I must be freakin nuts to start this around Christmas...

anyway as soon as the wife wakes up I am going to take a few pictures for the curious... I have drawn out the projector sides on the wood.. I am using the FPD 1520 Monitor for this one.. I am going to use the 400 watt ballast and big ass bulb again, because they are cheap.. and then I am going to use a cheap projector lens.. I am almost out of smokes and I drank the last of the Michelob last night so I will be going to the store soon .. I think I will cut the wood before the beer drinking , I had a friend of mine lose a finger that way.. And I really want my new table saw and miter saw that I am getting for christmas... I have actually talked the landlord (FRIEND) of the apts into letting me put a small wooden building outback of the apt complex.. this will be my shop that I will share with him.. Well Stick around this could get intresting.. Hey I do have a nice looking screen though

Ok I got the box amost built and this time I actually built a simpl box in box design ..Now what I am thinking is I need some way to stabalize this thing.. Where oh Where is the box in box post ???

Ok here was the old box first project ... It was a little to much and the ohp mirror was too small

Now for the new box that I am Building .. Got some work done today... and somewhat of a focusing board built ..

Ok here are some more with the focus box in front

Ok it is like 7 am here and everyone is still asleep .. I have been waiting on my monitor to arrive... Well as you may recall from my first build I had cracked the 330 frens and was still using it so I am going to take all of the parts out of the stand up box and transfer them to the new box.. This way when my new stuff comes in I will just simply transfer the old lcd and old lenses for the new ones.. My total cost so far is about $80.00 because I already have alot of other parts.. One thing I did not notice is that my newer monitor coming this week is a 350:1 and my old monitor fpd1530 is a 400:1.. Wonder what difference I am going to notice... Also I am going to try to be real careful and remove the old monitor from the mounds of tape that is holding the edge connector s to the board ...Who Knows if I remeber correctly one of the edge connectors had to be taped down hard to keep lines from showing in the projection...I do also have another monitor tha I need to go and pick up , it is a 19 inch but it has problems, my brother in law says that When he plugs it up it flickers and then goes out.. Sounds like a backlight prob to me... I will probably have it repaired and God only knows what I will do with it...You see before I got intrested in projectors I was intrested in fixing computers...

I was telling my wife yesterday why is it that she will let me spend all this money on DIY projectors , but she raises hell when I say stuff like I am just going to buy an EVO and be thru with it.. It just doesn't make since...

Word to the young folks here... I am a young 41 years old and I have been trying to figure out women for about 24 years and guess what I CAN'T ... It is Impossible.... My wife will go out and spend $300 or $400 dollars on clothes , but when I spend money on a project she freaks and the thought of me even mentioning that I want a real projecor throws her into a tantrum... Oh well If I ever figure Women out I will let you know..

We almost need a New Topic on why my wife / girlfriend hates or loves my projector project... ( More to Come on the projector real soon )

More work done I am just waiting on the monitor .. It will be here Friday... So here is what I did all day today.. It's alot.

And some more photos

And some more Build Photos

Did the Fans and the Vent System

Then I got the frens Mounted , Oh they are sp pretty when they are new until you open them up and dust gets on them.. This is going to be one bright projector everything is looking alot better. By the way the frens were labeled 317 and 220 , Nice touch Lumenlab... Man thats great it saved me some time hassleing with focal length stuff..

Ok I just did a test run with the old monitor and it works , I seem to have everything lined up .. Of course removing the old monitor from my stand up unit I tore a couple of edge connectors... I am really convinced that when the guys built all of these monitors they did not want people to open them... It's sort of like the old carb motors in cars that were easy to work on before they started putting in computer chip crap..

Now I am waiting on my new(USED) Monitor.. I am settleing on a 350:1 ( FPD 1520 ) Gateway.. Probably going to be the same LG panel only difference is this panel uses a AC/DC adaptor..

My box in box focusing mech works pretty good but at times it seems it will be a little caddy wampus..... I am thinking about putting drawer slides on it ( on the sides ) and then adjust it when I get it set and then use the trusty black duct tape... Man I will be so glad when I get my shop and tools for christmas...

Or I could just wait for the EVO to go on sale FOR CHRISTMAS... ( PLEASE ) I will pay 399.00 But any way if not I guess I would settle for the Oxpro Knock off....on Ebay for 379.00 + free Shipping and an extra bulb... Only thing is I believe the Evo has better specs..

Well back to my projector project #2

As a quick reference .. I lined up my frens lenses and lcd this way... I cut out cardboard templates the same size as the frens and lcd and then measured the center of each then built the actual frames and then centered the lens according to what I drew on the cardboard.. One thing wierd though is the center of the bulb, lens, frens and lcd are all lined up but slightly to the left of the box.. So I just used a laser to get the center of my triplet hole... Thank god for a laser level .. I got mine for 5.99 at walgreens .. it has a tape measure with cm and inches built in .. really nice but dont forget to get the aaa batteries for it because they are not included

Got the stand built and got the projector painted and I am still waiting on UPS... for the monitor... Damn UPS they are so slow .. I am just saying that because when I am just about to freak out and get pissed , they usually show up.. Just sitting here waiting watching the 56 inch big screen , watching The Marine in HDTV... Got to love the picture and the Surround sound.... Still ready to get the projector going again.. The old one lasted 3 months and is now been gutted and toasted.. Wonder what my chances are of a succesful strip on the FPD 1520.. Today.. ???

Damn Damn The monitor list is wrong I think... Gateway FPD1520 Has an ffc issue I think.. Going to take a photo when I get home and get with lumenlab for an extension I hope these things are cheap.. I bought this monitor because it says compatiable....

Ok here we go .. I hooked up the monitor and nothing .. Then I just did get the fpc /ffc hooked and boom the whole screen works so I need an extension. Someone else had this prob. The lcd is a hyundai HT15X13-200.. They said it was a 20 pin.. ???????Anyhoo my fpc/ffc measure exactly 1 centimeter wide. Ok I am wondering Where I am I going to get this quick.. I saw the kit on diy beamer for like 13.00 and 4.00 shipping but that seems high for plastic coated wire. HELP>>>> Also How do I ad the FPD 1520 Gateway that says it has no FFC issues in the compatiable list to say that if it is 2002 apr model then it does have 1 issue... I need the extension though.. because the monitor does work... so lets talk anybody got one of these laying around.. ?

http://www.diy-beamer.com/EN/store/comersu...sp?idProduct=89

Ok I ordered my FFC and PCB Board from diy beamer today .. Sat. Dec 1 ,2007 .. I am a little sceptical because the kit was like 27.00 US.. Sort of fraked me out when I saw it on paypal.. However I did gie them the model number off of the lcd.. Well I am not sure where this is coming from but it is not being shipped from america thats for sure.. So this gives me time to perfect the way my lenses will mount and the way my lcd will mount .. Also I really hope this works.. I also went thru this projector argument with my wife again last night ..She says NO to me ordering a EVO .. But now so far on my projector projects I have spent almost 500.00 US Dollars..... Anyone ever use DIY BEAMER and if so how fast do they ship and how accurate are they when you give them monitor model numbers and LCD part numbers when ordering ffc extenders..

Ok here we go now that I have some time to perfect the focusing mech.. a little better while I am waiting on my ffc extender stuff. Lets see what I can do here I will take some photos very shortly.... Probably this evening..

Ok here is the ffc issue on the gateway FPD 1520.

Well anyway I got some more done ... Over having to take out the trash and my wife bug me with stuff all day.. Do this, Do that, Go here Go there... this is one of the two fans I have one in the back and one on the side blowing air across the lcd.

I put the controler in and wired it then I mounted part of the monitor push buttons on the outside.

Ok here is some more stuff...

And a couple more ... and then I will take some more of the new projector stand and the unit itself including the lcd stripped and mounted...

Ok here are the computer's that are connected thru wirless router with speed booster and over 1Terabit of movies... also a 500 gig external hard drive..
Main computer has a fx 5200 nvidia graphics card and a win tv to go card... both computers have 2 gigs of ram memory a total of 4 250 gig hard drives ...

Here is the other computer , and the external HD

Also I built a Stand that goes behind the bed to hold the projector at exactly the right hieght for the screen .. Thanks to my laser level.

Now some of the enclosure itself Its yellow /gold to blend in with the room..

And some more , Including an under the hood shot.. the LCD is not installed yet still waiting on the ffc extension....

Sorry the photos are a little fuzzy my battery in my camera needs recharging... More to come soon I hope...

Well as fate would have it I have to work this morning.... If you may be wondering I own my own Fire Equipment Company and Restaurant Vent Hood Cleaning Company...I work about 3 days a week , about 15 hours total per week... This has mad me very lazy.. But it gives me time to work on my DIY stuff.
I started to fiddle with the projector this morning at about 5 am.. to figure out a better focusing mech than the box thing but then I remembered my last projector and how I fiddled with it to much and cracked a frens so I stopped ..

I amgoing to wait on the ffc connector and extension..

I have learned though that even though a monitor is on the compatible list , be very careful... I think companys use the lowest bidder when buying there lcds fo there monitors..

Tonight I am going to go thru the kitchen cabinets and drawers to find a better focusing mech.. What will I find .. I am thinking about coffee cans , soup cans , and all kind of cans , hang around this could be fun, or this could be at least interesting..

Ok I am going to take some pictures as I am working on the coffee can focusing mech... I had to make a holder for the lens so it would fit mid ways into the coffee can.. ( I used a 16 oz maxwell house can...) The glue is drying on the trim ring .. if this does not work I can always take the lens out.. Well This going to be neat/ I mesured the coffee can and it is a 4 inch diameter.. so this should work .. Tommorrow when the glue dries I will build the front of the box and the Holders and line everything up again.. So until then .. I will get pics tommorrow..

I have come up with the coffee can focusing mech

And Some More and some of the box

And some more ( looking down the Barrel )

Ok today I have recut the frens frames so that I can cut them a little more square.. Had to go to the store and buy a straight edge... Now I have noticed the light center is a little off.. When I look down the lenses I can see the center of the bulb is slightly high.. so this means I have to raise the bulb just a little.. This will be easy once the bulb cools down.. I am thinking about trying a all in one ballast and the lumenlab bulb because the bulb will be smaller and I believe the regular big bulbs are not quite as brite as the lumenlab bulbs .. but the bulb and ballast will have to wait till after christmas.. Now for christmas I have asked for a evo to put in the bedroom but the wife says no way.. So once again after 41 years I still don't get what I want...Where is Santa Claus when you need him...

Hey PC,

How come you didn't do the shower drain focus ring? It works great!

Good build so far!!

Spank

Well I am off to the hardware store to play with some ideas.. I need some weather stripping and some hinges and a latch..But first I really have to go get some coffee, THe older I get the harder it is for me to wake up...I must have more and more caffine...

Just checking in .. I did some more lens straightening and painting and wiring .. I also won a couple of things on ebay one is a nvdia card and one is a old infocus projector with no bulb.. Ha ha what was I thinking damn Bid Button... Anyway My extinsion was mailed on the 3rd from diy beamer .. I got a reciept confirmation and now I am waiting... his will probably take a month to get here.. I checked our local electronic shop and they said what .... what is a ffc extension , what is a ffc and what does it look like..... OMG... I thought I was the dumb electronics guy... Well welcome to Mississippi Electronics.. Maybe if I would have just asked for a transistor radio they would have figured it out...

This dude freaks me out talkin about the epson projector... THIS IS WHY I AM BUILDING A DIY.... Because of the lumens check him out


HERE IT IS

Ok I got in touch with beamer and I have to wait about another 4 days on my extension.. No big prob , but Now I have been looking at my mounting of the frens lenses and the mount where the lcd will go and I just don't like it.. I am thinking about pulling out the 2 frens lenses and running a set of 4 threaded rods from the frame of the lexan and then running them all the way to the front frens frame to hold everything in place... I also came up with a cheap solution if I decide to have some really nice frames made for the frenses instead of hardboard.. Hobby Lobby here in Mississsippi can make frames with a 2 inch over hang on the sides and a 1 inch on the top , for about 12.00 each...

I have also become a little scarred of gluing stuff everywhere because my last projector did not have much adjustment for anything so I am trying to cut everything as close to square as possible..

I also wonder about lumens, my father in law has a light meter ( he is a photographer sort of ) I am going to borrow it when this projector #2 is done just to see what I can expect.. Anyways he was saying that he was intrested in this kind of project and that he might want to build one ... This would be great for me too because he has a great shop... ( power tools for days) There is one unfortunate set back on this whole thing ( I AM MARRIED ) you all know what I mean... My wife says that is it... makes me wonder if the caveman that invented the wheel would have been married we probably wouldn't be driving....

It is 5 a.m. in the morning on a monday and I still dont know why I am awake.. I think its because of this damn cold.. I had fever yesterday and all I felt like doing was watching football.. I did however manage to get the projector mounted on its homemade shelf.. Well according to Beamer this is the dlivery week.. I have been considering a few changes to the box , but I have to go out of town this week on business.. I really want my power and fan switch on the front or side of the unit .. I would also like to run my wires a little different.. Anyway time will tell. as we speak the projector is mounted on its stand over the bed awaiting the lcd extension...

Ok I got my stuff from beamer and everything works.. I will have screen shots later.. I am having a little trouble with the adjustments.. Even though I measured and lined everything up I believe that my box is not sitting flat on my homemade stand.. I am having a slight side to side height difference.. It looks like the left side is taller than the right side.. I can fix this by moveing the front frens just alittle to make the picture square but I really should not have to since this is a straight box design.. I will probably buy a premade shelf to hold this unit that way I will know it is sitting flat.. More on this tommorrow .. I have alot of cleaning up to do..

What did I do.. I measured everything just perfect.. correct me if I am wrong there should be no need to adjust the front frens on a straight box desing when it is aimed directly in the center of the screen... Now whats next.. Well for one my shelf unit to hold the projector up was not the right height... I have no idea how that happened I measured the thing about 15 times.....I think it is the shelf I built for the projector, it has a slight side to side movement , this makes it very hard to line up the screen.. I think I am just going to buy a shelf for it tommorrow.. Since I cant seem to build one worth a crap..
I also noticed while watching the Saints beat the crap out of Atlanta that I have a bit of a dark edges problem.. This could be because my coffee can may not be letting enough light thru to the triplet. I also thought about mounting a shelf behind the bed , then putting an adjustable foot under the front of the projector to lift it up to the center of the screen , but then of course I will be playing with keystoning again.. So tommorrow we get the shelf at home depot.. It has to be exactly 56 inches high and believe it or not they have one exactly 56 inches high now thats lucky.. next is the 4 inch round coffee can wide enough a round to let all the light get to the triplet ? also the other big question is How will I mount this thing ... More tommorrow I am Sick and Tired...

Ok if this makes sense.. I believe what has happened is that I had everything lined up and then as I modified the frames to fit around the monitor pc boards and such I have somehow not made a good center all the way thru.. I remember before puting in the lcd I was able to look down the barrel of the triplet , with the frenses in place and see the center of the bulb just perfect and clear.. I went back and did some measuring and however it turned out my box is not straight.. 1 side of my box is a 1/16 of an inch off ... Well it might be time for me to buy a pair of glasses .. I still believe that once I clean the trash up from behind the bed and buy a sturdy shelf for a stand I may be able to fix this problem ..
A few measurments for reference from the light going to rear frens 218 mm then from the rear frens to the lcd roughly 320 mm then lcd to front frens almost flush with lcd frame maybe about a centimeter and the from front frens to triplet 317mm adjustable +/- 2.5 inches.. The trick is that starting from the rear of the projector some measurments were off by a 1/16 of an inch on one side..
Another thing I noticed was that I don't really like the frens frames I made.. they are a little flimsy and they have already caused my rear frens to bow a little.. I am also a little upset with the overall size of this box and location but I will have to live .. as far as the money I have spent on this project as of today I could have purchased the evo and about 2 extra bulbs... I think my best bet at this point is to remove all the frames , including the lcd and start over with the measurments.....

Next Question while I wait for home depot to open .. On my first projector that was standing upright I could look at where the light source was and figure where to mount my triplet.. In my new straight box design I am not getting a perfect point of light at my triplet.. I probably need to make my lcd frame solid and sturdy and then slowly move the rear frens and front frens to line things up... or hey I could just build another box again.. Just noticed I won a kds 15 inch monitor for 22.00 ... anyone stripped a kds...

Complaint or prob #2 ... Colors are a little dull, and sill having the focusing prob... I have adjusted the nvidia card the best I can I think but I have a new one on the way from ebay so maybe this will be better.. The nvidia I have now is a fx5200 128mb , the one that I won on ebay is a 7300 256mb.. Will have to see.

Ok the projector works , lcd works great.. A little trouble with the zif connector crap.... anyhow it works I just cant turn the monitor off or I will have to play with the zif connector to get the monitor working again. Now I am going to have to take everything out from the lexan foward and re align... I think my 220mm lens is to far away from the monitor because I get a real bright center spot and I also get real dark around the edges , then again it could be the focusing mech... I can see the whole screen its just brighter in the center and darker as it goes out to the edges.. I am also having a little trouble with the picture not being real colorful... Also the bulb when centered ( hotspots bad ) but when off center picture looks good just not real clear , almost cloudy.. IDEAS PLEASE>>>

Ok after putting on my thinking cap I came up with some things that me be causing me trouble.. I took the coffee can idea and tossed it.. I replaced it with a 4inch by 3 inch pvc adapter.. I forgot to remove the mounts at the front inside of the projector this is causing the actual front of the projector , where the center of light is to be closer to the 330 mm frens than it should be , therefore I dont think I am catching all of the light to go into the triplet.. So 1 st thing I am going to remove the front of the projector box and cut a new one fitted with the new 4x3 pvc adapter... Then the 2 inch adapter should slide into it nicely and have about 2 inches +/- focusing as planned..

I am also afraid that when measuring for my frenses I measured from the back of the box instead of the center point of the light , and the center part of the triplet.. which this should make a real big difference.. Now as bad as I hate to do this I am going to remove both frenses and the lcd and start form the bulb and work foward... So from the center of the bulb we are going to go at 220mm (22cm) foward in the box... Then from the center of the triplet we are going back 317mm ... then the lcd .... More to come .. I did take some rather nice looking sceen shots however since things were not ined up to good they were not very bright and a little distorted.. lol

crap A** Piece of SH**.. Damn Junk... Zif Connectors and flat cables who the hell came up with this mickey mouse junk... I not only managed to mess up my 18.00 cable from beamer but I actually broke the whole zif connector off of the board.... Now the good news ... I still have the connector to connector fitting and I didnt break any edge connectors .. I just screwed up everything else... DAMN

Monitor number 2 ( says no ffc issues in the compatialbe monitor list... of course the way my luck goes ....... Well here are the specs
Dell 15-Inch 1504FP TFT LCD Monitor


General Features:
Ultra Sharp display
15" Flat Panel LCD
15" viewable image size
.297 mm pixel pitch
25 ms typical response time
1600 x 1200 @ 60 Hz Optima Preset Resolution
250 nits Brightness
400:1 contrast ratio
Horizontal Viewing Angle: Typical +/- 80
Horizontal Scan Range: 31 - 80 kHz
Vertical Scan Range: 60 - 75 Hz
Panel Pivot Rotation
Connectors: 15-pin Analog RGB and Digital DVI-D