More details on the project’s background can be found in this video.  Not too much detail of the project such as source code is available, but setting up piezo’s with an Arduino is pretty straightforward.  Check out some of our other Arduino projects below:

• Incredible DIY Aerial Kite Photography
• Arduino Real Time DIY Pan & Tilt Camera
• Twitter Robot makes Popcorn, starts a Movie

The starting point for the self rigged 1080p HD projector is a 120V S15 Mega-Kit from Lumenlab. The Lumenlab kit gives a leg up with all the different components for the projector setup. The kit includes:

• S15 Projection Lens Triplet to focus the light.
• Fresnel lens to shape the reflected light
• LL/Vue 400w eBallast powering the 400W 6500K bulb.

The Lumenlab store is also a good place to shop around for a compatible LCD flat panel monitor that will support the high definition projections at that resolution. Save a ton of bother by buying one which will be let you enjoy high end image formats like Blu-Ray.

A high-def projector is a precision gadget. Exact specifications for the design may really make or break the project. This is where Lumenlab’s DIY Projector Guide and the Projector Builder section of the Lumenlab Forum lend their know-how. The DIY HD projector may seem like a hi-tech challenge, but with the starter help of the video, Lumenlab’s kit and forum, it’s worth the work.

Follow some of our previous posts that help you design your entertainment:

• Full DIY Home Theater Build: Start to Finish
• Build your own Movie Server
• DIY Stadium Seating for the Super Bowl

The following is a post by Rog8811, our lasers expert. As a designer and engineer I am always looking for ways of converting everyday items into cool gadgets. This iconic lighter, known around the world, is the Zippo flip-top lighter. Having already turned a flip-top ligher into a blu-ray laser lighter I decided that I would see just how much more could be done with one.

This time round I wanted a laser spirograph projector . What follows is a tutorial that will show the major parts that are needed. All fliptop lighters are slightly different in size and shape you need to adjust sizes and positions to suit your host.� I started off by getting a host lighter engraved.

This would be neat to take to your next poker game to draw more attention than the best poker hand.

Then followed a�number of drawings to see what the options might be. There are a lot of parts to get in so everything needs to be as small as possible (obviously)

The only way I could be sure to get everything lined up was to do away with the inner slide and replace it with a machined out block of plastic with all the parts fitted. To get this as large as possible the plate in the lid that operates the lid closing catch needs to be removed, to do this drill a couple of holes through it then break it off with a pair of pliers. Remove the�rough edges�with a small grinding burr in a dremil drill.

Here are the basic dimensions for the block but, as previously stated, adjust to suit your host.

The green laser module was stripped out of a keyring pointer that ate batteries within seconds, so it was no loss. This would be heavily modified to fit as it is 12mm diameter and too long with the drive circuit attached. (there are smaller green modules available that will fit more easily but I had this one to hand). I turned this one to 10mm diameter…. the thread that holds it together is 10mm diameter and consequently I had to glue the 2 halves together with superglue wheh it fell apart, it may be better to drill out the hole it fits into to 11mm diameter and turn down the module to suit.

For a spirograph pattern to be produced a minimum of 2 rotating mirrors are required. These were cut from an acylic mirror tile, it is important to get the hole dead centre, to do this I drilled a 0.5mm hole into a piece of 7mm diameter brass, stuck the back of the acrylic to this and turned to size in a lathe, (once stuck to a mandrel you can carve the mirror to size with a craft knife). Then use a pin chuck to drill into the acrylic from the back.

The mirrors are driven by vibro motors from mobile phones. The ones used were 5mm diameter once the rubber cover was removed.

The motors and mirrors were mounted in brass shrouds to protect them from damage. The motors are held in lpace with a dab of superglue.
The mirror must be stuck on at a very slight angle so that when a laser is reflected from the spinning mirror the beam describes a small circle.

The laser and the motor assemblies were pressed into holes machined into the plastic block, all three parts were wired up to check the output beam, to get good patterns you may have to reverse the direction of one of the motors.

A Battery housing with positive and negative contacts was machined to house a rechargable 3.6v battery then wiring was started.

Wires soldered to motor 1 and battery holder

The driver for the laser and the switch were located with super glue�and wired. If only people spent more time making cool gadgets like these instead of playing online games or spending money in an online casino, we would have much more to offer. The lighter projector is great example of what can be done when you put your time and mind to it.

The other battery contact and laser module wired. (it is important to remember that green laser modules are positive ground) I soldered the battery contact to the module to stiffen it up, this connects the positive directly to the module which is no bad thing.

This is what the finished item looks like. The piece of metal on the top is a magnet�from the lens focus assembly�of a PS3 sled, it takes the place of the lid closing catch that disapeared with the inner slide of the lighter.

This is what it does…. (my camera is not fast enough to capture the patterns produced by the projector).

A longer view gives a slightly better idea of the output.

A short video of the laser can be viewed below:

• We sell quality, discount lasers in our store
• Subscribe to HacknMod for free daily updates
• See our collection of laser projects

This absolutely incredible video demonstrates what developer Pattie Maes is calling our potential sixth sense.  By combining a camera, projector, and cell phone (for less than $300) her team has created a “gestural interface that augments the physical world around us with digital information and lets us use natural hand gestures to interact with that information.” It’s like the movie Minority Report on steroids.  See more info and this video for some demos:

Be sure the projector has the option to receive input from your cable/satellite provider.  Now, to make your new 100 inch screen, place the projector below the upper couch and adjust for the perfect viewing angle against a blank wall or screen.

Don’t miss out:

• Free, Streaming Online Movies
• Make a DIY Backyard Home Theater
• Gorilla DIY Drive in Theater

At NYU, they’ve combined the power of 27 projectors to create a massive 120 feet long video display.  It uses software called Spyder (not free) to combine them into the equivalent of six 16:9 displays.  It’s absurdly over the top, but see some low budget tips below to make a mini version.

(images courtesy of Gizmodo)

DIY on the Cheap:

• Use free software like Display Fusion to combine multiple screens.
• Take apart some old CRTs so you just have the display without the casing
• Put them together to create a wicked gaming experience or TV display.

It’s oubviously more complicated then that, but it can be done on a budget.  Imagine trying to play GTA IV or any FPS on that screen!