It seems a little slow around the boards since I was here about 2 years ago. In any event, with the winter season close, I've decided to take on another projector project to keep me busy in place of other summertime activities. Perhaps we can stir up a little more traffic in the mean time.
The overall goal of my project is to learn a bit more about the theory this time around, rather then just an adhoc approch. Also my other challenge will be learning to fabricate the entire enclosure to look more on the pro side, while having access to only smaller scale tools. While now living in an apartment, they kind of frown upon me running a band saw in my living room. The internals will be aluminium, due to the ease of fabrication as well as the good heat properties. The case I would like to make out of plastic, maybe some kind of alternative to plexi that is a little more durable.
As of now I almost have the initial design for the light engine complete and I will post it shortly. This project will be using readily available parts, at a relatively low cost. In fact, next to the LCD I will be using, the reflector in the design will be the most expensive piece. This is one area I do not want to cheap out on because of the smaller bulb/foot print of the overall project. At this point as a very rough starting point, I am shooting for an overall cost of under $500 (not including purchasing tools), a foot print a little bigger then a sheet of paper, and no more then 5" tall. At this point I have the optics for the light box designed and will post them once I redraw a more final draft. Next step if to draft up the actual enclosure. More to come...
The overall goal of my project is to learn a bit more about the theory this time around, rather then just an adhoc approch. Also my other challenge will be learning to fabricate the entire enclosure to look more on the pro side, while having access to only smaller scale tools. While now living in an apartment, they kind of frown upon me running a band saw in my living room. The internals will be aluminium, due to the ease of fabrication as well as the good heat properties. The case I would like to make out of plastic, maybe some kind of alternative to plexi that is a little more durable.
As of now I almost have the initial design for the light engine complete and I will post it shortly. This project will be using readily available parts, at a relatively low cost. In fact, next to the LCD I will be using, the reflector in the design will be the most expensive piece. This is one area I do not want to cheap out on because of the smaller bulb/foot print of the overall project. At this point as a very rough starting point, I am shooting for an overall cost of under $500 (not including purchasing tools), a foot print a little bigger then a sheet of paper, and no more then 5" tall. At this point I have the optics for the light box designed and will post them once I redraw a more final draft. Next step if to draft up the actual enclosure. More to come...
Here is the initial mach up for the light box. It is a little messy after tracing over, but is about 95% to scale. For some reason I prefer a pen and paper as I haven't played around too much with any drafting or cad software. I am happy with the initial size. It will end up about 110 cm tall. Everything there is based on actual components that will make up the system. I am real excited about trying out the metal halide option I found as it is less then 22mm in diameter and only 45 cm long. Still has good light output and color rating, but the total package for ballast, light bulb, and socket is far less expensive than those old 400 watt setups.
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Hey, thanks. Appreciate it. Things are a little slow in progress as I've been tied up at work lately, but I am really itching to fabricate something 😀.
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