360 Degree Photo Shooting Rig From a Broken CD-ROM Drive

OK guys, my first Instructable here, just learning the ropes, so starting with the simplest project ever.

Suppose you have a small 3d object, such as the objet d'art shown on the video here and you need to present a 360 view of it, so you need a bunch of pictures taken. Using a ready-made lazy suzan is really just for super-lazy people :) and regardless, it may just be too big for the object and unsightly on the pictures.

So, we are going to make a small and inconspicuous 360 degree photo shooting rig out of a broken CD-ROM drive

You are going to need a few things:

* obviously a broken CD/DVD/Bluray drive, preferably from a laptop although desktop will do, too
* 4 CD/DVD disks you no longer need
* some glue
* 6 or 8 small rubber feet with sticky back

Step 1
Basically, the build starts with you finding a donor CD/DVD drive, preferably from a laptop because laptop CD drives have spindle with little latches that help hold the CD. Once you got it, keep breaking it down until you get a little green (most of the time) PCB with the motor that rotates the CD (the motor itself is inside the spindle - also an interesting parts in itself, more on it in another instructable)

Step 2
Glue together 2 CDs . 2 is  for strength. Single CD either on the base or on the top makes the rig too wobbly. Locktite super glue in gel form worked fine for me. These will become the base of the rig

Step 3
Glue the PCB with CD spindle to the base CDs, try to make the center of the spindle coincide with the center of CDs but it's just aesthetics - it won't prevent normal operation if you miss the center by some margin.

Step 4
Glue one CD to the top of the spindle by putting the glue onto the spindle's top and putting a CD on it as you would put it on normally.

Step 5
Glue another CD ontop of the one in Step 4 you may need to use a nibber tool or a file to make three little notches on the inside of the CD's internal hole to accommodate for the little latches that hold the first disk.

Step 6
Give the contraption some time for the glue to dry and turn it upside down. Then stick rubber feet onto the bottom CD. You'll need at least 6 - three on the outer edge and three closer to the middle to help support the weight of the pieces  you'll be taking pictures of.

Step 7
Turn it right side up and enjoy!

Credits:

The little sculpture in the video is "Little Moth" by Tanya Abaimova of SunnyFaces Whimsical Art Dolls
The music in the video is  "No Frills Cumbia" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Commons "Attribution 3.0" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/