The Digitizer Illuminator was last UPDATED on: 11 NOV 2013 at 17:30 EST.
The current version is: v3.3

When wired up with a 5mm white LED, the Digitizer Illuminator is sure to add variable lighting options for your 3D scans. For a Complete Description, Bill of Materials, and an Assembly Guide, click the Instructions tab!

Update includes:

Stronger, redesigned top clip to avoid cracking.
Larger holes for running wires from LED to the housing.
Tab Slot on bottom of housing resized.
Back Panel dimensions changed to fit new housing.
9v Battery compartment resized to better fit wiring.
All screw holes re-vamped.

***If you build this thing, I'd love to see your build! Feel free to leave questions/comments/feedback anytime! I'm curious what else everybody could be creating with the layout of these components. Thanks!

Let's face it- the Digitizer is a totally awesome piece of equipment, but it definitely has an attitude problem if the lighting isn't quite right. Born is the Illuminator!

The Illuminator clips onto the crossbeam of the MakerBot Digitizer and provides variable light settings to help produce a higher quality scan.

This thing contains 3 printable components. It requires the following bill of materials to assemble:

1x 9 volt battery
1x 9 volt batter plug
1x 100 ohm resistor
1x 5mm LED of desired color
1x LED holder, SparkFun PN: COM-11147
1x 10 kOhm Rotary Potentiometer, SparkFun PN: COM-09939
1x Black Knob, SparkFun PN: COM-09998
2x Screw, 1/2", 4-40, SparkFun PN: PRT-10452
1x Rocker Switch, Medium, SparkFun PN: COM-10727
1x 12" total length of hook-up wire (probably less...)

Mount the LED in the LED Holder.
Solder 4" leads to the anode and cathode of the LED.

Feed the LED leads through the LED mounting hole on the "Housing" file.
Continue feeding the LED leads into the hole in the lower left corner of the LED compartment. The leads should appear in the larger compartment.
Screw the LED Holder into the Mounting Hole on the Housing.

There is a front and a back to each panel in this project. The front has a counterbore screw hole on each panel.

Solder 2" leads onto the Rocker Switch.
Pass the wires through the front side of the square hole on the Back Panel. The Rocker Switch should be on the side of the Back Panel with the counterbore screw hole.
Clip the Rocker Switch into the square hole on the Back Panel.

Mount the Potentiometer on the large round hole on the Back Panel so the knob will be on the same side as the Rocker Switch.

Pass the wires on the 9 volt Batter Plug through the hole found in the shelf of the large compartment on the Housing. The plug should be in the bottom box of this compartment, and the wires should be in the top.

Test fit a 9v battery plugged in, with the plug facing outwards. Tie a simple overhand knot in the 9v Battery Plug wires in the top compartment to keep them in place. Be sure to leave enough wire so you can unplug the battery.

Unplug and remove the battery.

Solder the circuit so current flows as follows (In this project, "current" refers to the positive charge):

9 volt Battery---> Rocker Switch---> Potentiometer---> 470 ohm Resistor---> LED Anode---> GROUND

Attach the knob to the Potentiometer.

Insert and plug in the 9 volt Battery.

Insert the tab on the bottom of the Back Panel into the slot on the back of the Housing. The Back Panel should fit flush against the Housing. Use a 1/2" 4-40 screw to secure the Back Panel.

Follow the same procedure to attach the LED Panel to the Housing.

Mount the completed assembly to the left side of crossbeam of the MakerBot Digitizer, when viewed from behind.

The LED should sit centered behind and above the camera lens.
When the camera filter is closed, the right side of the Illuminator should sit flush with the left side of the camera filter.

Flip on the Rocker Switch and enjoy a variable light source for your MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner!