-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Fixing fossils in place for digitization Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:16:02 -0700 (PDT) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Lindsay- I've been digitizing long bones with a Microscribe and I use an old Bunsen burner test tube stand. The plastic-covered test tube clamps can be adjusted to any direction and have three points of contact with the bone (thus, six points with two clamps). Here's a URL for the photo of this set up: http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=752534&l=0d7c9&id=755337822 I'm not sure if these can be purchased anymore, but I imagine that most chemistry departments have them languishing in storage somewhere. My solution for small bones is similar to those already mentioned- gray artist's eraser covered in plastic and cinched with a C-clamp. ~Sabrina On Sep 16 2008, morphmet wrote:
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Fixing fossils in place for digitization Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:18:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Steven Wang <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Right... this is the same kind of clay, be it casting or sculpting. Gary Sawyer at AMNH uses it for fossil facial reconstruction. But remember, this is considered by some curators to be an oily clay, and they might not be happy with it directly on... anything under their watch. Steve -----Original Message----- From: morphmet [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 10:43 AM To: morphmet Subject: Re: Fixing fossils in place for digitization -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Fixing fossils in place for digitization Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:34:02 -0700 (PDT) From: Matt Benoit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Lindsay, I'm not sure what the name of the stuff is, but when I've measured fossil skulls (slightly larger and a bit more stable, but still, similar problems) I've used casting clay. I don't know what other folks call it, but they use it in our prep labs, and we had a big tub of it under a heat lamp. I just grabbed a handful and then could mold it as I saw fit for the skull. It didn't stick to the fossils or anything and it was pretty helpful. It may be worth talking to your local prep lab and seeing what they have. I hope that vague response is helpful. Good luck! Matt Benoit ----- Original Message ---- From: morphmet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: morphmet <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 3:32:07 AM Subject: RE: Fixing fossils in place for digitization -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Fixing fossils in place for digitization Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:06:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Lindsay Eaves-Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: morphmet <[email protected]> Hello all, I'm looking for feedback concerning collecting 3D coordinate data from fragile fossils using a MicroScribe. Two major problems presented themselves to me on a recent research trip: 1. How to mark points without hurting the fossil? 2. How to fix the fossil in place without a) hurting the fossil or b) sacrificing stability so that the specimen wobbles when you use a stylus to collect the data (forget about using the autoplot/autoscan feature!). The first, as it turns out, can be accomplished by cutting small bits of Glad Press n' Seal and placing them on the fossil and marking on the wrap, not the fossil. I know this sounds really sketchy, but it's actually awesome! Credit: Don Ortner, Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. The second issue, however, has been more intractable and this is where I'm asking for help. I work on human ribs, whose curvatures differ from 1-12 and so each rib sits differently on a surface and most don't lie flat. To digitize just one demi-set (on side) of ribs, I need to find 24 stable positions in order to do both the cranial and caudal surfaces. When working on modern ribs, I just use sticky-tack or the silicone blobs that people use for ear-plugs. Unfortunately, curators won't let me come within 10 feet of their fossil ribs if they think that gunk might touch their treasures. Standard fixes for propping stuff up for photography don't work, such as sand, bean-bags, legos, etc., because the pressure of the stylus causes the rib to wobble or recoil slightly, screwing up the measures. I know that a lot of you out there in Morphmet-land are digitizing fossils, so please, PLEASE HELP! I know I can't be the first to encounter these issues, and I'm frankly, not smart enough to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Thanks in advance!!!! Lindsay Eaves-Johnson
-- ______________________________________________________________________ Sabrina C. Curran PhD Candidate Department of Anthropology 395 HHH Center 301 19th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 -- Replies will be sent to the list. For more information visit http://www.morphometrics.org
