Buying or Building?

[Xer0]

If i want a RGB (445nm) Projector, lats say 1W + analog + 30kbps...

How much cheapter will it be to build than to buy from the chinese?
And how long you think i would need to invest time for building?

Dafore i bought an 300mW RGBr one from China, it was not bad, but not that what i desire, so i sold it.

[LaNeK779]

will this be 1w total power or 1w 445 power and matching other colours? (around 3w in total if you choose 642 or over 5w if you choose 660 for red)

[Xer0]

Total but i would be happy even with o,5W total

must say, im on college and dont have much time for big projects. so for me its mostly easier to buy something and work more for the money. thats why i ask if i can save really much when building?

[LaNeK779]

you can get a 1w projector around the 1000usd mark off fleabay. personal opinion is that you might regret it though (quality and abilities wise).

i had the same dilema some time ago, but building it myself was the way i chose (and i still have a looooooong way to go). i can give you a rough estimate of costs below (at least that's the way i see it)

- a 445nm module single diode, prism corrected, tec coolled, analog modulated should cost around 230-250 usd
- a quad 660nm should cost around 300 usd
- 200-250mw 532nm analog modulated dpss should cost around 250 usd
- you should need another 100-150 for a case (nothing top league though) and some switching PSUs
- you should also need another 150 for dichros, mounts and other misc stuff

and then it all depends on how much you want to spend on galvos (prices from 100 to 2.500 usd and more)

so, even with the cheapest galvos take you to around 1200 usd of cost (not including your labour, but as you are a hobbist working for yourself, this should not be accounted for)

and then you will need a DAC and software... (options from 100 usd to as much as you want)

i still say go ahead and build it.

the numbers say, go buy the chinese one

your call

[Jolie]

you can get a 1w projector around the 1000usd mark off fleabay. personal opinion is that you might regret it though (quality and abilities wise).

i had the same dilema some time ago, but building it myself was the way i chose (and i still have a looooooong way to go). i can give you a rough estimate of costs below (at least that's the way i see it)

- a 445nm module single diode, prism corrected, tec coolled, analog modulated should cost around 230-250 usd
- a quad 660nm should cost around 300 usd
- 200-250mw 532nm analog modulated dpss should cost around 250 usd
- you should need another 100-150 for a case (nothing top league though) and some switching PSUs
- you should also need another 150 for dichros, mounts and other misc stuff

and then it all depends on how much you want to spend on galvos (prices from 100 to 2.500 usd and more)

so, even with the cheapest galvos take you to around 1200 usd of cost (not including your labour, but as you are a hobbist working for yourself, this should not be accounted for)

and then you will need a DAC and software... (options from 100 usd to as much as you want)

i still say go ahead and build it.

the numbers say, go buy the chinese one

your call

Very specific and practical, if you just need more, buy it is a good idea. The number tell us, it will cost much to build one for yourself.

[Xer0]

The cheapest i could go is 800$ with shipping for the PF-115

I always tought building self i cheaper, when you save on the parts

eg no OEM 445nm module but c4s1o diode + prism on diy mount - 100$?
simple lpc815 and olike green pointer module... again 100$
100 extra bucks for cheap Spacelas galvos, then adding case and mounts

could i get away with <500$ with that plan?

[LaNeK779]

looks feasible. i always add 5-10% to what i have calculated, because i always need more bolts, wires, misc stuff that i have forgotten.

then you have to add the ammount you want to spent on a dac and software

my only concern is your choice of red. lpc 815, or 826 is fine, but i'm afraid that you might need at least a 2x combiner to get some sort of white balance.

i've made a funny looking test rig here ( http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...991#post189991 ) using 100mw of green, 100mw of 445 and 300mw of red and it still does not yield a balanced white. so you can opt for a 50mw green, 50mw blue and add as much red as possible (still need two lpc diodes to my opinion, so add a bit more for a mirror holder to knife edge or pbs + mount)

my advice: if you don't have solid (really solid) metalworking skills and equipment, don't go for the diy mounts. buy the ready made ones (i.e. dave's mounts or equivalent) they will save you all sorts of frustration

[taggalucci]

Hi

Just my 2 cents...

my only concern is your choice of red. lpc 815, or 826 is fine, but i'm afraid that you might need at least a 2x combiner to get some sort of white balance.

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...fore-and-After

I agree that I could do with another LPC-815 (so that I don't have to have my blue and green set to run at about 75% to 80% to get a balanced white).

But... I've been enjoying this little projector, as it is, for a few months now and it is way more than enough lasery goodness

using 100mw of green, 100mw of 445 and 300mw of red and it still does not yield a balanced white.

I'm not sure I completely agree. Here are a couple more photos of this projector showing some of the colour variations possible with this sort of combo...

IMG_0779.jpg . IMG_0736.jpg

[LaNeK779]

I'm not sure I completely agree. Here are a couple more photos of this projector showing some of the colour variations possible with this sort of combo...

very nice post mr taggalucci!!

i wrote the above under the assumption that no software tweeks have been made, so we could end up to agree after all (i guess i should have stated this assumption of mine)

[taggalucci]

very nice post mr taggalucci!!

Thanks mate!

i wrote the above under the assumption that no software tweeks have been made, so we could end up to agree after all

Yes, very good point I have another small projector here I'm planning on revealing soon that I've not needed to adjust much in software to get a good white balance. It does have two LPC-815s though!

IMG_0130.jpg

[Xer0]

This is a really nice and small projector! How much money and time did you spent?

[Solarfire]

@taggalucci
what are the specs/cost on your (12mm diameter?) greenie there and where did you get it?
How's the modulation?
I'm also doing a couple of mini RGB modules and I'm still looking for a good 532nm aprox. 12mm module with <1.5mrad, better <1.2mrad.

cheers!

[taggalucci]

This is a really nice and small projector! How much money and time did you spent?

Thanks Though it's nowhere near as finished as I want!

Well, time... about 36-48 hours duration, all up, including building Norm's RGB diode driver and troubleshooting that, planning the layout and drilling the baseplate, LPC-815 diode extraction, confirming nominal operating current for the 532nm pointer core and building the 660nm and 445nm diodes into Dave's mounts and soldering the diodes to wiring (including Lasorbs). In reality I started this last year and have not had much time to spend on this until recently.

The RGB driver is still running off a bench PSU and the Spacelas PT-30K scanners I got from Dave don't work, so I'm trying to resolve that with Dave's supplier directly as Dave doesn't deal with them any more. So, that's now taking up quite a bit more time trying to get that resolved. In the meantime, I am using some DT40 Pros I have saved for another projector to test the driver's modulation. Until I resolve the scanner issue, I'm going nowhere fast!!! I was going to buy more of whatever 30k scanners I settled on for a couple more of these little guys. I guess I wont be buying and using any more of the PT-30Ks then!!!

As for money, well...

2 LPC-815 diodes
1 A140 diode
1 Blue Lasorb
3 Red Lasorbs
3 Dave's Diode Mounts
3 Dave's Flex Mounts
1 Laserwave 660nm PBS
1 Edmunds Optics dichro (2nd hand)
1 Laserwave dichro (2nd hand)
1 Norm's RGB diode driver
1 set of PT-30Ks + now whatever d!ckw4d at Spacelas expects me to pay for shipping, both to him in China for repair and back to me in Australia
a couple of nuts and bolts, some wire, some aluminium sheet, DB-25 connector

Prices for the above (apart from the aluminium which is free for me) as per suppliers on this forum or eBay.

I will also need to buy:

Compact +/- 24V and 8V PSU solution
Heatsinks
Fans
IEC socket
switches for mains and X & Y inverts
key lock, push buttons and electronics for simple interlock circuit
More aluminium for the housing + paint or other coating
...probably some other stuff I can't remember!

[taggalucci]

@taggalucci
what are the specs/cost on your (12mm diameter?) greenie there and where did you get it?
How's the modulation?
I'm also doing a couple of mini RGB modules and I'm still looking for a good 532nm aprox. 12mm module with <1.5mrad, better <1.2mrad.

cheers!

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/200mw-5...v-11-9mm-26891

I can get surprisingly reasonable modulation directly modulating the 808nm diode from the driver. Not convinced it does 200mW, maybe 150mW.

The divergence is good, I haven't measured it - it is fine for a compact projector. I'm into beamshows, not graphics - though I think this 532nm module alone would be more than adequate for both.

This is all about cheap and cheerful, no frills, no TEC, just throw away components. I like the results so far!

I'll get some video up here, when I can, showing the colour depth and modulation.

[cybertoyz]

I also bought a 300mw china made scanner. Was not pleased with the low power. I have since swapped out all the lasers and power supply with higher power lasers and supplies. Almost ready to give it a run. Ended up costing me alot more than I thought it was going to..

Steve

If i want a RGB (445nm) Projector, lats say 1W + analog + 30kbps...

How much cheapter will it be to build than to buy from the chinese?
And how long you think i would need to invest time for building?

Dafore i bought an 300mW RGBr one from China, it was not bad, but not that what i desire, so i sold it.

[whiteg]

Do you tips RGB sets 1000USD?

What kind of only RGB analog module set purchase maximum 1000 dollars?
Green 532, Red 650 or 642 and Blue 445 sets.

(I have the Scanner and RGB optics...etc. )

Thank you for a tips,

[norty303]

Buy a Chinese laser with good optics mounts and a decent case.
You then have the basic building blocks to swap out laser modules and scaners at a later date as funds permit.
Try and get a case with some 'growing' room too.

[kiyoukan]

Yes im in the final stretch of build my new 2.5W projector and for a first timer one of the 250$ 500mw reke projectors are a great base.
Yes you will end up replacing 90% of it.
But you will have a working base.
So you can do upgrades in small steps and still have a working projector rather than going on full steam.
And you can sell the guts of them.
There are good uses for the old galvos and lasers you wont make your money back but it helps.
You will find projectors are alot of money.
But with the new 635nm diodes and the 445nm diodes its helped to lower the cost.