involved focusing and reflecting the actual
x-rays through the machine which created practical engineering problems and questions that I simply didn't
have answers to. Recently I realized that I'd been looking at the problem entirely backwards from the
beginning. This particular kitty can in fact be skinned from the tail forward - effectively rendering those
unanswered questions moot.
Originally the entire theory was based on the concept of using x-rays to assemble the latent image by
directly exposing the drum much as light would do during the normal copy process. It may be interesting to
note that although this is entirely possible with a photoconductive drum, the theory itself was based on my
incorrect knowledge of how x-rays expose photographic plates.
In fact modern photographic film itself is not sensitive to x-radiation. The photographic plate in the film
cartridge is in physical contact with a phosphor layer that produces light when excited by the high intensity
x-rays. The actual film exposure is a result of visible light.
This small but important distinction has allowed me to totally rethink my design and come up with what
appears to be a ridiculously simple solution; replace the copier original glass with a thin sheet of material
that emits light proportional to x-ray exposure and the copier then need only be modified to better respond
to the relatively low light levels emitted by the material.
The practical experiment: A recent unfortunate accident involving a Sony Trinitron and a quick lab
inventory suggests that I may have everything already on hand that will be required to build this thing. First
orders of business will be to build a device to emit sufficient x-rays and fashion a light converter with
adequate sensitivity.
At present, ideas for the light converter involve phosphors scavenged from various devices (such as
cathode ray tubes and fluorescent lights) sandwiched between two pieces of 3mm copier glass. I expect
some experimentation will be required to find a suitable phosphor and devise methods to make them into a
paint that can be evenly applied to glass. My intention is to begin by simply filling a shallow cookie tray with
a mixture of acetone and phosphors from a broken fluorescent light tube, submerging the glass sheet, and
allowing the acetone to evaporate.
X-ray sensitivity experiments on the converters will be performed by driving the living shit out of a pair of 40
year old type 1J3 television tubes at around thirty thousand volts where they will hopefully emit enough soft
x-rays to make one of the sheets glow, offering at least some evidence that I'm on the right track before
ponying up for a real x-ray tube..
The complete x-ray copier project. (Link not active 02-07.)
named Chris who somehow stumbled upon my original site, regarding modifications that might allow a
copier to actually produce a rudimentary x-ray of an original - A thought that had originally crossed my
mind when I was writing this page, but had quickly been dismissed as impossible. Although the email was
intended to only be a thought experiment and began with a disclaimer about doing bodily harm to my
unborn children, I learned a few things from him that made me think this was actually possible to build after
all. Now, after rethinking the original experiment and concept several times I've decided to proceed with
attempting to build the world's first x-ray photocopier.
X-ray copier (revisited): Key issues at the time beyond safety involved focusing and reflecting the actual
x-rays through the machine which created practical engineering problems and questions that I simply didn't
have answers to. Recently I realized that I'd been looking at the problem entirely backwards from the
beginning. This particular kitty can in fact be skinned from the tail forward - effectively rendering those
unanswered questions moot.
Originally the entire theory was based on the concept of using x-rays to assemble the latent image by
directly exposing the drum much as light would do during the normal copy process. It may be interesting to
note that although this is entirely possible with a photoconductive drum, the theory itself was based on my
incorrect knowledge of how x-rays expose photographic plates.
In fact modern photographic film itself is not sensitive to x-radiation. The photographic plate in the film
cartridge is in physical contact with a phosphor layer that produces light when excited by the high intensity
x-rays. The actual film exposure is a result of visible light.
This small but important distinction has allowed me to totally rethink my design and come up with what
appears to be a ridiculously simple solution; replace the copier original glass with a thin sheet of material
that emits light proportional to x-ray exposure and the copier then need only be modified to better respond
to the relatively low light levels emitted by the material.
The practical experiment: A recent unfortunate accident involving a Sony Trinitron and a quick lab
inventory suggests that I may have everything already on hand that will be required to build this thing. First
orders of business will be to build a device to emit sufficient x-rays and fashion a light converter with
adequate sensitivity.
At present, ideas for the light converter involve phosphors scavenged from various devices (such as
cathode ray tubes and fluorescent lights) sandwiched between two pieces of 3mm copier glass. I expect
some experimentation will be required to find a suitable phosphor and devise methods to make them into a
paint that can be evenly applied to glass. My intention is to begin by simply filling a shallow cookie tray with
a mixture of acetone and phosphors from a broken fluorescent light tube, submerging the glass sheet, and
allowing the acetone to evaporate.
X-ray sensitivity experiments on the converters will be performed by driving the living shit out of a pair of 40
year old type 1J3 television tubes at around thirty thousand volts where they will hopefully emit enough soft
x-rays to make one of the sheets glow, offering at least some evidence that I'm on the right track before
ponying up for a real x-ray tube..
The complete x-ray copier project. (Link not active 02-07.)
Other ideas revisited:
In hindsight I may have dismissed a few of my own ideas too quickly. The copier would in fact make an
interesting chart recorder with few modifications. The glass could easily be etched with a visible graticule,
the exposure lamp entirely defeated, and a low powered laser could be arranged so that it's beam
reflected from a mirrored diaphragm would expose a straight line down the centre of the copy's feed axis. A
signal applied to the diaphragm would deflect the beam across the page.
Such an arrangement might actually be a reasonably useful analog recorder for detecting short duration
events at very low horizontal sweep speeds and may be investigated further in the future. Novel uses might
also include a ghetto lie detector.
I've also been thinking that it might be quite interesting to roll a copier outdoors next summer at work and
see what kind of images of the sun could be captured at mid day through a simple pin hole aperture in a
shipping carton. Sadly, we're not due for another solar eclipse in this region for quite some time, but
various filters placed over the pin hole should still yield interesting results. I'm hoping to print a useful
infrared heliograph this summer using an unmodified analog copier, a cardboard box, and a small piece of
infrared transparent black plastic.
This page has been restored and edited. Last updated 18-02-07.
In hindsight I may have dismissed a few of my own ideas too quickly. The copier would in fact make an
interesting chart recorder with few modifications. The glass could easily be etched with a visible graticule,
the exposure lamp entirely defeated, and a low powered laser could be arranged so that it's beam
reflected from a mirrored diaphragm would expose a straight line down the centre of the copy's feed axis. A
signal applied to the diaphragm would deflect the beam across the page.
Such an arrangement might actually be a reasonably useful analog recorder for detecting short duration
events at very low horizontal sweep speeds and may be investigated further in the future. Novel uses might
also include a ghetto lie detector.
I've also been thinking that it might be quite interesting to roll a copier outdoors next summer at work and
see what kind of images of the sun could be captured at mid day through a simple pin hole aperture in a
shipping carton. Sadly, we're not due for another solar eclipse in this region for quite some time, but
various filters placed over the pin hole should still yield interesting results. I'm hoping to print a useful
infrared heliograph this summer using an unmodified analog copier, a cardboard box, and a small piece of
infrared transparent black plastic.
This page has been restored and edited. Last updated 18-02-07.
