DIY Projector Company

astaples · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:35 am Post subject: NEW: Cube Prototype Finished

I have 99% finished the "Cube" prototype projector! Here is a picture...

Isn't it awesome?! Oh wait, wrong pic...

There we go - they look so much alike that I get confused sometimes! This prototype is 10x10x10 inches, with of course a big honkin' projector lens on the front. It has adjustable focus via rotating the lens - no lens mounts to build. Just cut the hole, slap in the lens, and off you go. This is approximately 1/3 of the Pico projector by weight and volume. I think you will also appreciate that this particular model would cost around $200 to build including a low resolution LCD. With the high-res LCD, which I have yet to put in this, the price goes up $150. So there you go - $200-350 for an entry-level projector!

Results coming soon...
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com

gusf · DPC Supporter Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 164

WOW!!! That looks great! OMG, that could be sitting between books on your bookshelf....almost wouldn't notice it sitting there!

astaples · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:10 am Post subject:

you took the words right out of my brain! I designed this specifically for bookshelf mounting (or bed-side stand mounting). I just took some preliminary shots, and they aren't bad, but I need to tweak things a bit. It's not generally good do demo your projector with duct tape still holding certain parts in place!
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com

chadamir · (0-9 posts) Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

That's pretty sweet. How much does it weigh exactly? What prevents the same design from being implemented in some kind of plastic? What are the resolutions of the two lcds?

gusf · DPC Supporter Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 164

ok Alan....sorry, I couldn't resist....I HAD TO paint it for you!

There! Now, noone will ever see it!

astaples · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:18 am Post subject:

That's awesome - I should have a vinyl shop make us a wrap for the cube that makes it look like that, or cut up an old college book cover to fit the front of the projector.

As for it's exact weight: about 9-11 pounds including the power adapters (mine is missing a panel right now, so that's where the +/- 1 pound comes from).

The resolution is 320x240 right now, with RCA input.
Our other panel is 640x480 with VGA and RCA inputs.
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com

yeutterg · (100-499 posts) Fanatic Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 254

wow! thats amazing! What are the dimensions? (nevermind-10x10x10)
(my brother wants me to build him one and that would be almost perfect for him)

Mavrick · DPC Supporter Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 230 Location: USA

Looks interesting… I can’t wait to see the final results/specs and sample photos.

astaples · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

This projector's light engine is based on an LED array. I took the time to solder nearly 200 individual LEDs, in 3 different arrays each of a different size and output rating. Based on these test arrays, which are something that sponsors of these prototypes helped pay for.

Because the light source is LED, the light output is lesser than with other projectors, but is still adequate. I am getting ready to purchase new LEDs that are twice as bright as my favorite of the 3 LED arrays, so I'm excited to see how it works out. I'll probably post some results pictures using the current array early next week, but be forewarned: each array was made intentionally too small just to see if LEDs were even feasible, so the output images aren't illuminated fully yet.
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com

darrel · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject:

can you pls post samples pics of movie being played

astaples · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject:

Yes I'll get some photos of it playing a move when I am in the office again next week - no time today. Granted it will be with the low resolution panel since that's what I built-in first, but I have to say I like this one a lot - no fan, really small, really light, no need for warm-up time...
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com

chadamir · (0-9 posts) Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

Are LEDs a suitable color temp?

astaples · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:00 pm Post subject:

Typically now. White LEDs make their light by injecting a phosphur into the plastic lens of the LED. Then the LED actually outputs ultra-light blue at a very high output, causing the phosphur to glow to make the overall output more blue. Many bright white LEDs have high yellow output or high blue output, neither of which is at all good for projection. That is why we used so much money to find a $30 set of LEDs - we had to try 5 different manufacturers before finding a true white LED.

I don't yet know if we will actually supply the LEDs through our store for this projector (only if we can get you a discount), but either way we will certainly let everyone know what LEDs and resistors to use for the optimal output color and intensity.

I want to make it clear that I in no way could take any credit for using LED arrays as a light source - many other people, including one person in our forums in particular, have built LED projectors successfully, but thiw will be the first capable of VGA resolution and perhaps also the smallest.
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com

Gimmin · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:07 am Post subject:

I was just wondering, how long is the average lifespan of each led?

astaples · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:09 am Post subject:

when running this projector at recommended light output level, it is rated to last 100,000 hours on average! So you will basically never change the lamps in these, which is nice because it does take about an hour to put the light source together!
_________________
The DIY Projector Company - www.diyprojectorcompany.com!
Technology for Educators - www.electronicsEDU.com