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TWO SCANNERS SOLD AS BROKEN BECAME A 3.2 GIGAPIXEL CAMERA

Two broken scanners became a 3.2 gigapixel camera that shoots 80,000 × 40,000 pixel images for about 570 euros in parts.

by Yannick Richter (Gigawipf)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

Open-hardwareScience

difficulty
●●●●●
time
weeks to months
license
license not specified
repo
repo FINISHED0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
  • Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware

Partner

Show off your build — Record and edit your build video by editing the transcript, not the timeline.Try Descript
Videos
1

COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a technical achievement, not a weekend build. Yannick Richter turned two broken Epson flatbed scanners (V300 and V370) into a medium format camera that captures 80,000 × 40,000 pixel photographs — 3.2 gigapixels, or 21 times more than a 46,752 dollars Phase One XF IQ4. The build log is thorough: oscilloscope traces of the CCD sensor protocol, a custom interface board with an I2C port expander, firmware for an STM32, and iterative 3D printed mounts until alignment was tight enough. The payoff is real — text on an oscilloscope panel stays readable when you zoom into a corner of the frame. The hard part is that this is not a released design. The CAD for the mounts is not published, and the scanner models matter — you will be doing your own reverse-engineering or adapting his board to whatever you find on eBay. If you want gigapixel photography and do not want to reverse-engineer hardware, look at the simpler open version (Super Cheap Scanner Camera, 489MP, 160 dollars, full CAD). This build is for someone who enjoys the forensics as much as the final image. The one thing most likely to go wrong: buying a scanner model that uses a different CCD or communication protocol, then realising weeks in that the pinout does not match.

NOT IN THE REPO

  • —Build log on hackaday.io is detailed and public with PCB design files and firmware code
  • —No licence published — the project is documented but not released as a kit or downloadable build package
  • —CAD files for the 3D printed mounts are not published
  • —You will need to reverse-engineer the scanner CCD protocol yourself or adapt his interface board design to your specific scanner model
  • —A simpler open alternative exists: Yunus Zenichowski's Super Cheap Scanner Camera reaches 489 megapixels for about $160 with free CAD files on GrabCAD
  • —Commercial use status is unclear due to absent licence

Can I build this?

PrintMultiple iterations of sensor mount brackets (STL files not published — you design or adapt these yourself)
BuyTwo used flatbed scanners sold as defective (Epson V300 and V370 in the original, but model availability varies), medium format lens, custom PCB components (I2C port expander, STM32 microcontroller, passives), oscilloscope for reverse-engineering if your scanner differs
ToolsSoldering iron for direct sensor data line connections, oscilloscope for protocol analysis, 3D printer, PCB fabrication (order or etch yourself)
SkillsAdvanced electronics (CCD sensor reverse-engineering, oscilloscope protocol decode, board-level soldering), intermediate firmware (STM32 programming), mechanical iteration (mount alignment is trial-and-error)
TimeWeeks to months depending on how closely your scanner matches the original and how much reverse-engineering you need to do
Cost$$$ — approximately 570 euros in the original build (scanners, lens, PCB parts), medium format lens is the single largest cost
SafetyNone beyond ordinary electronics care — low voltage throughout, no mains modification, no lasers or hazardous chemicals

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

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Videos

I built a 3.2 Gigapixel Camera (Gigawipf)

Full walkthrough of the build including oscilloscope captures and example images

Gallery

https://cdn.hackaday.io/images/resize/600x600/916351767140354657.jpg
https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/662849b3326ca376e70eabd1/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&height=900&width=1600&fit=bounds
https://img.youtube.com/vi/KSvjJGbFCws/maxresdefault.jpg

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the full build log on hackaday.io (This is the primary source — PCB files, firmware, and protocol notes are here)
  2. 2.Watch the main YouTube walkthrough (Shows the oscilloscope work and final image quality)
  3. 3.If you want a simpler open build, check the Super Cheap Scanner Camera alternative(489 megapixels for about $160, full CAD on GrabCAD — different approach, far less reverse-engineering required)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

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KNOWN ISSUES

  • The CAD files for the 3D printed sensor mounts are not published — you will be designing or adapting these yourself based on your scanner model and lens
  • Scanner models matter — the CCD protocol, pinout, and physical dimensions vary, so buying a different model means re-doing the reverse-engineering with an oscilloscope
  • No licence is published on the project — treat this as a build log to learn from, not a released kit you can replicate exactly
  • Medium format lenses are expensive and the focal length has to match the sensor sweep geometry — expect to spend significant time on lens selection and testing
  • Alignment is iterative — the build log shows multiple printed mounts before the sensor was positioned correctly, and you will likely do the same
  • Image processing for a 3.2 gigapixel file is computationally heavy — expect long processing times and large file sizes

Can I download the CAD files and replicate this exactly?

No — the 3D printed mount CAD is not published, and the build is specific to the Epson V300 and V370 scanner models he used. Treat this as a build log showing the approach, not a released design.

What if I buy different scanner models?

You will need to reverse-engineer the CCD protocol and pinout yourself with an oscilloscope, then adapt the interface board and firmware to match. Scanner CCD designs vary significantly.

How does this compare to the simpler open scanner camera alternative?

The Super Cheap Scanner Camera reaches 489 megapixels for about $160 with full CAD files on GrabCAD — it is a released design you can actually download and build. This project is higher resolution (3.2GP vs 489MP) but requires reverse-engineering and has no published CAD.

What dominates the cost?

The medium format lens — quality glass for the image circle you need is the single largest expense, followed by the cost of the two scanners if you cannot find broken ones cheaply.

How long does it take to capture one image?

The sensor sweeps mechanically across the frame like a flatbed scanner, so expect exposure times measured in seconds to minutes depending on the sweep speed and lighting.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The original build used two Epson V300 and V370 scanners sold as defective for about 570 euros total — but scanner availability and prices vary wildly by region. What would you search for first: specific scanner models with known CCD specs, or just broken flatbeds and reverse-engineer whatever turns up?

CompareeTEAM2d ago

Practical notes from our verification: the build log on hackaday.io is detailed and includes PCB design files and STM32 firmware, but the 3D printed mount CAD is not published and no licence is stated anywhere in the project. The two YouTube videos show the oscilloscope work and final image quality, but do not walk you through replicating the build step-by-step — they are documentation of what he did, not a tutorial. The single biggest decision is whether to attempt this specific build (which requires finding similar scanner models and doing your own mechanical design) or to look at the simpler open alternative (Super Cheap Scanner Camera, 489MP, full CAD on GrabCAD, about $160) instead. If you enjoy reverse-engineering as much as the final photograph, this is the project. If you want gigapixel images without the forensics, the alternative is the honest path.

Yannick Richter (Gigawipf)

Yannick Richter documented this build under the username Gigawipf. The project started with two broken flatbed scanners bought on eBay and the question of what else a linear CCD sensor could do. The full reverse-engineering process — oscilloscope protocol decode, board-level soldering, iterative mount printing — is public on hackaday.io.

Web

Star the project on GitHub

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