Almost Professional VR Goggles - Very Cheap (less Then 10$)

Few months ago I was looking for some models to print VR goggles (opendive and similar) beacuse cardboard is not good enough for me. I just wanted something more "professional" and cheap. None of models i find was satisfying for me - to big, to small, to ugly, not compact enough, etc. So i decided to design and print my own goggles, and eliminate this problems. In this instructable , I'll show You how to do quite decent Virtual Reality Headset. It cost me something about 10$ or even less (without smartphone). It is first beta version - i dont have all photos from making it. Now im working on second version with photos wit all steps. The best part of it, is lenses. I surprised how great they are (and so cheap).

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS I SOLVED IN THIS VERSION:

1. In main body I add a separating wall between left and right eye to prevent cross-viewing.

2. Distance of lens from eye and screen - I made very simple mechanism, you can adjust lenses for each eye independently. So even if you have a weak astigmatism you can adjust it to use it without your glasses

Distance between lenses is not important in my case - lenses diameter is big enough to cover almost all space in main body.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS TO SOLVED IN NEXT VERSION

1. Covering edges with some kind of foam for a more comfortable fit.

TOOLS YOU NEED:

• 3d printer
• screwdriver
• knife
• spray paint - optional

MATERIALS

• - filament for 3d printer (PLA or ABS)
• - some rubber band (about 100 cm -measured unstretched flat) - it cost about 0,50$ for 1m black color.
• - velcro band (about 20 cm) - it cost about 1$ for 1m black color.
• - magnifying glass (4 or 6, depends on diameter of lenses - my was 5x glass lenses, and it cost 0,75 $ in local store)
• - some nuts and bolts.(i think it was m3 - 23mm long)

Step 1: STEP 1 - MAGNIFYING GLASS DISASSEMBLY

You need lenses from magnifying glass, so you have to disassembly it. You can use screwdriver or knife. In my case it was very soft plastic and easy to take off using only screwdriver. In fact i was surprised that was so easy and fast. Another surprised was that the lenses are so good quality and made from glass not plastic.

I take out 6 lenses (6 x 0,75 $) and mount into lens holder for 3 on each eye. You can use different lenses, but then you have to change lens holder diameter. These are something about 45 mm diameter.

I was trying different diameter lenses (smaller and bigger than this) and for me this is the best configuration and field of view is enough to see everything on 5 inch screen smartphone, and it looks really good.

Generally i think that the best lenses diameter for this kind of goggles should be between 45-55mm. You can have good field of view, and its not necessary to adjust distance between lenses.

Step 2: STEP 2 - PRINTS

You have to print all parts:

• - main vr goggles body (mainbody.stl)
• - lenses holder - you have to prepare it for your lenses diameter, my was something about 4,5 cm.
• - rubber band buckles (buckle_left_right.stl - print it 2x, and buckle_up.stl, head_rubber_band_back.stl - it connects two rubber bands on the back of head)
• - knob - (knob.stl) for adjust distance of lense from eyes and screen.

(I cant find all files, so I add it later)

Step 3: STEP 3 - ASSEMBLY

I printed main body from yellow PLA. I used black matt spray to paint it inside. I think it helps with better visual effect - it blocks light. I used painting tape to protect outside of main body.

Buckles for rubber band was printed with black ABS, and lenses holder with grey ABS. But i think it should be black, as a main body inside to prevent light flares. But it was first test version so i left it with grey color. After print you have to asseble lenses holder and lenses together, use a m3 threads and nuts. Assembled lenses you should insert into special guides inside the main goggles body and use printed knob to keep it in place. Later you can adjust with knobs distance from screen (knobs are placed in bottom side to adjust lense with thumbs). Knob is designed to be tight in hole for minimizing gaps. It prevent infalling to much light. In knob, there is a space for fitting m3 nut. It moves lensholder bottom thread in special guides (in mainbody) to adjust lens distance from eyes

You have to cut rubber band to connect it with buckles. I cut it to 40 cm and 60 cm long parts. Longer from side to side and shorter from top to back. It helps to keep stability of all headset. In the back you should use "head_rubber_band_back.stl" to connect rubber bands, but i think it should be thicker in next version.

On the front side of main body there are holes to mount velcro bands, to hold smartphone. I cut 20 cm for each side, it holds smartphone very good, and you can easily change position if something is wrong.

Step 4: STEP 4 - DOWNLOAD, INSTALL, PLAY AND FUN.

I downloaded free apps from google play. You can find them by searching "VR".

some of the apps I tested:

-rollercoaster

- tuscany dive

- jurrasic dino vr

- vr volcano flythrough.

For more comfortable using this headset, you can use wirelles keyboard (bluetooth), wireless mouse (bluetooth) or even ps3 pad (i dont know it will be works on smartphones other than sony).