Well I might as well Do a PLOG this time.
I build my 1st PJ last Year with the defective Pro-lenses. Since I got the new Pro-Triplet in Jan I have been scheaming and working on Vrs.2.0.
We are using the critical components from vrs 1.0.
( we being "The NERD" and myself).
Nerd is still working on those critical thinking skills but has turned into quite a nice wrench-turner/third-hand, and hey life is all about the Journey so if it takes a few mistakes to educate him in our endeavors than so be it. (it’s only time and money ---or so I tell myself ).
Cannibalized Parts
LCD -Dell E172FP.
electronic ballast
Mogul + Ushio S400DD
Fresnel Lenses
Temp control switch
Various electrical
2 evercool Fans

Here is Nerd Helping harvest components from Vrs 1.0.
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We loved vr. 1.0 BUT the box was huge .
For this reason we are going vertical to make the footprint smaller, and easier to move around (she who ruins---ohhh achmmm--- I mean RUNS the show will not let it live permanently in the family room).
More to come later-- back to work

Great - a plog I can watch right from the first post while I'm working on mine!

My nerd was practicing his hammer skills last night. I decided to risk it and hold the punch while he struck it. Hard plastic mallet by the way. No sense risking too much! He made a few tentative strikes and I kept telling him to hit it a l-i-t-t-l-e bit harder. Wouldn't you know it the time he finally decides to go for it and smack it hard he misses and nails my left index finger with a decidedly powerful blow. OUCH!!! What could I say? It was my fault really.

I said "Okay, that's it. Time to practice a bit more without Daddy holding the punch." He was happy but my wife saw my eyes watering and suggested he apologize and kiss it to make it better.

I said "That's okay. You keep practicing. You don't have to kiss my finger."

What followed was about 10 minutes of him bawling and saying how "Daddy hurt my feelings."

Sigh . . . just can't win.

HAHAHA

Durachko

The other day mine told me to apologise to mommy cause he knows I was "yelling" and being "ugly", and no amount of explaining would do until I complied. We where talking in two diff rooms to one another. We both got a good laugh out of that. My wife now threatens me with retribution from the Nerd if i don't keep straight.
(you def can not win).

We Have decided to use threaded rod- cause its so easy to work with.
I got to use the new Toy from my b-day (ROTOZIP---w00t)
The lightbox is made out of an old "compy" case. Smell that burnt metal baby!!
The pro-reflector looks so at home in there (a good step up from the ol Norpro in vr 1.0)
The L brackets are drilled out to fish threaded rod through for "TWEAKABILITY" and there will be a separate cooling for the lightbox and LCD. More on this later.


Tempered Glass from an old 500w worklight BONUS= UV protection


a quick peak at the O'l Frames


Light Box suspension





Well that's all for now. I'm off to the guys weekend tomorrow. (grunt grumble grunt)
Guns, Poker and other such male endeavors. I'm off work next week for my annual "spring projects". Maybe "Das Fuhrer" also known a my raven haired beauty that married me, will let me have a little free time in the garage with the other lady (PJ)

Watch my plog for a twist on the threaded metal rod.
"Guys weekend"?
"Guns, Poker, and other such male endeavors."?
You're allowed to leave home without an escort?
Oh man . . . I'm going to cry all weekend just thinking about the fun you're having. Just don't rub it in too much or I'll tell your sweetie her alias.

Edit: I don't know what I like more - the pics of the projectors or the background basements, garages, and worksheds. I find myself straining to pick out details of the assorted stuff out of the focal plane and tucked behind the projector components!

... so to speak.

I wish my parts would arrive so I could get started. There are so many people starting builds right now with designs similar to what I want to do. I think it will really help.

Your light box made from computer case material with its own cooling system and tempered glass from a halogen shop light is just what I was thinking of doing.

I guess while I wait for the pro lenses to arrive, I can watch and see how yours works before I start mine.

How'd you go about cutting the computer case? i've got some lying around.. not a bad way to recycle them and put em to use. And can ya tell us besides the L-brackets what other nicknacks you're using there to suspend the lightbox between the main 4 threaded rods?

Hurry up and get building! i'm anxiously looking forward to your results

Well All I'm back from my "MAN TRIP" and spring work week. Had to go to work today so I could catch up on my PJing
I can't believe I did not touch the PJ for a whole week. I am suffering withdrawal. But the house projects are all caught up (uhhumm sort of ). I hope to move forward on the PJ this week.
My FS mirror showed up last week and I did not even get to open the package :angry: .
This shall be rectified today!!!

Here is the nerd learning to use the drill. This is the base platform for the threaded rod.

What - no EYE protection? Must be a loud drill. (Seriously, I make my kid wear protection all the time around tools. And when he starts dating I suppose I'll have to have other more serious discussions about protection.)

Hey - your kid has THREE hands!?!?

Mine has only two.

Gonna come in REAL handy later in life.

FatScreen- you my friend must have the most interesting avatar in the forum.

I used these to cut the old compy case.


A rotozip[ with a metal cutting wheel, and a Jigsaw with a bi-metal blade.
The jigsaw works best for long cuts nd the Rotozip cleans up things nicely.

I then used a vise and hammer to bend and fold as needed.
Some self taping screws worked well to hold it together.


Here is a closeup of the suspension system. Not very complicated but effective.
L brackets that I drilled out for the threaded rod (use a vise- makes much easier), and some hex-nuts.

You know, I did not even realize that he did not have them on. I guess I fig mdf would not impale him.
Still I Shall keep a closer watch on his shop practices.
Nerd has an aversion to any loud sounds that don't originate from him . He pretty much wheres the ear protection whenever he and I are in the garage working. You should see him run when the old table saw comes rolling out of the corner He knows that one is loud and waits inside till I finish.

That's odd. My son puts on his muffs whenever I run anything. I wonder if that's a common thing with kids? He even holds his hands over his ears when he flushes the toilet.

We were in WalMart around a year ago and when the urinal flushed he let out a blood curdling scream and the bathroom acoustics just made it worse. When I walked out my wife was standing there grinning while a half dozen other people stared at us white-faced like they were expecting me to drag out a mutilated and still-dripping-blood corpse.

Is "nerd" really gassy too? If so, I think we are long-lost relatives.

BINGO!! on the loud sounds!!! Negative on the GAS...(I'll have no competition in that area )

As for the Wal-mart thing----Been there done that and got the T-shirt
How can something so small be so loud
Must be from his mother's side of the family.

Work has decided to pile up on my desk for the week I was gone, thus making me stay late to meet a 9:00am deadline. Apparently this place does not function without me. :angry: :angry:
Maybe I can get to caress my little PJ before the clock strikes 12.

"YOU......Back to work!!!....no soup for you!":ph34r:

Did you strip the old paint off the computer case before you put on the black paint?
I'd hate to put on heat-resistant paint only to have the old paint bubble under it.

Why no I did not SD. Interesting thought though. I have never seen a computer case bubble up, nor have seen any recent ones even scratch.
Based on your question we did a test, since being stuck at the office working on a system. The guys and I heated a computer case like the one I used with a torch, turned black after heating it forever and then cleaned off, must be some tough crap.
While I can not speak for all cases the ones we had laying around here that I used should not flake or bubble, but only time will tell. I don't see the box getting more hot than or torch test esp. with the active cooling I'm using.
And...ahhh...well... since I have already painted my lightbox --I'll guess I'll have to take the risk and let you know later

I'm glad to have inspired an experiment.
I work with computers and parts all day, but I never have a torch handy. I suppose I could go into one of the science classrooms and use a bunsen burner.

I used metal from old commercial shelving to build my lightgate and it gets around 100 degrees F in the hot spots. I did not remove the exising paint but rather sprayed right over it. So far, so good. I didn't even do much of any surface prep at all - like solvent cleaning or sandpaper scuffing. I think you'll not have problems with your computer case either - at least not if you only get to 100 degrees F or not much over that.

Sunday Tribune front page: "Suspected terrorist caught in classroom attempting to set fire to school computer."

OOOOOOOOOOOOO......ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Lookie what I brought home the other day.
This should fit nicely into my idea for the control sections of the PJ. (more on that later)
Temp monitoring display and fan control with high temp alarm ( mooohahaaaahaaaa)

No fair! Those things are just way too cool. Pun intended. It's really gonna look nice and add a touch of class to the controls on yer box. Now get to work!!!!!!

Ahhhh, why not just let "The Nerd" go at it himself for awhile while you relax?

How much dem tings go fer anywho? ~$25? Wheredja get it?

In Nerd's dreams!!
He did promptly take it from the box and start holding it to possible mounting points
"Lets put that back for now??....ok" "fine den I never work on it again!!"...mama!!! dah say I can't do his jector no more!!!"
I can't win sometimes


$20 shipped ebay. Hopefully I can get back to the PJ soon work has been ruff lately. Out of town this week and next. Maybe sometime this weekend there will be time.

Ah, the joys of fatherhood.

Warm weather has really put a kink in my progress. Finally gave in to my wife's insistent comments about the lawn turned hay field and fired up the mower last night.

But now . . . Paypal account balance looks good . . . no one is watching . . . ebay - HERE I COME!!!

Edit: Wait till he's a teen and dreaming of gurlz instead!!

Well well well.... I found some time alone with the PJ this evening
Sort of anyway.. the Nerd was dutifully present as always.

We got started on a mount for the FS mirror.
routed out some 2x1 stock to hold the side mounts 1/2 MDF cut to size.



A littile glue, and a clamp




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built a custom pivot point out of a L-bracket (little drilling -- a little grinding and ---poof --there she is). I'll use bigger bolt with some washers and a wing nut for the final.
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Remdaddy,

It's not really obvious yet, so I'll ask... are you placing the mirror after the triplet? Opps, no it looks like you have it near the wood fresnel frame.

Placing the mirror out past the triplet would allow the projection point to be higher, closer to the center of the screen. I wonder if there are any PJs out there that have the mirror after the triplet.

Yes it is before the triplet. I have seen a few with the mirror after the triplet, you may have to do a little digging to find them. The only one off hand that I know is this is Darkmeat
Link to His Plog


I have just been placing the components that I am working on on the frame to test fit --it's not all in correct order. I will paint and get all the frames and mounts mounted for there final positions soon--(I hope)
I got a good deal done this weekend. I'll update the PLOG tomorrow night from the hotel (work trip---gone till Friday No PJ'ing till then)

Ahhhh hahhh!!
I found a way to use that old backlight poly-carb.
Cut it up---grind it down, drill a hole and
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add some aluminum

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makes for a nice pivot mount for the front fresnel- should do nicely for keystoning. I have been thinking of adding a motor to control it remotely by switch. Not sure yet we'll have to see, it may not be needed.
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Well I FINALLY got to work on the PJ yesterday.
Its been sooo long :angry: So much work/travel and then the YARD (ohh the horror )
While out of town 2 weeks ago the "Tree Man" came and cut down one big dang oak tree in the back yard -(you know he would show up the Monday I'm gone all week)and me in my "frugal" state of mind
decided I could cut and remove it myself if he could just top it and drop it---gotta save the $$$.
( I must have been smokin the dope ) Took me two full days of cutting and stacking. I still have one gargantua brush pile that needs to be chipped and the firewood is still stacked back there waiting to go to its new home.
I do have to say I have now seen the error of my ways and decided to hire out the stump removal
--I'm too tired for this crap , and it has infringed on my PJ time :angry: .

Anywho...... Nerd and I set out and painted some internals so we could get set for the final Fresnel, mirror and LCD mounting.

Nerd at his finest...He was so proud of himself
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bottom Fresnel frame
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LCD sled/frame
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Looking good!
Looks like you will have plenty of energy with all that pizza!!
J/K

Pizza Boxes --Contributions from the recycling bin---Pizza is a mandatory once a week affair at my house. I get the pizza, the wife gets the cheese bread, and Nerd gets the bread sticks. Its to the point now the Pizza place just asks when I call "you want the usual Mr. Brooks??"

Wahooo!!
I completed a successfuly AG removal on my LCD (both side mind you )
My BUTT was drawn up tighter than two cats fighting in a burlap bag .
Boy did I feel like a million bucks when that AG peeled right off so smoothly, and with no "polar bear" either.

We first covered the panel with 2 bounty paper towels soaking them with warm tap water. Then we placed a dish towel on top and soaked again with warm tap water. I folder the edges of the towel over itself to keep the water from wicking off the panel, and then covered with 2 large zip-lock bags(just laying on top) to slow the evaporation.
Waited 4 hrs... poor Nerd had to go to bed before this was completed... but so is life.
I pryed the AG edge with my trusty Swiss Army knife (MacGyvered it ). It came off smooth as butter.
I did the same for the AG on the back of the panel.

BEFORE PIC

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Nerd working his magic with the medicine dropper

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WOW look at that.... ...Nerd thought his place-mats made for a good base to strip on
"Da!! you don't put water on the table. Ma says we use these when at the table!!"
boy he cracks me up
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Here a little VIDEO of me pulling the AG off the front. The "vallie girl" (she going to smack me if she reads that) talking in the background is my trusty wife hanging on for moral support....I love that woman

Remdaddy's AG Removal

How sad is it that this is the kind of stripping video we like to see on the 'net?

Since Nerd didn't get to stay up to watch it live, did he get to see the video?

I needed a good laugh. Thanks SD

but true oh so true...



not yet. I'll let him see it when I get home.

You know I've read your signature many times, and I just now noticed that it says, "...get off the fresnels," not just, "...get the fresnels."
It's even funnier now that I know what it really says.

Brilliant dude! I love the sound of an antiglare coming off. As you probably know, I too was set up to videotape my strip and forgot. DOH!!! I think it's important that this exists so people see just how easily it really is supposed to come off. Also, glad to see others are appreciating the terrific humor in your sig line.

Well Durachko, You are the reason I even thought to record this event. I did not want to dislocate my knee trying to kick myself in the butt like you did. hehehehe

:angry: :angry: :angry:
Well crap..I think I farted it up!!
In my oh so careful building of the fresnel frames . I seem to have forgotten an important little fact that I needed to make them slightly larger than the LCD....DOLT!!! I made them all the exact same size. I just realized this when getting the fresnel lenses out to put in the frame. Hmmm oh well I needed to upgrade the frame design anyway. More time for me to play with the toys.

Let this be a lesson to the kiddies....Murphy and his Laws are out there and he's looking for all of you.

At least you can take comfort in the fact that you didn't wait to realize your mistake until after cutting the fresnels.

The viewable area of my fresnels and LCD are the same size... hope you get yours figured out.

I'm seriously jealous of that video. I should have been videotaping my experience with removing the AG. I can tell you this much: it wouldn't have been NERD-friendly.

Good Video , Congrats on a successful removal,
I just removed my antiglare about 4 minutes ago and I could have made a vid too. I came straight to the computer and checked posts and found yours. Mine was a little tougher to remove. After a 11.5 hour water soak it came off but had to pull pretty hard.
I believe it may have been where I used my lcd in my projector for about 200 hours with the heat from the light baking it on.
I am successful with it . I have got just a little glue where ever I paused removing the AG.
Now off to remove the glue residue.
btw. I have to back track some on my pj too.

Cold Steel's post makes another great point. It has been mentioned a few times that the antiglare appears to become tougher to remove after use. Mine came off so easy it was ridiculous! Just like Remdaddy's. I wonder how long it takes to bake that momma on? Suffice it to say if yer gonna strip - strip right away. Hmmm . . . I like the sound of that. Wish I had had that philosophy back in my college days at the wild parties.

Well all is not lost
thanks to Vroom's comments, I revisited my original design as to why i wanted the fresnels to be larger than the LCD.
Grumble...grumble..seems I don't remember... hmmmm.
Prob to ensure full screen coverage. but anywho. With a little "redneck engineering" (apologies to any rednecks out there ) I came up with a happy medium of increasing the fresnel size slightly without having to totally redo my frames. more on this later.

On the fresnel note. While cutting the lenses for the new PJ I thought I would do a quick rundown on cutting fresnels for any that may be a little unnerved by the operation.

#1 remember to use some basic cautions to not scratch the lens. Breathing on them will not cause them to explode so don't freak out by having to handle them (either use gloves or that little tissue paper that they come in works well too) Just don't toss them around like a block of wood. Treat them like they are made of glass and all is good.
#2 keep the lens centered---very important---so if you have 17"(inch) fresnel and a 14" frame you want to cut a total of 3"--1.5"off one side and 1.5" on the other. ( make sure when you measure for the fresnel that you leave alittle room for expansion--say 1/16th to 1/8th all the way around)
#3 use a straightedge of some sort i used a framing square with some clamps. Just make sure you pad the lens with some protective material ..I used the bag the lens came in I just slid out the end I was going to cut an leth the bag on the bottom and top under the straightedge.
#4 Use a sharp blade. I bought one of those plexi cutters from the HD---save your money. A Utility knife works better and that's what I used. Now score the lens 7 to 10 times depending on how much pressure you use (you will be able to tell when its ready-you'll feel it)

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#5 hang the cut end over an edge a press evenly on the cut end while holding down on the fresnel.

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Should come out like this

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As an ending note ---this I my humble opine as to how I did my fresnels. I'm sure some may have some other way or may even frown at my approach. It's just an FYI for those who are interested.


As a side note Nerd has an ear infection (poor guy his first) and was was not able to participate in the fresnel cutting --which is prob for the best for me and him.....and the fresnels

Hey you have a nerdascope,,, look at the "spectra"

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heheheh sorry keep seeing rainbows everywhere,, its an obsession,,

altho,, neat cutting job on fresies too

As long as you don't keep seeing this elken Click to view attachment

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,arhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

C'mon - let us in on the joke! Which one is Elken?

I am scared very scared........Durachko is that yours??

I think Nerd may have passed through his Wiggle stage......or at least I hope so. I have not found any shows lately on the Tivo to contradict this ascertation anyway. It used to be a daily affair. Of course My wife's aunt gave Nerd a Barney flick last month........ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I wear my Wiggles pin every day PROUDLY!!! You got a problem wit dat!!!??? :angry:

I'd rather watch The Wiggles instead of Barney any day. That's a real Hobson's Choice there though!

Well it rained uyesterday so no yardwork...ahhhhhhhhhh!
So it was PJ central for me yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

finished the exhaust for the light box. I'm still working some thoughts for maybe making a separate cool air intake. I'm just not sure...I would love to draw all the air across the LCD, but I'm' afraid of the lightbox fan and system fans fighting each other......hmmmmmm

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I used a piece of grey 3" PVC conduit to clamp the hose to the floor-plate.
The hose is clamped to a conduit 3" connector cap (used for bring power access to a meter/breaker box).
All parts for the HD! My toy store.


Here is a rough and I mean rough paint image of my air flow as it stands now.....any comments are always welcome.

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Seems like a lot of cooling design is ultimately determined empirically.

So, you have two fans blowing air through a space other than your lightbox and one fan blowing air through your lightbox and you're mixing those two streams and pushing it all past the LCD. Have I got that right?

I think pun just joined us and I'm sure he'll have some good advice.

You've got the air goin' the right way at least. HOT goes UP.

I'm not sure but since my air is over 100°F coming out of my lightbox I'd hesitate to use it to cool my LCD even if I were mixing in theoretically twice that amount of air and hence cooling the entire airflow.

However, off the top of my head I think this will work okay.

I'm leaning now towards trying to run my light as hot as I can without damaging anything else since I think the hotter the lamp burns the better the light I'll get.