Project 7" LCD Video Projector (+ some of home theater)

Well i made a post a while back in another thread saying i would build one of these and i have almost finished so here i go

Bulb: 400w HQI pure white with ballast etc
Main Lens: Fuji Copy Lens, 240mm focal length
Reflector: 64mm with mounting holes
2x fresnel for the lilliput lcd
front surface mirror
Condenser lens
Lilliput 7" widescreen lcd


Order it will go in

Reflector - Bulb - Condenser - Fresnel 1 - LCD - Frensel - Mirror - Main Lens

 

to start with here is the bulb

its massive really but thats not a problem really




The kit for powering the bulb up




Condenser lens, its hard to get a good picture of it




The reflector which is the best thing in the hole projector because its pre done with mounting holes




The object lens (main 1)

 

For the light box i have to use metal and because i dont want to be spending to much money i got a old sidepanel from a computer case and cut the sides off




My plans for the light box with the light in place to cherck that it fits nicly




I fitted the reflector but i have a bad feeling that it is to close to the bulb




this is a 92mm fan grill which will be used to hold the condenser in place as i cant think of any other way and this seems to be the best way on other projectors i would of used a 80mm fan grill but didnt have one or couldnt find one cheap on the internet



Light box shaped if any one else decides to build one of these do some practice with bending metal before doing it on the actual unit

 

ebuyer brought me some goodies that cost me very little (didnt bring the bolts, had to go all the way to wilko for them)




Picture of the condenser from the front looking at the bulb, if i look at the right distance all i can see if the curved bit of the bulb which is good




All ready to go for its first test (cant post pics of it on as there far to bright)




planning the design onto the wood now




Top of the light box with some poo cutting

 

Light box finished




This is where it will go on the wood
it is located at the back left when looking at it from the front




Front panel of the projector with the area for the lens cut out




A mount for the rear of the lens for the adjustment feature




From the front the two screws are for moving the lens back and forth (there are now 2 more at the top as rails so it cant move side to side )

 

From the back




General layout of how i plan to have the projector its similar to this in the end but not the same




A very poor mount for the rear fresnel




The rear part of the projector which has the 2 round holes for pulling air in and out the strange hole is air out from the light box as you cant have cold air hitting the very hot bulb




Some great spray paint shame i got it all over the work top as well lmao

 

Well it has started to take shape nicly now as you can see from the pic the ballast has moved and it HAS to go inbetween the fresnel and front side or the cooling sux




Side panel for temp lcd, vga port, composite port and anything else i decide to add in the future




For the base of the projector i decided that old computer case feet would do the job so i put some on




This is my first test setup to see what the square is like on the wall




I wired it all up so theres the power port on the side with 2 switches (1 main power and 1 bulb) the lcd psu will connect up to that terminal block

 

Went to the local fabric shop (well took 10 mins on bike ) and got some blackout cloth for the screen
and cost me £9 for 2m x 140cm




Before i forget here is the projected image from the first test the curved bit is because i couldnt get the frensel to stay in the same pos when taking the picture lol




Frame for my screen its huge




I got bored so i started to play and got a bit of plastic and put it in place of the lcd and this is what i got




Any way back to development, here is the screen finished well i still plan on putting something round the side of it to give it a finishing touch dont know what yet tho

 

I placed the broken lcd as it broke on delivery into the place to test the focusing and here you can see all the pixels thats a good thing




Whole image on the screen it dosent use thoe whole height of the screen but it will do and the black bits are dirt on the lens which i havent got round to cleaning off




This is the support that i use for the lcd as it will hold the mini controler board for the lcd which is good so the fcc cable hopefuly wont brake any more lol




Top view of the projector, i still need to move the ballast but its pretty much done i think here




I was thinking of putting the ballast behind the mirror but the one problem with that is there would be no room for the lcd controler

 

i have mounted the ballast on the side next to the lens




And this is the equipment rack so far, has hifo on top
then sky box
then crap vcr
then htpc




O and this is sorta my cooling plan for the projector but i have changed it so its a bit diffrent




thats it for now

 

Hi

this is very intresting.
Could u post prices from all the parts?

Thanks
L

Good luck with it
I hope it works properly

 

Can you make a good guide for this? How I could make this... And why only a 7" monitor? What is the resuolution on that thing?

 

Awesome thread! I am really intrigued!

 

Lovah: prices

bulb 400w and kit: around £80
condenser: $10
main lens: £20
fresnels: $25
reflector: $15
mirror: dunno its about $7
lcd: £150 inc customs in the uk really varys around that amount any way

i will make up a proper price list when i have finished that way i can give you exact numbers on what it cost, i have spent around £300 on it so far including screen and materials

(I paid £180 for optics and bulb)

bobbo: i couldnt make a guide really as i dont have much free time and i would go against someones copyright of the plans i used which i cant give out

7" because its small so the projector will be small as if i made a 15" projector i wouldnt have the room for it

checkout diyaudio.com for help on desgning one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14946&item=5744055023&rd=1

thats the lcd screen

1152000 pixels which is (2400x480 )
has all the specs on that auction

model number: 619GL-70NP

 

whooo0o cool.

 

Where can i get the guide then? And what does it cost?

 

well as far as i no there is no real guide for the 7" projector if you go for a 15 then there are quite a few like http://www.lumenlab.com/ which is $20 and http://www.diyprojectorcompany.com which is free and have 7" plans but are unfinished

all i had to work with were a few distances and got on from that

 

Niice, another DIY projector....

 

There was a good guide for a 15" projector on toms hardware. Link here:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20041113/index.html

Also, theres an update on finding suitable panels for the project here:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20041201/index.html

 

Way to go Nick nice to see you putting stuff up in here too,