So I'm getting close to finishing up my second projector (that actually works) and I thought I'd splash some pictures up here in case anyone was interested.
This projector will use a 150W bulb, 10.6" LCD, and the standard triplet.
My first projector used the LL 400W bulb, 14.1" LCD, and Beseler 18" triplet. It works well, but it's ridiculously huge, and a 400W bulb doesn't go well with a Florida summer. Also, I screwed up the polarizer when I stripped the AG, so there's strange marks all over the screen.
I'm hoping I can shrink everything down, still maintain a similar level of brightness, and improve the picture quality.
One thing I can rarely do is line things up perfectly the first time, so I needed a way to make things adjustable. I started with the bulb.
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It's a 150W single ended ceramic bulb. You'll notice a metal base attached to it - this is where the adjustability I was rambling on about comes in.
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On the bottom of the bulb is a magnet that I took out of a computer hard drive. These are small but incredibly powerful magnets, and when they are placed on a metal plate will allow me to make minor adjustments to the bulb's position. I can move it forward and backward, left and right. The magnet is strong enough that the bulb won't move once I've got it where I want it.
The magnet is attached to the base with JB Weld, and the whole contraption is made out of metal flashing with a piece of square aluminum for a spacer.