So I took a break from projector-ing after making my first 15" standard-lens proof-of-concept with only a jigsaw and a drill to focus on the remainder of college. But now, after graduation, no more excuses. I plan to make a projector with a 17" widescreen panel (native 720p & HDCP) and pro lenses and a little more woodworking experience. I aim to make something that works well, but also looks good.

For now, here are the parts:

- Gateway FPD1775W - 1280x720 native resolution, 8ms response, 500:1 contrast ratio, and HDCP ($105 used)
- Pro Lenses (not bought yet)
- Lumenlab lamp and reflector (not bought yet)

So basically, nothing surprising or new, but I'd like to plan this out a bit before diving into building it and having to jury-rig stuff in the end like the last one (which worked pretty well, nevertheless)

I'd also like to have a fairly detailed plog, for my own benefit as well as for others.

So I'm planning to have a lightbox (or lightgate - I haven't really figured out what the difference between the terms are) - basically, a metal enclosure around the bulb with a rectangular cutout in the direction of the first fresnel in order to reduce the stray light hitting the fresnel, panel, etc. However, I want to maintain active cooling similar to the basic Lumenlab design: airflow across the panel and the bulb on the same airflow path. I realize that this would be difficult if the lightbox was completely isolated from the lenses, so I've been messing with a few designs, inspired by all the other posts on lightboxes, but any insight would be helpful.

SamuraiJack has everything you could need to know in his PLOG. HERE IS A LINK

He spent so much time on his and got it SO right! Just read through his whole PLOG. Its long, but its worth reading every single post.

Yeah, I've been steadily working my way through his PLOG for inspiration between work, meals, and sleep (and projector planning, of course)

Its worth the effort. I read through it in a night, and then re-read it about a week later. I got a lot my ideas from his work.