Well here I am about to build a projector. First I would like to thank all of the people who have helped me gather info to start this project, and all of the guys at lumenlab who make this thing possible.

My goal is to build a bi-fold smaller & ligter than average psone projector that will cost less than 100$. I will be doing several of the same things that was done on the orginal mini-z- factor projector. I will post pictures as I get them. thanks and wish me luck.

The PSone project went well for me, fun build and inexpensive too! I just picked up another PSone screen to start a second build. I found the mini-z plans to be well thought out and a great help. Good Luck with your build!
BTW, Red_dog's throwing an 80" diag screen with his that I built for him.

Thanks for the encouragment.

on to the project:

Here is the list of things I have bought as of right now:

1 ps1 screen -50$ (i may ned to get another one because of some ..cough problems that I have had)
2 sheets of 1/4 in plywood 2'x2' - 2$ ea so 4$ (yes I did say 1/4 inch. I want this thing to be very light)
1 bottle of wood glue -2$
1 500 watt halogen lamp - 9$
1 composite male to female composite video cable - 4$
2 fresnel lenses at 300mm fl - 3$ea + shipping so 10$
1 10'x10" roll of flashing -8$
1 can of black spray paint -2$
1 tube of silicon calk - 3$

that brings my total up to 92$ (as you can tell with my design I will go over budget but not by that much)

what I need to buy:
2 ac 120mm ac fans (if anybody knows what type of equip normally used thes fans I would love to know in order to prevent buying them)
1 focal lens (I think I will get one off an overhead project if I can find one or but the one from LL)
1 tub of wood putty (to make the out side look really good)

With all of this I should be at around 120$ which is not that bad.

well that is what I have as of right now. I will have picture up soon.

Here are some pictures:

the lcd screen stripped.


this is the light I am using.


here is the ladle and light taken apart.


This one is the box that I built.


the next one is juat another angle.

That looks really cool! be careful with the ffc on the panel, dont bend it too much.

ok I do have some cad designs but thay look really weird because I use a 3d program and it would just be confusing to post it so I am posting a ms paint pic to explain what i am planning.


I am adding flashing, calk, paint and a few other things today and I will have pics up tonight.

Where did you get the flashing from, and what's it made of?

it is aluminum from Home Depot. I put it on to keep from burning my case.

I have calked and added flashing and painted the box today. Here are some pics.

This one shows the vent holes for the light bulb.



and here are a couple after they have been painted.



tommorow I am planning on installing the light fixture and testing it. I guess that I will need my sunglasses

Ok I have a problem. I made my plans with the LL projector lens in mind... but now I do not wish to spend that much. What are my options? From what I think I have read the distance from the 2nd fresnel needs to be the focal length of the projector lens, or do I have it turned around that the distance from the 2nd fresned needs to be the focal length of the 2nd fresnel? any help?

What section is it in? The only thing I can find are sheets like 2' x 2' for $8, but I would much rather have a roll. Also, how did you cut your wood?

It was in the roofing section, I think this stuff normally goes around chimneys with tar. I cut my wood with a very strong carpenter knife. Like I said it is only 1/4 of an inch. I started with a hand jigsaw and I messed up some because I was trying to cut over a cooler (I am moving in 2 weeks where I can have a real work bench ). With 1/4 of an inch wood it is almost imposible to use nails or screws so I used wood glue. And I will get wood putty to smooth out the crack on the outside.

Wow, you're making fast progress. Good work so far!

The lens and fresnel should have the same focal length to work, in mine I used the page magnifiers from office depot, (310mm F.L.) and the vari focal lens from LL (out of stock now) same thing with the rear fresnel. they are unsplit and the grooves face each other. You may be able to find a cheap(?) lens on E-bay, or try surplus shed. I really like the vari-focal lens, wonder when it will be back in stock?
For the flashing, I use a big sheet of aluminum from Home depot, in the duct work section. its 3' x 2' and works well, you will need a sheet metal cutter to cut it though. I just cut it to size for the parts I need to flash and its strong enough to make things like bulb holders and air deflectors. I could even make a light box out of it.
nice job on the build its going together fast, thats what I like about the small projectors, how quick one can go together. weekend build!

Ok so is it ok to have about 20mm difference in the focal length of the fresnel and projector lens? and lets say that I have 2 300mm fl fresnals can I get a peice of lexon (or whater it is called) and mount the two fresnals together on either side of the lexon to make it unsplit?

BTW I will have pics of the light mounted later on today. I almost burnt my eyes looking at it. hehe.

here are a few pics of my light. These pics were taken at 3:00pm and it was not that cloudy. This thing is bright.


and another



I can tell that heat is going to be an issue.... the glass I have in front of it is a uv sheild but it is still pretty hot on the other side. So my cooling plan is to have a intake vent on the side of the lcd screen and have a fan on the other side sucking air from the vent, then have a fan over the light with a vent hole going out the top. That way it should take cool air past the lcd screen and pass hot air over the light and up. We that is my theory anyway.



anybody given thought to this ^. I would appreciate help. I may hae some more work done today. I guess that I will just have to see.

Ok I have another question, Will an achromatic lens work? I found one at surplus shed at a good price that has a 300 mm fl, so is this an option for me?

It has been a while but I am back!!! Just to let you know what has been going on. I went to St. Agustine with my wife and in-laws for a week long vacation. It was a lot of fun. Then I got fired from my job (which Iwas already leaving so they actully just told me not to come back from vacation but the would still pay me until Oct.) So I am at my in-laws house typing this. I am moving today and I have to sign some papers at my old job tommorow, and now that I am back in the town where my in-laws live I have to do yard work for them this weekend. SO my projector must wait. :angry: but I guess I will survive.

the flood light halogen is not the best light source to use. You already found out that it is extremly hot. If you still looking for lenses then ebay a overhead projector and use the fresnel, triplet and light engine from that. Many have taken this route with very good results. Keep up the good work and keep us posted!