One of the usenet posts that really got me thinking about building my own projector had a comment about getting a friend to build the box as they're a cabinet builder by trade and the end result wouldn't look like something from The Good Life

Well my first projector does look like something from The Good Life, it works but asthetically I don't feel it's good enough so now I've had my first run at building a PJ I'm going to take a second, bigger run at making one... in the form of a lifesize R2-D2! with a built in PC+DVDRom drive so it's an all-in-one unit. Will probably give it a wireless keyboard/mouse so the only wires coming out of it will be power + speaker connection (and joystick if playing games).

Looking at the size of a 1:1 R2-D2's dome it became clear I can't put the triplet lens where the front projector is (think 'help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope') because it's too small and pointing in the wrong direction however the lens sold on LL is virtually a perfect size match to artoo's 'eye', but the placement brings a problem, the body is certainly big enough to put a 15" panel setup in but it doesn't look like there's enough space in the dome for the required size mirror - so I will be using an 8" LCD panel with the standard lens setup.
The angle of artoo's eye means he'll have to be 2-legged and the legs will be pivotable so it can tilt forwards. If I can afford it I'll look into using the onboard computer to control the keystoning and focus (there are USB servo controllers available that should do the job), I don't think I'll be able to find a motor setup strong enough to tilt the whole body backward/forwards though.

Because the 8" setup won't even use half the volume of artoo it means a full-sized PC mainboard and components can be fitted inside too, placement of the pieces will be a task in itself unless I go with a mini-ITX mainboard that would be easier to fit in but 1.2ghz maximum speed.

I'm not the first to make a 1:1 R2-D2 with a projector in, I've read of someone who went the pocket tv+slide projector route and the image came out of R2's projector instead of the eye. This is certainly no overnight project and I expect I'll be taking about a year to complete it for several reasons, at the moment I'm out of money, building a 1:1 R2-D2 is no small task and building a projecter & PC and cramming that inside is going to take some serious engineering - but I'm definitely planning on carrying this through.

"Youve Taken your first step into a larger world."
May the Force be with you!

You can bet Im going to be watching this PLOG closely.
I thought I was a geek when I built a friend a Mechwarrior computer. Your ambitions are truly Jedi-Geek.
Damn Glad to know you!

http://sae.cside.com/sae/kat/pc/rx-78pc/rx-78pc.htm

This guy is the master of custom PC cases.

Gears are your friends. Little tiny motors can do big things with the right gears. It wouldn't be impossible to have him "focus" by his legs moving. You could put his little wussy front leg on a springloaded pole that would stabilize it without keeping the legs from pushing it in if need be. Gotta have the wussy front leg though.

Yay,Haku,nice to see someone finally take up "the challenge"!!
Played around with that idea for a while,but the missus said"You want a lifesize R2D2 in the lounge?*&%"£!!&*8!!!!"
Anyway,this is what I was thinking about:


Ta Da!
Worth investigating??
Height 825mm Diameter 405mm!

We have that exact trashcan here at work and just last week I was telling a guy that it would be perfect for an R2-D2 projector.

What can I say,Dergrin.Great minds...!

Thanks for the encouragement guys

It's going to have to be 2 legged for the following reason:

if I need to point the image directly forwards he has to tilt forwards (far right droid), the angle at which his eye is mounted is about 20 degrees, if I were to tilt him back and add the 3rd leg I'd have to put the screen flat on the ceiling!

Unfortunately the trashcan is 3 inches too thin, R2's dome is 18 inches in diameter. Those 3 identical droids I have (actually I have 7 but that's another story) are exactly 1:7 scale which can help visualise things, I'm planning on making a paper shape of the projector that will fit inside to get an idea of scale, along with a DVD Rom drive etc.


I did some brainstorming last night on ideas, hopefully I'll be able to get a fair bit of help on what parts & where to get them for building R2 from the R2 builders club http://www.robotbuilders.net/r2/ but introducing a full PC & projector means more ideas needed, these are what I have so far and if anyone has any feel free to contribute!

2 legged, legs turn to tilt body forward/back and can be locked in place
servo controlled keystoning and focusing
front grills are actually functional as air intakes
wireless RF mouse & keyboard
infra-red sensor in dome for remote control of DVD player, focus/keystone servos etc.
8" LCD projector assembly with vga/composite/s-video/tv (the same one Brain used for his 8" projector)
PC with 400gb drive (or 2x 250gb)
soundcard with digital out
built-in speakers for distinctive R2 whistles
heavy PSUs mounted in feet to help keep him stable - or water containers
removable dome to access internals
removable back to access internals
might require metal skeleton (including legs) to hold the weight of a PC & projector

Try this one.

http://www.kridermodels.homestead.com/home.html

http://astromech.net/Default.htm

Joe

Man,now that is taking it SERIOUSLY!
Incredible though!

Very good idea.

I went through my star wars picture books looking for things that would fit, but the only thing I found was a scimitar bomber, which is from episode 7-9

So weird! I was *just* thinking about this on the way to work today(this whole DIY projector concept has consumed me). I was thinking, "if i had the mad skillz to pull it off I would totally build an R2D2 projector and everyone at Lumenlab would love me."

If you pull this off, I'll put a picture of you in my locker(metaphorically speaking)

Oh, and when you finish it, please post a picture of your R2D2 projecting the scene of R2D2 projecting Princess Lea's video cry for help...that's gonna rock

Kinda like the Infinite Cat project:

http://www.infinitecat.com/

-J

Oh my god....
That makes my meager, boxy replica look like a cereal box prize.

I wonder what he would do with a PJ?
C3PO anyone?

I swear ta God I'll shed a tear when I see this thing come to life!

Signed, that's a cool idea.

Way back when joe built his first folded PJ someone linked to a site of a guy who had built his own R2 replica. let me see if I can dig it up...


found it:

http://members.fortunecity.de/ti4477/r2d2_e.html

Reading through some of the posts of the R2 builders mailing list/forum I'm starting to learn that accuracy of detail when building an R2-D2 bot is paramount, so much so that I gather one of the domes that an R2 builder built is actually used in the episode 3! oh and the other thing is I'm definitely in it for the long haul, some members have been in the club for years...

At the moment there's some huge Star Wars convention going on in America and one of the rooms of the place where it's being held is just for the R2 builders, apparently this is the first time since the 80s that George Lucas has attended a SW convention and he went to the R2 builders room to see the droids & talk with the owners. (that happened yesterday) see http://www.astromech.net/ for a pic & http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/...n.ap/index.html

So yeah, I had this idea before I decided on the one I am going to make. If successful, my brother in law and I may decide to upgrade the R2 unit he already built. He, for a hobby recreates all kinds of star wars stuff. He's a real genius when it comes to that. His R2 is actually semi functional. I forget what it can do though, Its been awhile. Here are some pics of it.

Any way you look at it,that is cool!!!
Seriously cool!!!

What about having the projection coming out of the top with a mirror under the "lid" to put it on the wall ala over head projection style? Then when you are not using it you could close the lid, and it's back to being a nice talking piece.

That way you could avoid having to tilt the thing forward when using it to watch a movie (unless you needed keystone correction).

If you pull this off you will win my coolest projector ever! How can it possibly get cooler than this? Good luck

agreed....I think the question "What can beat the 'haas box'?" has been answered.

i hate to think how long that astoundingly lifelike r2d2 took to make

You could make the entire "head" of R2 with a large polished mixing bowl instead of using the mirror and then have the triplet lens coming from one side. The head could then rotate to adjust for everyones keystone issues.
One better use one of those round waste baskets with the pop up top.

Just jokin.... or not.....could that somehow work?

I really hate to be the one to unearth an 8 month old thread....And I'm sorry if it angers anyone...But I really want to see someone do this project...And I actually had a small revelation as well....

As previously stated, with 3 legs r2's lense would point at too high of a usable angle...But it you were to turn his head....You can get the exact angle you want. The whole projector would also be at an off angle this way. However, all one would have to do is rotate the lcd and fresnals...Just a different form of keystoning really...
I can try to come up with a pic if no one understands what I mean....