I was just wondering if there a easy way to make a frame for the Fresnel and LCD. I don't have a lot of tools. I've got the basics circular saw, drill, and jigsaw.

thanx

wood sandwhich.. cross-section below. //// used to ilustrate the interior cutout. uses 3 or 4 slabs of wood, depending on how wide the LCd is and the wood.
_______________________________________
|_______/////////////////////////////////////________|
|____| LCD LCD LCD LCD LCD LCD LCD LCD|____|
|____|_____________________________|____|
|______//////////////////////////////////////________|

doesn't the space between the lenses and the LCD have to be dead on to look right? if not I was thinking of useing 3/4 plywood. would that be OK?

The wood sandwich idea works well.

I use the frame that the LCD comes in in the monitor, and just attatch that to a flat wood frame. That way, I know that the masking around the edges is already perfect (Assuming that the LCD manufacturer didn't screw up) and it makes for a very simple mount. Also, it's good to remember that you want airflow over the LCD, and a thick frame will prevent that.

Making the LCD frame and fresnel frame from the same piece is a reasonably simple way to ensure that they stay square in relation to one another, but it does impede your adjustability. It's a good idea to keep that in mind.

so would thins be a good way to do it?

3/4 plywood
1/8 lexan
len
3/4 plywood
LCD
len
3/4 plywood

held together by some threded rod.

3/4 ply is pretty thick.. you could get away with some 1/4 mdf. would be plenty strong, and less $

You can just use 1/4 inch wood dowels to make a slot for the fresnels and lcd to sit in.

Look at this.

That's what I'm going to do for mine. It is easy, and allows for plenty of air flow over the lcd.

Hey Phatcenter, this may sound like a dumb question but in Mikado's plog, using the dowel idea, he put a little plug in the bottom of the dowels so they sit in there real secure right? In one of the pictures it looks like his fresnel is hanging out of the bottom of the dowels.

Thanks for clearing this up
Erock

can you buy these 1/4 inch wood dowels, because there is no way that I can cut that with a cir. saw and it line up straight.

thanks for the tip.

nevermind. I didn't read. hobby lobby.

If I understand your question correctly, in order to keep the fresnels and lcd from falling below the dowels you need to put something under them to support them. I don't know what he did, but in mine I am going to use 2 pieces of the dowels stacked on eachother along the sides of the sled (perpendicular to the lcd and fresnels) to keep the fresnels and lcd up. This will give 1/2 inch of breathing room, but make sure that if you do this you tape off or block off the bottom of the lcd so that the air only can go one way and stops light leaks.

I hope you understand what I mean, it's hard to put into words...