Opening a SS120 for cleaning?

[L.Willms]

This might be a little bit off topic, but ... I don't know where else do ask, and I think here are a lot of experts, so here my question:

Terry Danks wrote about his SS4000 "Opening the scanner and cleaning everything in sight" ...

I have the impression that my Sprintscan 120 has caught some dust inside, but the housing is not really built for being opened by the user.

Has anybody yet dared to open the case? Is it possible without very specialized tools, and close it again without destroying anything in the inside? (I had once opened a thermostat-clock for the central heating in my mother's house, and could never get it together again).

Yours,
L. Willms

[Polaroid]

Regarding your experience with the heating clock , please do not open the scanner.
:wink:

[L.Willms]

Hello, Ms. or Mr. Polaroid!

thanks for your reply.

I am not really bad as a mechanic, but this thermostat-clock could only be assembled with specialized tools or machinery in the factory. A number of cogwheels, springs and other parts had to be held together before closing the hood which would then hold them; even a professional watchmaker could not get it together again.

Please excuse me, english is not my primary language, and I did not know so well how to explain this fact in the initial post.

The question is: is the Sprintscan 120 like this clock, i.e. will the parts jump in all directions when the hood is opened, i.e. can the scanner only be repaired in the factory itself, and not in a repair shop by people generally knowledgable in precision mechanics?


Yours,
L. Willms

[Polaroid]

Wich country are you , maybe i am able to help .

[L.Willms]

I am living in Germany, Frankfurt am Main (next to Offenbach, where the German Polaroid subsidiary is located).

Yours,
L. Willms

[polaroid1]

If the scanner is still in warranty , than i can recommend not to open the scanner .

Call Polaroid Germany and ask them what's the best way to do,a minor
maintainance is the best way to do by a authorized service center .
And there is one in the Netherlands.

[cew3jsm]

L.Willms,
Were you able to get your scanner cleaned? Recently, I have noticed some image flare that is clearly not on the original film. Hence, I'm guessing that the light path in the scanner needs a bit of a cleaning. I bought my scanner when they first became available, and I use it almost daily. I'd be interested to hear of your experience.
Regards,
Clay

[L.Willms]

No, I have not yet dared to open the device.

I called Polaroid support in Germany recently, and was told that using the scanner would move the dust away.

I was also told that it is possible to open the case without all parts flowing around, but one has to be very very carefully in order not to distort the registration. A repair of that would cost several hundred Euros - there is a fixed price for any repair.

Yours,
L.W.

[cew3jsm]

L.Willms,
I decided to bite the bullet and send my scanner for repair. I shipped it to Polaroid in Waltham, Ma on Tuesday last week (12/28/04). Today, Polaroid called me and confirmed that the scanner was rather dusty and that the CCD mirror had a buildup of grim that required cleaning. Repair bill should be around $400 USD. I can hardly wait to get it back. I'll keep you posted.
Clay

[L.Willms]

@polaroid1

I have not yet dared to open the scanner, but I last week I nearly tried...

A question on opening: Initially I only saw the screws on the back side, turning the case over, I found a number of screws on the under side. Which ones shold be opened first?

Yours,
L.W.

[RAG]

L.Willms,

As one "Frankfurter" to another, I don't recommend opening the scanner unless you are prepared to purchase a new one or to pay the repair costs.

Have you attempted to clean it with canned air?

By the way, how are things in Sachenhausen? Do they still have the fair in Bornheim?

[L.Willms]

As one "Frankfurter" to another, I don't recommend opening the scanner unless you are prepared to purchase a new one or to pay the repair costs.

which are hefty.

Well, I will have to open the thing anyway to exchange the EEPROM identifying the scanner as Polaroid resp. as Microtek.


Yours,
L.W.