I was going to make myself a 3D scanner using a XBox Kinect, but I learned that I would have to buy a new video card, which may, or may not have worked with the Windows XP OS of my workshop computer. Plus the buying the card would cut into my hobby budget.

I was surfing around and came onto this: http://www.makerscanner.com/ .This is a DYI scanning scheme that uses a red laser and a PS3 Eye USB camera. You can download the software from the site.

I pulled a laser out of a DVD burner, and after viewing this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsWbqP6z-X4 , bought the components to make the driver circuit for about $AU15, and dug out some other bits and pieces from my junk pile.

At the moment, making the circuit is at the test fit stage, and I'll get back to working on it tonight.

I'll update progress in this thread.

Old Man Emu