DIY Video Projector
DIY video projectors can be made using your existing television and your VCR. The projector will shoot the picture on the television screen up on a wall, or projector screen, making the film that you watch much larger. The project does take some time; yet, when done, you can invite your family can enjoy you homemade movie theater. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Television
- Scissors
- Utility Knife
- Cardboard
- Flat Black Spray Paint
- Duct Tape
- Pencil
- Fresnel Lens
- Wall
Instructions
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Housing Assembly
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1
Use a measuring tape to measure your TV screen. You need to measure both the height and width. You should measure only the screen, and not the entire television.
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2
Using scissors, or a utility knife, cut out four pieces of cardboard. Two of the pieces should be as long as the width measurement of your screen, while the other two pieces should be as long as the height measurement of the screen. All four pieces must also be 18 inches wide. For example, for a 15-inch wide television, your cardboard section should be 15 inches log and 18 inches wide.
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3
Use flat black spray paint and paint all four sections of the cardboard inside and out. Be sure and paint outside for the best ventilation. Allow the paint to dry.
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4
Use duct tape and tape the four pieces of cardboard together along the seams so that they form a box.
Focus Assembly Box
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5
With a measuring tape, measure the opening at one end of your housing assembly. You need to measure both height and width of the inside of the opening only.
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6
Use your scissors and cut four more pieces of cardboard. Two pieces should be the height and two pieces should be the width of the opening, while all four pieces should be nine inches wide.
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7
Paint all four pieces with flat black paint and allow to dry.
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8
Put the four pieces of cardboard together with duct tape along all the seams.
Focus Assembly Lens
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9
Measure the height and width of one of the openings of the focus assembly box. Cut out a piece of cardboard that corresponds to those measurements, with the cutout having four sides.
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10
With a pencil, draw an "X" across the face of the cardboard piece that you just cut out. Make sure you draw your lines from corner to corner.
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11
Lay a Fresnel lens in the center of the "X" and use your pencil to outline the lens on the cardboard. Cut out the circle you outlined with your scissors.
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12
Paint both sides of the cardboard with the flat black paint and allow to dry.
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13
Insert the Fresnel lens into the opening, or circle in the cardboard, then use duct tape to attach the cardboard with the lens in it to the front of the smaller of the two boxes you created.
Complete
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14
Slide the smaller box inside the larger one, so that the lens points out of one end. The internal smaller box should slide back and forth inside the larger box.
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15
Turn your television upside down. Because you must turn your TV upside down, it is wise to use a small TV for this project. The television should be approximately five feet from the wall where you will project your video while you are learning to focus.
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16
Put the open end of the larger box against the television screen and fit it against the screen as closely as possible so that no light escapes. You can use duct tape and tape the box to your television, if you prefer.
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17
Move the smaller box back and forth inside of the larger box to focus the picture on your wall. Once you have made the adjustments, you can then move the television farther back from the wall, if desired. The farther back from the wall, the larger the image on the wall will be.
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