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Hardware Projects
1 - Qirab™ Digitisation Column - QDC100 & QDC150
Introduction
The Qirab™ Digitisation Column (QDC100 & QDC150) is an 100cm or 150cm tall open-source motorized vertical column camera support specifically designed for use while imaging manuscripts and fragile books.
It provides a stable, safe, and adjustable camera platform to facilitate precise imaging when used in combination with the Qirab Conservation Cradle QCC50 as a manuscript support.
Qirab released the design under a Creative Commons license for anyone to download and construct their own QDC from common materials and 3D printed parts.
As a complement to the QDC, Qirab developed a Manuscript Digitisation Workflow and tested it as part of a manuscript preservation & digitisation case study at the Academy of Arabic Language in Cairo, Egypt.
The successful two-year testing of the Qirab ideas culminated in the academy’s 61 manuscripts being made available on Archive.org.
Design
The design of the QDC design was conceived with manual manuscript Digitisation in mind.
Key features of the Qirab™ Digitisation Column include:
- 100 cm or 150cm vertical camera column
- Motorized vertical movement with 0.5 mm increments
- Safety stop switches at top and bottom. (The height of the lower switch can be adjusted to insure the camera does not touch the object being imaged.)
- Manual horizontal camera positioning
- Adjustable feet
- Height reference ruler
- 3D printable MX keycaps
Materials
The QDC is built from commodity and open source materials which should be available in most places.
The major components include:
- Openbuilds C-Beam Linear Actuator assembly with a NEMA stepper motor
- Arduino Nano microcontroller
- TB6600 stepper motor driver
- Manfrotto 323 Quick Release Plate
- Manfotto 035 Super Clamps (or equivalent) to support lights
- IKEA black worktop (or suitable substitute)
- 8 MX compatible keyboard switches
- 3D printed parts (feet, buttons, slider, electronics box, wire guides, motor cover, MX keycaps)
A full bill-of-materials is included with the design download.
Download
The CAD designs, 3D printable files, Bill of Materials, and Assembly Instructions for how to build the Qirab™ Digitisation Column QDC100 & QDC150 are available on the Qirab Github.
We are open to including community improvements or tool designs in future versions of the Qirab™ Digitisation Column.
License
The Qirab™ Digitisation Column (QDC100 & QDC150) design is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 
2 - Qirab™ Conservation Cradle - QCC50
Introduction
The Qirab™ Conservation Cradle is an open-source book support design intended to safely hold books open during conservation treatment, scientific analysis, documentation, and preservation works. It facilitates a hands-free holding of the book in a stable, conservation safe, and adjustable position without extreme pressure.
QCC44 v2.3
The plans for the QCC50 are freely available for anyone to contruct their own cradle. It is built from commodity materials and 3D printed parts.
QCC50 v1.0
Precedents
The concept of the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle was inspired by the work of Roger S. Williams1 and the team at Northwestern University on the Adaptable Conservation Book Support2 and the subsequent 3D printed upgrades done at the Auckland War Memorial Museum3.
Jeff Peachy designed a similar “book fixture”4 for conservation work which he sells as a comercial product.
Design
The design of the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle uses a 20mm aluminum profile frame mounted with 3D printed hinges onto a wood base. The base provides a clean and stable working surface where various 3D printed tools can be attached.
QCC50 v1.0
QCC50 v1.0
The 3D printed tools include a tool holder, a cold-shoe light mount, spatulas, rods, gray card holder and a magnetic tyvek/mylar strap holder. All are designed to be conservation safe for use on manuscripts or rare books.
QCC50 v1.0
The tools are stored within two compartments in the cradle for easy storage and transport.
QCC50 v1.0
Download
The CAD designs, 3D printable files, Bill of Materials, and Assembly Instructions for how to build the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle QCC50 are available on the Qirab™ Github.
QCC50 v2.3 CAD with tools
We are open to including community improvements or tool designs in future versions of the conservation cradle.
License
The Qirab™ Conservation Cradle design is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
William, Roger S. “ADAPTABLE CONSERVATION BOOK SUPPORT.” Roger S. Williams, https://www.roger-s-williams.com/research#/adaptable-conservation-book-support/. ↩︎
“BPG Materials, Equipment, and Tools.” American Institute for Conservation Wiki, 4 Nov. 2021, https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/BPG_Materials,_Equipment,_and_Tools#Adaptable_Conservation_Book_Support. ↩︎
“Newest Trick in the Book.” Auckland War Memorial Museum, 2020, https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/stories/blog/2020/newest-trick-in-the-book. ↩︎
Peachy, Jeff. “Book Fixture.” Peachey Tools, https://www.peacheytools.com/shop/book-fixture. ↩︎
3 - Qirab™ Travel Digitisation Cradle - QTC50
Introduction
The Qirab™ Travel Digitisation Cradle QTC50 is an open-source manuscript digitisation design intended to safely hold an A4 sized book, camera, and lights during travel imaging. It facilitates a conservation safe standards based digitisation workflow in remote locations.
QTC50 v1.0 being used in the Academy of Arabic Language in Cairo.
The QTC50 v1.0 was tested during Qirab’s digitisation project in the Academy of Arabic Language in Cairo, Egypt
QTC50 v1.0 folded for transport.
Design
The design of the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle uses commodity 20mm aluminum profile mounted with 3D printed structural parts. The travel cradle provides a stable imaging platform where lights and various 3D printed tools can be attached.
Key features of the QTC50 are:
- Camera aligned with imaging surface
- Collapsable portable design
- Uses the same Qirab tools as the Qirab Conservation Cradle
- Integrated tool storage
QTC50 v1.0 during early testing for off-grid battery operation.
Download
The CAD designs and 3D printable files for constructing the Qirab™ Travel Digitisation Cradle QTC50 are available on the Qirab™ Github.
The QTC50 v2.0 is currently under active development.
QTC50 v2.0alpha CAD
We are open to including community improvements or tool designs in future versions of the QTC cradle.
License
The Qirab™ Travel Digitisation Cradle design is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.