ScanMate drum scanner DIY maintenance, troubleshooting, mods

[nbagno]

You won't screw up your scanner, it will either work or it won't. The 29160n is the Mac version, the 29160 is the PC version...However, I have both a 29160 and a 29160n both working on the same PC. The other PC that runs the Scanmate has a 29160n, so I can't tell you if the non N version will work on a mac. I've read where it won't, but as I said, the Mac version works in the PC. (which tells you nothing about if it will work on a mac) :-D

Just waiting for my card and cable and decided to look at the drivers you linked to, nbagno and wonder now if there is any difference between the "power domain" card and the one I am actually waiting on, which was definitely not advertised as a power domain version... The adaptec driver page for the non-power domain 29160n does not list any Mac drivers. I just really don't want to screw up my scanner...

 

[nbagno]

Thank you thank you nbagno!
Now if I could only find assembly instructions or good photos multi angles of the wetmounting station do I could put mine together again... https://imgur.com/a/EY6o2OM

 

[JoshuOne]

You're the best! Thank you nbagno! My 29160n is getting delivered today, so excited to get those scans on to a machine that can handle them...
Best
J1

 

[tsiklonaut]

So hooked up my SM11K to Windows 10 with Adaptec AHA2940U SCSI card that Win 10 recognizes with correct drivers.

Scanner makes a brief noise on computer startup and before Win 10 loads UI up so I assume the scanner gets its signal from the SCSI card.

But when I start CQ Scan: no scanner found. With mac this very same setup worked flawlessly so I just connected the same SCSI cable to Win 10 PC and this happened.

Any idea what could be wrong? Some additional Windows SCSI software missing or SCSI port wrong?

Many thanks in advance,
Margus

 

[brbo]

Did you install SCSI drivers for your card?

 

[nbagno]

Hi Margus,

According to Adaptec, there are no 64bit drivers for the AHA-2940 scsi card, only 32 bit drivers. However, most likely you can get it to work with an unassigned driver (or get another SCSI card).

Try this http://www.savagetaylor.com/2018/02/11/scsi-on-windows-10-adaptec-aha-2940-adaptec-29xx-ultra-or-aic-7870-adaptec-78xx/

EDIT, looks like someone beat me to it :-D

So hooked up my SM11K to Windows 10 with Adaptec AHA2940U SCSI card that Win 10 recognizes with correct drivers.

Scanner makes a brief noise on computer startup and before Win 10 loads UI up so I assume the scanner gets its signal from the SCSI card.

But when I start CQ Scan: no scanner found. With mac this very same setup worked flawlessly so I just connected the same SCSI cable to Win 10 PC and this happened.

Any idea what could be wrong? Some additional Windows SCSI software missing or SCSI port wrong?

Many thanks in advance,
Margus

 

[JoshuOne]

Greetings, so... After much trial and error I have arrived at the need for firmware for the SM11000...
The link that Pali posted years ago is dead and I want to make sure it's right. I read through entire thread and remember someone's firmware update not going well...
Monkey fist and others have said the SM works fine in Windows 10 64 bit, Id like to join them in this opinion
I started with the powerMac 9600 that came with machine... Takes great scans in CQ 4, but no way to get them off of the machine... Got a G4 and adaptec 29160n and scsi cable, but no go... The 29160n I got was just for windows... Built a windows 10 machine from parts the 29160n works with driver from win98 server version... I struggled with scanner being seen by bios, but not CQ until I remembered reading over and over to run as administrator... Duh! I guess that applies to me too ��
Now scanner needs firmware update, says it is not compatible with current windows version... I've come so far and so close to being able to use the scanner for more than just pretty picture on the screen... Please help with your steps to get from here to where you are. Thanks so much in advance!
BTW nbagno, those photos worked great! My wet scan station is ready!

 

[nbagno]

Can't help with the firmware, never been down that road. Glad your're mounting station is "up and running".

I believe your firmware awaits you here, in the files section. You will need to join to see it though :-D

https://scanhi-end.groups.io/

Greetings, so... After much trial and error I have arrived at the need for firmware for the SM11000...
The link that Pali posted years ago is dead and I want to make sure it's right. I read through entire thread and remember someone's firmware update not going well...
Monkey fist and others have said the SM works fine in Windows 10 64 bit, Id like to join them in this opinion
I started with the powerMac 9600 that came with machine... Takes great scans in CQ 4, but no way to get them off of the machine... Got a G4 and adaptec 29160n and scsi cable, but no go... The 29160n I got was just for windows... Built a windows 10 machine from parts the 29160n works with driver from win98 server version... I struggled with scanner being seen by bios, but not CQ until I remembered reading over and over to run as administrator... Duh! I guess that applies to me too ��
Now scanner needs firmware update, says it is not compatible with current windows version... I've come so far and so close to being able to use the scanner for more than just pretty picture on the screen... Please help with your steps to get from here to where you are. Thanks so much in advance!
BTW nbagno, those photos worked great! My wet scan station is ready!

 

[JoshuOne]

That firmware on the group did it! I am so stoked to have this all set! Dry scans for now, which is what the person I purchased this from did 100% but definitely looking forward to getting Kami kit! Thanks all... I can post a scan if I find a slide worthy ;-)

 

[anyone01]

I have one issue with my Scanmate 11000. I recently moved the scanner to my new home and wanted to scan yesterday. While doing so, I encountered the following problem:


(1) Powering up + connecting the scanner worked as usual
(2) When I wanted to do a preview scan, the scanner reacted and started to move the drum to the scanning position, then I got "Error no. 1473: Could not read from scanner", and the connection was lost. The scanner would not abort, the drum keeps spinning. The only way to get out of this state is to switch off the scanner, and power off the computer. Then, when switiching on the scanner, it would go back to "ready" position. In the next try, same result but different message: "Error no. 1465: Could not read from scanner".


Any ideas what this might be?


Thank you very much!

 

[tsiklonaut]

Looks like a bad connection to me - I've had similar, no error but the scanner runs on and no contact with the computer. I'd guess something went wrong when you moved it in cabling/contacts. I'd observe all the SCSI connectors, especially those tiny ones on the computer side if there aren't any bent ones and use a bit contact cleaner before connecting. Make sure the cable itself isn't kinked anywhere as well. If no help, go over the cable with continuity tester to see if all pins give the signal on both sides.

Switch SCSI ID up and down a bit too, since sometimes this can be stuck "inbetween" with a bad contact. Just in case you may check all the fuses in the scanner as well to see if they're all good.

I have one issue with my Scanmate 11000. I recently moved the scanner to my new home and wanted to scan yesterday. While doing so, I encountered the following problem:


(1) Powering up + connecting the scanner worked as usual
(2) When I wanted to do a preview scan, the scanner reacted and started to move the drum to the scanning position, then I got "Error no. 1473: Could not read from scanner", and the connection was lost. The scanner would not abort, the drum keeps spinning. The only way to get out of this state is to switch off the scanner, and power off the computer. Then, when switiching on the scanner, it would go back to "ready" position. In the next try, same result but different message: "Error no. 1465: Could not read from scanner".


Any ideas what this might be?

 

[tsiklonaut]

And Just to confirm, the Adaptec 2940U SCSI card works on Windows 10 64bit as well and seems to be very stable on scans. Everything must be done in "Run as Admin" mode of course, a very annoying feature in Windows, but manageable.

You need to install 2940 drivers in Windows 10 test mode (for unsigned drivers).

I see there's 16bit TIFF RAW file option in Windows CQ, I tried one test scan, but it's very dark (logarithmic I assume) so when I open it in Photoshop CS6 as a regular TIFF file it's too dark (or too light when inverted).

How do you guys use that TIFF RAW, do I need some special software to make it properly readable/workable?

That firmware on the group did it! I am so stoked to have this all set! Dry scans for now, which is what the person I purchased this from did 100% but definitely looking forward to getting Kami kit! Thanks all... I can post a scan if I find a slide worthy ;-)

I have the same problem, but when I load that .A6 firmware, it first says "Error, cannot load" "old Firmware still installed in the scanner" or something like that. The second time I give it, it loads some 10-15 seconds and the program works normally. But every time I start CQscan in Windows it says "The firmware is too old for this operating system" so I have to load it 2X (two times) just to make CQscan work. Very annoying.

It says 10.4 firware is installed when I look under the info window. What version is your ScanMate 11000 or if anybody has a solution for this problem?

 

[anyone01]

Thank you for the hints!

I couldn't try all of them, since I do not have the right equipment here, but I did try around with another cable (that is working for my flextight scanner), and switching the ID switch. Unfortunately without success :bang:

Looks like a bad connection to me - I've had similar, no error but the scanner runs on and no contact with the computer. I'd guess something went wrong when you moved it in cabling/contacts. I'd observe all the SCSI connectors, especially those tiny ones on the computer side if there aren't any bent ones and use a bit contact cleaner before connecting. Make sure the cable itself isn't kinked anywhere as well. If no help, go over the cable with continuity tester to see if all pins give the signal on both sides.

Switch SCSI ID up and down a bit too, since sometimes this can be stuck "inbetween" with a bad contact. Just in case you may check all the fuses in the scanner as well to see if they're all good.

 

[brbo]

I see there's 16bit TIFF RAW file option in Windows CQ, I tried one test scan, but it's very dark (logarithmic I assume) so when I open it in Photoshop CS6 as a regular TIFF file it's too dark (or too light when inverted).

How do you guys use that TIFF RAW, do I need some special software to make it properly readable/workable?

It's got nothing to do with log or linear sampling.

Very dark 16bit raw files are typical for scanners that don't work in 16bit internally. The 12bit/14bit data is written to 16bit container without normalisation. For example, take the brightest value a 12bit scanner can record - 4095. That is VERY dark when you know that the brightest value in 16bit file is 65535.

I'm pretty sure Imagemagik and probably some other utilities should have something to do this normalisation. I just do it with a few lines of python code (for my Noritsu raw files)...

edit: Install ImageMagick (select 'Install legacy utilities' at installation), you can then convert your image with (in Command Prompt):

convert yourImage.tif -auto-level -depth 16 newName.tif

 

[tsiklonaut]

I'm pretty sure Imagemagik and probably some other utilities should have something to do this normalisation. I just do it with a few lines of python code (for my Noritsu raw files)...

edit: Install ImageMagick (select 'Install legacy utilities' at installation), you can then convert your image with (in Command Prompt):

convert yourImage.tif -auto-level -depth 16 newName.tif

Not a very practical format then, more like a geek format I suppose.

I tried ImageMagick and the -auto-level command doesn't work, it does almost nothing to the image, even if I add -channel rgb command to it.

I found the correct script is the following:

magick convert yourImage.tif -normalize -depth 16 newName.tif

The -normalize part helps in "filling" the missing headroom (I assume SM11000 is a 14bit per channel scanner by spec, no?) by redistribution.

In that sense I find much more usable results in scanning 16bit TIF directly without fiddling with additional conversions, so for me the "geek format" TIFF RAW in Windows CQ doesn't give me anything special to write home about.

 

[brbo]

I tried ImageMagick and the -auto-level command doesn't work, it does almost nothing to the image, even if I add -channel rgb command to it.

I found the correct script is the following:

magick convert yourImage.tif -normalize -depth 16 newName.tif

Interesting that -auto-level doesn't do anything. I'd think that -normalize would stretch the histogram end to end and consequently ruin the info about the true density of the negative or the effects of analogue gains set by scanner operator.

..
(imagemagick -auto-level vs. -normalize)

The -normalize part helps in "filling" the missing headroom (I assume SM11000 is a 14bit per channel scanner by spec, no?) by redistribution.

14bit probably wouldn't be virtually black. Take a look at the following samples:

..
(12bit in 16bit container vs. simulated 14bit in 16bit container)

If your raw file looks more like the second image than, yes, it probably is 14bit.

In that sense I find much more usable results in scanning 16bit TIF directly without fiddling with additional conversions, so for me the "geek format" TIFF RAW in Windows CQ doesn't give me anything special to write home about.

Depends on what extra processing (sharpening, noise reduction...) goes into 16bit tif output and whether you want that processing or not.

 

[anyone01]

OK, now I can be sure that it is not:
(1) the SCSI cable. i tried out another one that is working on my Flextight scanner, so the cable is okay.
(2) I removed the fuse close to the power connector, and put it in again.
(3) I switched the SCSI ID switch up and down.


All of this without result, the scanner is not scanning. It is found while starting the computer, I can connect to it via CQ Scan and ColorQuartet, when i start pressing preview, the drum gets moved in - and then the same error.


Do you have any other ideas how to solve this problem?

Which other fuses should be checked?
Thank you very much!

 

[monkeyfist]

Greetings, so... After much trial and error I have arrived at the need for firmware for the SM11000...
The link that Pali posted years ago is dead and I want to make sure it's right. I read through entire thread and remember someone's firmware update not going well...
Monkey fist and others have said the SM works fine in Windows 10 64 bit, Id like to join them in this opinion
I started with the powerMac 9600 that came with machine... Takes great scans in CQ 4, but no way to get them off of the machine... Got a G4 and adaptec 29160n and scsi cable, but no go... The 29160n I got was just for windows... Built a windows 10 machine from parts the 29160n works with driver from win98 server version... I struggled with scanner being seen by bios, but not CQ until I remembered reading over and over to run as administrator... Duh! I guess that applies to me too ��
Now scanner needs firmware update, says it is not compatible with current windows version... I've come so far and so close to being able to use the scanner for more than just pretty picture on the screen... Please help with your steps to get from here to where you are. Thanks so much in advance!
BTW nbagno, those photos worked great! My wet scan station is ready!

If you did not find it already, i have it hosted here:

http://aleksikoski.com/temp/temp/Scanner Firmware/ScanMate 11000/SCA04000.A6

I think it has been posted on this thread in few occasions.

 

[monkeyfist]

In that sense I find much more usable results in scanning 16bit TIF directly without fiddling with additional conversions, so for me the "geek format" TIFF RAW in Windows CQ doesn't give me anything special to write home about.

The difference i observed was, that the raw is the only format where the image is not blurred a bit to hide the small jitters. This only shows up on the highest enlargements, where you get sharper scans using the raw format.

I dont get why the 14bit output is an issue, you can just normalize it in photoshop as you convert it.

 

[nbagno]

I use colorperfect. https://www.colorperfect.com/colorperfect.html?lang=en

It's not easy to learn however, there are a few instructional videos on youtube but it does a great job once you figure it out.

Cheers

And Just to confirm, the Adaptec 2940U SCSI card works on Windows 10 64bit as well and seems to be very stable on scans. Everything must be done in "Run as Admin" mode of course, a very annoying feature in Windows, but manageable.

You need to install 2940 drivers in Windows 10 test mode (for unsigned drivers).

I see there's 16bit TIFF RAW file option in Windows CQ, I tried one test scan, but it's very dark (logarithmic I assume) so when I open it in Photoshop CS6 as a regular TIFF file it's too dark (or too light when inverted).

How do you guys use that TIFF RAW, do I need some special software to make it properly readable/workable?




I have the same problem, but when I load that .A6 firmware, it first says "Error, cannot load" "old Firmware still installed in the scanner" or something like that. The second time I give it, it loads some 10-15 seconds and the program works normally. But every time I start CQscan in Windows it says "The firmware is too old for this operating system" so I have to load it 2X (two times) just to make CQscan work. Very annoying.

It says 10.4 firware is installed when I look under the info window. What version is your ScanMate 11000 or if anybody has a solution for this problem?