DIY Multimedia LED Projector (video manual)

Step 4 Mounting the Condenser Lens

 
The condenser lens will help to project the light further and also will help to avoid loss of light.

1.- The condenser lens I used is from a car, so it has some sort of border around. I used some rigid copper wire to hold it in place.

2.- Use some electrical tape to hold the condenser lens to whatever you're going to use to separate it from the LED.

3.- Use the pliers and some more copper wire to fix the lens to the heat sink.

4.- Give it a try with your bench power supply (Don't have one yet? See here to make your own)


Here is the video of how I've done it.

Comments

[psieradzki]

Hello,

This is a GREAT instructable and I am making headway. I have two questions for you:

1. I am thinking about using a halogen bulb from a worklight from Home Depot. Given that these are flat, tube-shaped bulbs, do I still need a condenser lens? I think that in addition, I will have to place a mirror behind this bulb in order to reflect the 360 degree light onto the LCD.

2. How do I get my hands on the "twin fresnel" lens you have going? Can I just buy two fresnel lenses of the exact same size on ebay? One before the lcd and one after?

I appreciate your help.

[bittda]

Which led did you use? 10w or 30 w?

[gtoal]

With the death of analog photography, there must be a lot of old photo enlargers on the scrap market now. Every one has a condensor. Actually, you might be able to reuse the lens as well - I wonder what the furthest focus distance possible is for a photographic enlarger... All you'd need to do is put the LCD where the film normally goes (lots of room there as it is in a removable holder) and replace the light source with a LED.

[aekara]

what about this?


http://cgi.ebay.com/45mm-Lens-Reflector-Base-20-50W-LED-Lamp-Blub-/270584450944?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f00170f80 

[newtonn2]

I like it! it looks very good.

[aekara]

ok i am going to buy it

i am going to post some pictures when i finish the projector

[Ngdbud]

Same question as speedfreak, Is this step really necessary? All it does is direct light towards the Fresnel lens, right? Without a condenser I should get a better light spread from the LED and save space for an "in-line" design without mirrors. Could a simple flashlight type reflector guide the light? Or maybe a reflective coating in the rear compartment (between the light and screen in my linear design)? I've only ordered the 20W LED so far. Once I get the rest of the components I'll try a few different things and let you know how it goes.

[speedfreak007]

 is the condensor really necessary? and can someone confirm if we can use the one from dealextreme:  www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12834 ?

what focal length should it be? should it "match" with the fresnel? (they are about 310 mm if you use an ohp fresnel)


thx!

[Rascafr]

 Hi, what's the size of your Condenser lens, please ?

[oli1122]

 it looks to be the same as my condenser so 1" radius or 2" diameter.
 

[Rascafr]

Ok, thank you very much, do you think this model may be appropriate ? ( Just a little bit under 2" diameter ; www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12834 )

Hum, another question (more for Newtonn2), is it normal for the LED heats at the "white square", even with use of a 90mm heatsink? (It comes from an Intel E5300)

Only this part gets hot, the rest of the LED (metal part) remains cold, and I wanted to know if you have the same "problem" than me;)

Here is a picture of the LED if you don't understand me ;)

[sreenvas]

than you for tr answer.  I will surely ask for help whenI get all the components

[sreenvas]

how to save ypur video tutorials to my computer? Please inform

[newtonn2]

 Sorry that option is not available.

[sreenvas]

If that is enabled it  would be very easy to grasp the procedure of building the project

[newtonn2]

 The reason I make this Instructable public is because I want other people to make the same projector. I know you may be just want to have the videos for yourself, but I know there is a lot of people out there that like to still other people work and claim that they done it. That's why I would not like people downloading my videos and passing then.  I think in this page you can see every single video and comments about the process, so I don't understand how having the videos will make any difference.

Sorry about that. If you need any help on the making of you projector, just let me know.

[mcastles]

Ya why have copies if anybody can look at them through Youtube anyway. Thats why I never download them.

[poweroflight]

Is a condenser lens the same thing as the lens from a magnifying glass.  or is the lens from a magnifying glass the same thing as a fresnal lens?

[newtonn2]

 
the condenser LENS is some sort of magnifying glass, the fresnel lens is also like a magnifying glass, but nether of them works exactly as a magnifying glass, and can't be replace for a magnifying glass ether.

[martijnNL]

Which size is yours?
Can I use this one?: cgi.ebay.com/CONDENSOR-LENS-NEW-60-150mm-LEITZ-PROJECTOR-Nr-37224_W0QQitemZ150406832178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Lenses

[KcPower]

Where did you find the Condenser Lens?

[newtonn2]

 It came from a car headlight.