Ready for assembly - but key questions unanswered

[politicorific]

After mulling this over for a couple weeks, I've finally received all the necessary parts to get my projector going. they are as follows:

1) Ushio 400D bulb from atlantabulbs
2) Mogul Base from atlantabulbs
3) Electronic Lumenlab ballast - says lekelighting.com but it doesn't work
4) 317mm Fresnel from lumenlab
5) 220mm Fresnel from lumenlab
6) 320mm Objective from lumenlab
7) FFC extension from lumenlab

Tomorrow i'm going to get the building materials(Plywood/MDF, Aluminium for shielding) and the lexan for a UV filter.

Here's my problem, looks like it was a waste buying that FFC extension

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

here's what I have, now the FFC extension from Lumenlab only had 2 pieces - the cable and the tiny connector(with 18 free pins) - did I lose a piece when i pulled it out of the package? I don't see how this helps me to easily connect the 2 without soldering(which I have to do anyway now)

Also I asked Jaws for some help on the dimensions, I've got a rough idea, but will post pictures/my dimensions in another thread.

Also does someone have a list of material which make for good frames. I'm getting help from my family to build the box, but I don't have a router to make the frames. Any other ideas?

 

[Guy Grotke]

FFC extension

First of all: BE VERY CAREFUL with those FFCs that connect the boards with the LCD. They are very easy to tear off if you flex them too many times. You should put the LCD in a cardboard box with clean paper between the glass and the boards, to keep it safe until you have the mounting frame ready. Your frame should hold the boards out of the way without any strain on the FFC cables. I made one from pine 1 by 2s, since I don't have a router either.

Regarding the Lumenlab extender: You have all the parts. The FFC they sent you should fit into the socket on the lower board. Make sure it goes in with the contacts facing the same way as the original FFC did. Then you hold the two FFC cable ends together with the contacts facing each other, and slip them both into the ZIF connector they sent you. Make sure they are aligned perfectly, then push the sliding part into the connector to lock them. No soldering required.

Of course, their extender may not be long enough for your boards. You can buy another kit from them, and join them together. Or you can save some money if you like, and buy the very same Molex FFCs and vertical ZIF SMT sockets from mouser.com or digikey.com.