Project #1 - Documentation

Having been brought up with the philosophy that most old stuff may again be useful, I have a vast collection for making stuff for ACTLab classes, not to say there will not be challenges. For this project, there were several.

My analog video camera (vintage 1971) originally connected directly to a video tape recorder which provided power to the camera. Fortunately, in the old days, manufacturers provided detailed schematic diagrams and technical information with their products. So, I found a standard (for its day), mating10-pin video connector in my parts bin and RCA connectors to output video and audio. I have a drill press and chassis punch to make the holes in the front of the power supply. I have soldered since childhood, so this part was easy to complete. Fortunately the ACTLab projector has a composite video input, and I did not have to make a digital conversion.

Making the adapter bracket for the enlarger stand and camera just consisted of drilling 3 holes and tapping 2 of them for mounting screws.

I have worked around optics, but optics are not my forte. Trying to get the camera to focus through the

microscope was my greatest challenge. Neither microscope would focus with an acceptable sized image. I could only get a tiny, and useless, circle on the video screen. I decided to use the better of the two microscopes; it yielded the better of the tiny images. I had to find an intermediate lens to enlarge the image. "Ah, ha," said I, and took the lens from the enlarger. I had to cross-thread this lens into the adapter ring (not a good hack).

I spent several hours trying to find both focus and adequate video size, trying both microscopes, interchanging scope upper lenses, and then finally discovering that I could get focus and size by simply removing the upper lens of the microscope. I marked the vertical position of the camera with an ink line for reference during my presentation. I also determined that I could focus the scope (with the upper lens on) then remove the upper lens and raise the stage to obtain video focus, the macro lens adjustment only affected the size and the camera lens' focal distance adjustment made little difference.

I made the 2 light stands for mounting LED flashlights using parts intended to mount a microphone to a podium.