How-To: Build a Video Projector
by: Andrew
Seltz
Mix big screen home theater dreams with a skimpy budget and
you have the makings of a fantastic do-it-yourself project. Just think
of how impressed all your friends will be watching blockbuster movies
on a video projector you made with your own 2 hands.
It was just these motivations that landed me in front of my
web browser digging for information for this project. There are a lot
of cheesy websites that promise the moon and sell you a plastic
magnifying lense and the instructions to stick a television into a box
and put this lens on the front. You will get an image, but it will look
like you made it yourself. - dark, and blurry.
Is there any way to make this work? The short answer is yes. A
video projector is essentially a high resolution LCD video screen with
a really bright light shining through it and a projector lense
enlarging onto the screen. New portable models use very tiny, and
expensive, LCDs along with sophisticated light sources and
high quality lenses. If you are willing to end up with a projector that
isn't quite so tiny, you can scavenge the parts you need from an LCD
computer monitor and add some electronic components and relatively
inexpensive lenses. For $200-$500 you should be able to create a high
resolution bright projector that will really impress your friends.
The parts you need are:
- High resolution LCD computer monitor
- Projector lens (and possibly 2 fresnel lenses depending on
the plans you use)
- Cooling fan(s) - bright lights get hot when you shove them
in a box
- Bright lightsource (one approach to the project is to use
an old overhead projector)
- Electrical power supply
There are dozens of websites with step-by-step plans for free or for
sale. Some sell parts that you'll need. Two that I've found to be
excellent are LumenLab
and the DIY
Projector Company. They both sell parts and parts kits.
LumenLab sells a very nicely produced PDF instruction guide with
detailed plans. DIY offers plans free, but expects that you'll buy one
of their kits to actually make the projector. They both use the LCD in
a box with a lamp approach.
InventGeek has a great
article explaining the whole process in depth including the
theory behind projectors. I recommend you check it out. The DenGuru
website shows another approach to the project. They use an old overhead
projector for both the lightsource and lens. You strip the LCD panel
out of its frame and lay it on the projector like a transparency. Ugly,
but it works! Check out their tutorial.
Break out your toolkit and get busy - and let's be safe out there
people!
About The Author
Andrew Seltz is a Go-To Guy! His wide range of interests and
experiences have made him a walking search engine for his friends and
colleagues. His passion for film and video production have made him
particularly interested in Big Screen Televisions and Home Theaters.
Visit his site: www.AndrewSeltz.com |
