I have a design figured out. however, due to an ample supply of optical parts which I can use to make this thing, I have a couple of choices as far as what I can do with the optics.
here is the design, please refrain from making fun of my crude sketches:
I have wanted to make a projector that I can carry around, I plan to take it to lots of lan parties and such, so I wanted a portable design. even though most people here would probably say portable and diy projector don't mix if I said this without a sketch to prove otherwise. you may also notice that half the projector is covered with lexan xl 10 plexiglass. and yes, it was expensive stuff to acquire, but it does stand up to heat better than wood.
now why would I do this, mainly because it looks cool, the design, when completely built, will look very similar to my computer case, as most of my computer case is black with plexiglass over it with of course a plexiglass window on the side.
I am taking this a step further by having windows on two sides and the top for obvious projection reasons. in theory, this should not affect image quality unless:
A. the excess amount of light shining out of the case effects the image on the wall in the same way having the lights on in the room would.
B. some idiot shines a light of a different color through the plexiglass thus putting a colored blotch onto the image.
both of these problems can, in theory, be remedied by tinting the plexiglass, I may do this at a later time, but budget problems will prevent me from doing this off the bat. (and yes, I could paint the plexiglass black, but this would defeat the purpose of having it in the first place)
this my third design, my first one had more problems with it than advantages, the second was too long to be considered "portable". but this one has the best of both worlds, as I will be able to remove the lens and last 11 inches of this projector just by removing a couple of screws out of the side of the case, and then reattack it in the same manner (by last 11 inches, I mean the rack and pinion on top of the projector (which I snatched off a dukane 680 overhead) which holds the lens and has a mirror to reflect the image onto the wall.
now, back to the point of this forum post, I also have a 450mm four chip lens (please don't ask where I got it from) which I MIGHT be able to mount it in place of the current 320mm lens which comes with the rack and pinion. I also have three fresnels, a 220mm, 330mm, and a 500mm. I am looking for the combination which will produce the best image quality without having to redesign the damn thing.
however, I am willing to go with an unsplit design by using only one of the fresnels and expanding the length and width of the case if that will produce a better image quality. since the last 10 inches or so of the case is open anyway, I have no problem doing one or the other.
along with this, I am open to suggestions regarding the design and how it may be inproved. as well as comments and opinions about it, all of which I consider important, especially considering it is just a design, nothing has been built or fabricated yet.
thanks for any advice given,
IPCONFIG