There aren't any designs, only photos. I had a scanner that was... too old to be useful, sadly, which I got last year at Salvation Army for $5. As an instructional lesson, I take things apart now and look at how they're designed, for organization, structure, efficiency, etc, so I can make better parts on the Makerbot.

Flatbed scanners have a few neat parts in them, like buttons, gears, pulleys, belts, ribbons, guide bars for Z-stage mods, and usually a cold-cathode tube for illumination, or in newer models, probably an LED light source. So I saved the light in this one, recycled everything else, and figured I'd try to hook it up.

!!!I AM NOT AN ELECTRICIAN, NOR AM I VERY SMART. If you know how to do these things properly, please comment below. I hold no responsibility if you set fire to your cat or Makerbot!!!

I don't know where I read it on the webs, but I had the impression cold-cathode tubes were lit using a transformer that converted approx. 5-12v DC into something that made it happy. When you take apart a scanner, watch for a very tiny PCB with a hunky little transformer on it, which should be its own part separate from the main control boards. SAVE THIS, and its connecting cable too.

Be very careful removing the tube from the unit -- they're pretty fragile, and will break easily if removed improperly. Don't disconnect the wires on either end, and it's best to leave the lamp itself in whatever holder or reflector it is housed in, which will help protect it.

In this case, I ran a free mini-Molex cable from my power supply (yellow = 12v, black = ground) to the positive and negative inputs on the transformer to the lamp. I honestly can't say if they're polarized one way or the other, because the board doesn't tell me. Just make sure you cover up any connectors you have free as you try it out. If you wire it one way and no light appears, shut it off quickly and try another configuration... I have no idea if this stuff explodes or not.

You may also need to run extension wires to the lamp itself from the transformer. If you do so, try to mind your polarity back to the unit, and DO NOT leave your wires uncovered. My electrical tape flipped open and I bridged the two wires going to the lamp... It didn't hurt as much as 350v capacitors, but it did cook my skin and it smelled like burning hair in my office for 30 minutes. Don't do that.

Anyhow, since I have it wired to my power supply, any time the Makerbot is on, the light is on! I'm going to try two other configurations at some point, using a second lamp if I can find one, and placing them vertically instead of at the top of the unit. This should improve the light and how it is cast into the 'bot. I like it tho, and it's pretty and better than my stupid desk lamp. Good luck!