The Photonbrush II
Index and Timeline
complete in less than a week!
06-08-07 - Ordered 10.6" panel from the US
13-08-07 - Panel arrived, panel stripped, reflective layer removed, lcd slide fabricated, box laid out and planned
14-08-07 - Old box dismantled, top and bottom cut, slides routed, holes drilled
15-08-07 - aluminium sides cut, everything painted, wiring completed
16-08-07 - lenses cut to size, sides attached, test slide, projector working
17-08-07 - tuning and calibration
18-08-07 - enjoyment and documentation
19-08-07 - documentation and tuning
Photonbrush I
http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15940
Photo Gallery
http://picasaweb.google.com/plurch/Photonbrush
http://www.awam.com.au/photonbrush2
Design
LCD - Samsung 10.6" - lumenlab forums johnzo1995
Controller - MST - lumenlab forums johnzo1995
Frensels - 220/650, 0.5 pitch -
Lamp - Osram HCI-TS 150W/942 NDL PB - PJ White
Ballast - Generic 150W - PJ White
Current Status
Complete
Tuning
Awaiting precon
Need to make a stand
Full Version: Photonbrush 2
Finished Assembly
Screenshots?
coming soon! -just painting the screen to 16:9
wtf, you didn't make that you bought it! that's real nice.
thanks, it has turned out pretty well. The hall of fame projs should be revised, lol.
This was all the design and planning that I did, 1 days worth...
My last one took me weeks to finalize in SolidEdge.
This was all the design and planning that I did, 1 days worth...
My last one took me weeks to finalize in SolidEdge.
These are some quick shots of the image. I wasn't going to bother until my new screen had been painted for a few reasons. 1) The pictures NEVER look like they do in real life. 2) You would expect a 10.6" with pro lenses to be pretty much perfect.
The pro lenses on such a small panel leave a huge tolerance for error. You can actually move the triplet around to position the image with minimal quality loss if desired.
Anyway, here are some QUICK screenshots to wet everyone's appetite.
The wall is only painted to 6:4 with grey bars where the 16:9 extends to.
With lights on
Lights off
The pro lenses on such a small panel leave a huge tolerance for error. You can actually move the triplet around to position the image with minimal quality loss if desired.
Anyway, here are some QUICK screenshots to wet everyone's appetite.
The wall is only painted to 6:4 with grey bars where the 16:9 extends to.
With lights on
Lights off
Some vista backgrounds
...and Top Gear
...and Top Gear
The Image Quality
Its really quite outstanding. Significantly better than my 17" ever was and much easier to tune as well.
Focus and sharpness is perfect.
However
The antiglare on the 10.6 panel is still on the front (lamp side) of the panel. I think if this was removed it would improve clarity even further, I can see pixels on the screen if I stand really close at this point but I think if I removed the AG I would be able to see the individual colours of the pixels.
The brightness also leaves a bit to be desired. When its dark the colours are very vibrant and clear but they just are not as bright as I was used to in my 17"er. I'm hopefully getting my hands on a precon this week to add into the mix. With this small panel and wide light cone I am expecting a significant improvement with the precon.
Mounting the Proj
I worked on mounting the projector today and have come up with a neat looking solution that involves some straps and holes. Its a system that is completely removable if I decide to make it a table top system in future. Ill post some pictures and diagrams of it soon.
Other inputs
The AV works awesomely and is very easy to switch across. I still haven't sorted out the IR receiver yet but despite this the buttons on top work really well. I haven't tried component yet but both the HDMI ps3 and AV wii worked like a charm. I dreamed of such functionality with my old panel.
Painting the screen
I think I made the mistake today of painting the screen with a high gloss paint. Its super reflective, too reflective, I am getting serious hot spotting. The paint hasn't dried yet so I'm hoping that it might dry flatter but I think Ill have to go over it with a flatter ceiling paint if it doesn't improve.
Its really quite outstanding. Significantly better than my 17" ever was and much easier to tune as well.
Focus and sharpness is perfect.
However
The antiglare on the 10.6 panel is still on the front (lamp side) of the panel. I think if this was removed it would improve clarity even further, I can see pixels on the screen if I stand really close at this point but I think if I removed the AG I would be able to see the individual colours of the pixels.
The brightness also leaves a bit to be desired. When its dark the colours are very vibrant and clear but they just are not as bright as I was used to in my 17"er. I'm hopefully getting my hands on a precon this week to add into the mix. With this small panel and wide light cone I am expecting a significant improvement with the precon.
Mounting the Proj
I worked on mounting the projector today and have come up with a neat looking solution that involves some straps and holes. Its a system that is completely removable if I decide to make it a table top system in future. Ill post some pictures and diagrams of it soon.
Other inputs
The AV works awesomely and is very easy to switch across. I still haven't sorted out the IR receiver yet but despite this the buttons on top work really well. I haven't tried component yet but both the HDMI ps3 and AV wii worked like a charm. I dreamed of such functionality with my old panel.
Painting the screen
I think I made the mistake today of painting the screen with a high gloss paint. Its super reflective, too reflective, I am getting serious hot spotting. The paint hasn't dried yet so I'm hoping that it might dry flatter but I think Ill have to go over it with a flatter ceiling paint if it doesn't improve.
Congratulations on such a nice looking build! I was thinking about this shape for the housing also - like an elongated "haas" style to accommodate the long throw of the Pro lenses.
Paint always dries flatter than when it's wet. Let us know how it comes out in the end!
Paint always dries flatter than when it's wet. Let us know how it comes out in the end!
Things I learned from my last projector
Cutting frensels
This time I used an angle grinder with a thin blade. This was quick and easy and didnt seem like it would crack the plastic at any stage. I used to do them by scoring them ~30 times then cracking them but it was always messy and last time I didn't have a dremel.
Cooling
Flow through ventilation is a must. I thought about cooling much more this time and put the ballast on the side where the aluminium would act as a heat sink. The air also flows past the LCD now.
Antiglare Stripping
Fools rush in
Fabrication
Having all the tools makes everything 100x easier. The bench saw is a MUST for getting straight nice looking cuts. I used a air nibbler to cut the aluminium, router to cut the slots, hand saw to cut the frensel/lcd grooves, dremel to shape the holes.
There is a great auger bit you can get to make really nice round holes. It expands from 40-150mm and is typically used for cutting door handle holes. I recommend one of these over hole saws which just tend to start messy fires.
Cutting frensels
This time I used an angle grinder with a thin blade. This was quick and easy and didnt seem like it would crack the plastic at any stage. I used to do them by scoring them ~30 times then cracking them but it was always messy and last time I didn't have a dremel.
Cooling
Flow through ventilation is a must. I thought about cooling much more this time and put the ballast on the side where the aluminium would act as a heat sink. The air also flows past the LCD now.
Antiglare Stripping
Fools rush in
Fabrication
Having all the tools makes everything 100x easier. The bench saw is a MUST for getting straight nice looking cuts. I used a air nibbler to cut the aluminium, router to cut the slots, hand saw to cut the frensel/lcd grooves, dremel to shape the holes.
There is a great auger bit you can get to make really nice round holes. It expands from 40-150mm and is typically used for cutting door handle holes. I recommend one of these over hole saws which just tend to start messy fires.
Great job, I really like your design.
Painting the Wall
Yesterday I painted my screen with enamel high gloss white. Big mistake, the hot spot was terrible so I decided to try some other paints. The old paint is the base for the following pictures.
Three contestants
Flat white ceiling paint - very little sheen, this is what was previously used for the old screen
A white paint that turned out to be not so white. It is an exterior gloss that still had too much sheen but less than the high gloss (obviously).
The timber white - this is actually pretty good. Its water based but claims to have a fair bit of oil in it. Its shiny but not so much that it hot spots.
I have painted a 16:10 of this and will take some shots tonight.
Yesterday I painted my screen with enamel high gloss white. Big mistake, the hot spot was terrible so I decided to try some other paints. The old paint is the base for the following pictures.
Three contestants
Flat white ceiling paint - very little sheen, this is what was previously used for the old screen
A white paint that turned out to be not so white. It is an exterior gloss that still had too much sheen but less than the high gloss (obviously).
The timber white - this is actually pretty good. Its water based but claims to have a fair bit of oil in it. Its shiny but not so much that it hot spots.
I have painted a 16:10 of this and will take some shots tonight.
Initial Precon Results
This is just holding the lens in front of the lamp without actually moving the lamp yet at all.
Fantastic results so far!
This is using a Canon A80 in manual mode set to 0.4" and F3.5 for both images.
This is just holding the lens in front of the lamp without actually moving the lamp yet at all.
Fantastic results so far!
This is using a Canon A80 in manual mode set to 0.4" and F3.5 for both images.
QUOTE (awam @ Aug 20 2007, 07:51 AM) 
Things I learned from my last projector
There is a great auger bit you can get to make really nice round holes. It expands from 40-150mm and is typically used for cutting door handle holes. I recommend one of these over hole saws which just tend to start messy fires.
There is a great auger bit you can get to make really nice round holes. It expands from 40-150mm and is typically used for cutting door handle holes. I recommend one of these over hole saws which just tend to start messy fires.
Can you post more info, picture, link for this drill bit? I've been looking for something like it.
Thanks
QUOTE (Sinner7 @ Aug 21 2007, 02:54 PM)
Can you post more info, picture, link for this drill bit? I've been looking for something like it.
Thanks
Thanks
design looks very cool good job
Oh man, i should really update this! You should see my picture now. It's pretty awesome, i have repainted the wall and made the off screen a dark blue and the precon is well dialed in.
QUOTE (awam @ Nov 26 2007, 11:29 PM)
Oh man, i should really update this! You should see my picture now. It's pretty awesome, i have repainted the wall and made the off screen a dark blue and the precon is well dialed in.
So lets see it man, I'm a picture hungry newbie. It does look great!
some photos from tonight
showing the even brightness thanks to a properly tuned precon (the smudge in the left hand top is from my punching bag mount)
showing the even brightness thanks to a properly tuned precon (the smudge in the left hand top is from my punching bag mount)
I love the focus on this thing. You can always tell when someone is working on on their second or third build. Things just keep getting better.
Well done!!!
Well done!!!
Just Awesome, the best pj on a 150w lamp i ever see. incredible shots.
This comes perfect for me because thats exactly i wanted to do on mine.
keep it up. good build.
This comes perfect for me because thats exactly i wanted to do on mine.
keep it up. good build.
Wow!
Your PJ looks sweet! I used the same size Fresnels as you with a 18" Bessler too. Mine is folded, but I've always thought about going horizontal when my Theater room is finished.
By the way, could you show some pictures of the mounting of the PJ to the cieling please?
Cheers!
Fulcrum
Your PJ looks sweet! I used the same size Fresnels as you with a 18" Bessler too. Mine is folded, but I've always thought about going horizontal when my Theater room is finished.
By the way, could you show some pictures of the mounting of the PJ to the cieling please?
Cheers!
Fulcrum
QUOTE (Fulcrum @ Jan 30 2009, 08:55 AM)
Wow!
Your PJ looks sweet! I used the same size Fresnels as you with a 18" Bessler too. Mine is folded, but I've always thought about going horizontal when my Theater room is finished.
By the way, could you show some pictures of the mounting of the PJ to the cieling please?
Cheers!
Fulcrum
Your PJ looks sweet! I used the same size Fresnels as you with a 18" Bessler too. Mine is folded, but I've always thought about going horizontal when my Theater room is finished.
By the way, could you show some pictures of the mounting of the PJ to the cieling please?
Cheers!
Fulcrum
Just to give you a heads up I remember seeing this projector in the trading post a while ago...so he may not be around anymore... of course I have no idea just thought I would mention it.
awam does mention in Post #22 that he was selling it (the Trading Post listing has disappeared, though).
He was last seen on the LL forum on 18th October 2008 - so I doubt he's still around.
He was last seen on the LL forum on 18th October 2008 - so I doubt he's still around.
QUOTE (Quasi_Mojo @ Jan 31 2009, 07:52 AM)
awam does mention in Post #22 that he was selling it (the Trading Post listing has disappeared, though).
He was last seen on the LL forum on 18th October 2008 - so I doubt he's still around.
He was last seen on the LL forum on 18th October 2008 - so I doubt he's still around.
I bought this projector from him and have enjoyed using it thus far.
QUOTE (SuntoryTimes @ Jan 31 2009, 09:04 AM)
I bought this projector from him and have enjoyed using it thus far.
can you tell us with condenser you used, where you got it and how you positioned it? which do you recommend for 15.4 lcd and 330mm fresnel?
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