DIY Projector Plans Released

vroom writes "Lumenlab, a rapidly-growing website dedicated to the art of building LCD projectors, has just released its guide on how to build your own projector. The guide used to sell for $19.99, along with entrance to the "Premium Forums," where like-minded DIYers work together to constantly push this obsession forward. Not sure if building your own LCD projector is for you? Not a problem anymore. Just download the official torrent file of the guide and you're good to go. If you want to roam with the others in the Premium Forums, however, you'll still need to buy a membership."

Comments

Re:Why Bother?

[Mr Europe]

Diy projector has some advantages:
1. Lamp life time (..30 khours..)
2. Lamp price ($30..$100)
3. Better resolution (1024*768)
4. More quiet sound. Can be made almost totally silent. Fans are dia 120 instead dia 40 ..
5. Cheap. LCD costs $150. OHP:s ( --> lamp, electrics, fan) can be found very cheap, maybe $10. I got mine free since the fan made noise. The lense $50 (OHP lense could be used only for a short-throw beamer = beamer between the viewer and screen).
6. Can be easily used as computer screen (games...)

But also some disadvantages:
1. Bulky size
2. Work
3. Risk of doubling the price (brake the lcd..)
4. Connecting the DVD-player needs DVI connection ?

Save your $19.95, here's how I did it:

[Ancient_Hacker]

• Walk, drive, or crawl to your local thrift store.
• Go down into the Bargain Basement.
• Pick out an overhead projector. Personally I prefer the 3M brand ones. They come in tasteful earth colors. Most of the other brands are more garish. Make sure the bulb lights and the fan spins.
• Go visit your high school A/V department. If they're like most, they have a back room with a stack of overhead projection tablets that nobody uses anymore because they're 480x640. Offer them a box of Mallomars or $5 for the one with the fewest scratches. Remember to get the right VGA cable and power supply.

  Go home.

  Place tablet on projector.

  Plug in all cords into their correct sockets.

  Enjoy!

My LumenLab experience

[Scot Seese]

The users in the LumenLab member forum are the real reason to buy the plans. Their experience is invaluable and they are amazingly eager to help you.

Brain, the guy who operates LumenLab.com is highly accessible, both in forums and LL's IRC channel. He's an interesting character. He and his wife built a biodiesel car that runs on hemp oil, a DIY home CNC machine, among other things.

I highly recommend browsing the LumenLab free forum where users post pics of their finished projectors. Hundreds of success stories. Look for my friend PyrettaBlaze, his finished PJ is amazing.

The finished result with the LumenLab kit is siginificantly sharper and brighter than the overhead projector/LCD panel kludge - Approximately 1800-2000 ANSI lumens at 1024x768 with the ability to throw anything from your PC to the screen (or other sources through adapter box.) The LL guys are using quality optics and have a fanatical support community behind them.

Check it out.