DIY Projector: How To Make It From Your Phone At Home? Homemade Video Projector Out Of The Box

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

On the modern market, there is an expanded range of different types of projectors, differing from each other in quality and price. It should be noted that the demand for such devices continues to grow steadily. However, the number of those who are interested in how to make a projector with their own hands is constantly increasing. Taking into account the insignificant cost of the necessary components, a homemade gadget will save money.

Tools and materials

First of all, it should be noted that a homemade device is not capable of providing ideal image quality . Of course, there are ways to improve the picture as much as possible, but you cannot count on cardinal changes. But in any case, the determining factor will be a competent selection of consumables and necessary tools. Budgetary ways to create options for a multimedia device for displaying images on a large screen include use as the basis of a smartphone or laptop.

When it comes to watching feature films, then, most likely, the quality will be quite satisfactory. To design the simplest projector on your own at home, you will need:

• painting knife or stationery;
• pencil (many recommend using construction pencils for marking);
• directly the signal source itself (pictures);
• magnifying glass (lens);
• paper clips;
• electrical tape or ordinary tape;
• cardboard box.

Naturally, this list can be changed and supplemented in each specific situation. For example, you can build a primitive homemade movie projector without installing a magnifying glass.

Manufacturing methods

Before starting work, you need to take care of the presence of the lens . It should be borne in mind that this element provides an increase in the picture, which must be at least 10 times. Otherwise, the successful result will depend solely on the quality of the image source matrix and the accuracy required when assembling the gadget.

There are several ways to make a projector, since there are various technologies that allow image transmission. They are the ones that are implemented in filmoscopes and slide demonstrators. The following are the most common options:

• slide projector - a device, the principle of operation of which is based on the transmission of a light flux through a carrier having a transparent structure;
• epiprojector functioning by reflecting rays from opaque elements;
• movie projector transferring the image from the transported film or individual slides;
• LCD devices - projectors that transmit the picture by passing light through the corresponding panel;
• DLP devices , the work of which is based on the reflection of the beam from a special chip.

The first option will be relevant for those who are interested in creating something. In this case, the easiest way to make a projector with your own hands is provided. At the same time, financial costs will be minimal, and the gadget itself will be made of a magnifying glass and a cardboard box.

Taking into account the simplicity of the design, the entire process of manufacturing a projector does not require significant time costs and any special skills. Correct positioning of the lens in relation to the image source will be key. It is also important to remember that the brightness of the picture should be maximum.

You will need to make a hole in the box to install the magnifying glass. After that, it remains to fix the lens strictly in the middle of the signal source and install the screen. As the latter, you can use a regular white sheet.

The main disadvantage of such a projector will be the minimum picture quality.

From the phone

It's no secret that modern gadgets are widely and successfully used both for communication and video exchange. This allows mobile devices to be used as an image source when creating a video projector. In theory, the operation of a projector is based on converting the signal coming from the phone's display to the desired surface using a lens. The key to this will be to create a projector enclosure that provides maximum darkening of the space. Do not forget also about the presence of mounts for the optical device and the smartphone itself.

Choosing the right magnifying glass is easy enough. It is important to take into account that the size of the lens must match the size of the signal source screen . To install a magnifier, as a rule, use the front panel of the projector cabinet. You can fix the phone itself inside a homemade device using a small box or ribs made of cardboard. It is important to remember that the phone is held upright.

To create a projector based on a record-breaking mobile device, you will need a minimum set of materials and tools. In this case, the very algorithm of actions will be as simple as possible. The device assembly algorithm provides for the following actions.

1. Select the sides of the box, the distance between which will be maximum.
2. Find and mark the middle on the side of the case, then cut a hole to fit the lens.
3. Fix the magnifying glass firmly with ordinary tape or glue. It is important to avoid them falling into the opening of the magnifying glass, which will negatively affect the quality of the picture.
4. Make mounts for the smartphone so that they do not overlap the display of the gadget.
5. Experimentally find the optimal position of the signal source in relation to the lens.
6. Make a hole in the case to lead out the smartphone charging wire.

After completing all the above operations, the projector will be ready for use. But to use it, you need to install a special application on your phone that will allow you to rotate the image 180 degrees . By the way, on some models it will be enough to deactivate the auto-rotate function and just place the device itself upside down. It is best to view videos and pictures in a dark room.

Also, a fairly high-quality holographic projector can be made from a smartphone and polymer plates. However, it is worth considering that such a homemade product will require certain financial costs. At the same time, the image quality will be poor.

Tablet and laptop based

Initially, you should focus on the fact that such devices in terms of picture quality are very different from the option described above. By the way, you can make a projector from a tablet and a laptop either in the most "humane" way while preserving the integrity of the signal sources, or by going along the path of extracting the matrix.

To create a projector based on a laptop (netbook, ultrabook), you will need the same box of the appropriate size and a large magnifying glass. By the way, Fresnel lenses and optical devices designed for full-page reading of books do a good job with the functions of the latter in such a situation. To assemble the projector, you will need to complete the following steps.

1. Make a hole on the end of the box for a magnifying glass … The dimensions of the latter should be slightly larger so that it can be properly secured along the edges.
2. Fix the lens in the housing bore with tape, electrical tape or silicone sealant . In this case, you should make sure that the future lens fits snugly to the cardboard. Otherwise, light will penetrate into the projector, which in itself will affect the quality of the broadcast image.
3. In the opposite wall of the box, make a hole for a laptop or tablet monitor so that the cardboard overlaps . This is also necessary to prevent light penetration.
4. Place the signal source upside down (the laptop keyboard will be located on the roof of the projector), taking into account the principle of flipping the picture by the lens itself.

After completing all the above steps, the projector from the laptop will be ready for use. You just need to turn it on.

From the slide viewer

Using a ready-made device for homemade products greatly simplifies the task itself. This is due to the fact that manipulations associated with the adjustment of optical devices and the corresponding effects are excluded from the process. All the necessary actions have already been implemented at the manufacturing plant. The key point will be the choice of the signal translator.

The process of making a homemade device itself is no more complicated than the options discussed above. To implement the idea, the following steps must be taken.

1. Extract matrix from gadget . At the same time, it is important to perform all actions with the utmost care so as not to damage the display, which is a fragile element, during the dismantling process.
2. Dismantle the board of the mobile device , through which will subsequently be paired with a PC or laptop as signal sources.
3. Place the matrix on the glass so that there is a 5 mm gap between them . The latter is necessary for the movement of air for the purpose of ventilation, since during the operation of the device, these surfaces will heat up.
4. Place a cooler next to the said gap for efficient cooling . Due to its low weight, this device can be easily fixed with electrical tape or double-sided tape.

At the final stage, it will only be necessary to turn on the matrix and the cooler, as well as launch the material for viewing on a computer or laptop. In fairness, it should be noted that such a projector will provide a sufficiently high quality … By the way, if you wish, you can find the most compact devices for viewing slides. And in this case we are talking about commensurability with the matrices of smartphones.

Recommendations

When creating a homemade projector in any of the ways described above, you should take into account its purpose. The main characteristics of the future multimedia device will directly depend on the features of operation. To achieve positive results, it is worth adhering to the following recommendations.

• For frequent viewing of films and other videos with the whole family or company it is better to use projectors made on the basis of a tablet or laptop .
• As described earlier, a homemade body can also be made from a cardboard box . However, plywood or MDF would be more suitable materials.
• Deserves special attention stability of the apparatus .
• When broadcasting an image to a high-positioned screen it is worthwhile to take care of the availability of an appropriate-sized projector stand taking into account the need to comply with the angular radiation.
• Maximum picture quality possible with minimal room lighting.

There are ways to improve the picture quality of a home-made projector. This involves the following steps.

1. Adjust extremely high brightness and contrast on the signal source.
2. Completely exclude the possibility of light entering the housing.
3. Paint the inner walls of the device dark. A black velvet fabric trim is ideal.

Also within the framework of the "struggle" for the quality of the picture on the screen you can pay attention to the settings of the projector itself … A little trick will help you get rid of blurry images and blur. In addition to all of the above, it is worth recalling the need to cool the matrixes of the tablet and laptop. It is also important to consider that the optimal distance from viewers to the screen is 3-4 meters.

The quality will depend not only on the level of illumination of the room, but also on the state of the screen itself.

When creating a holographic homemade projector, there are also certain nuances. Taking into account the cost of all the necessary components, it will not be superfluous to take care of the maximum cost reduction. So, for example, a pyramid can be made from CD cases. In this case, it is necessary to glue all the elements with maximum precision and accuracy.

Separately, attention should be drawn to the method of manufacturing the projector, in which the extracted matrix will be the key element. It is important to remember that we are talking about a rather fragile structural element of a laptop, tablet or smartphone . It is very easy to damage the display. Based on this, in the absence of relevant knowledge and skills, it would be most rational to choose a simpler option for creating a multimedia device. An alternative in such a situation may be to seek help from an experienced specialist who will dismantle the matrix and the board.