For Your Amusement: My 2016 Custom Projector Builds

[dkumpula]

Hi folks!

I have heard a few folks lamenting here on PL that there aren't many new builds being completed or documented now that prices for projectors has dropped to a phenomenal low. I still build all of my projectors and I don't have a single one that is something I could buy off the shelf, so I thought I'd share my new builds that were completed over the past year. None are groundbreaking, but some are kind of interesting. In any case, I won't go into much detail unless questions are posted.

Build #1: I started buying Pangolin's Compact 506 sets from X-Laser last year and was enthusiastic to have everything in the build running off of one PSU (which I've integrated into about 10 of my projectors to date.) This one was my first attempt at going small with the 506's and the build measures out at 24cm x 10cm x 12cm.



Like most of my recent builds, this is an all single mode diode build and has a balanced 1.2W output. This is not for big spaces, but it does well in my small environment projecting graphics onto my dance floor and a couple walls. Its more than adequate for this purpose. The Compact 506s are turned wide (about 60 degrees optical if I recall) and I run graphics through smaller target zones in the 25-30Kpps range.

Build #2: This and the following build are something a bit more unconventional. I started experimenting with drawing on glow in the dark paint (both strontium aluminate and zinc sulfide) over a year ago and thought I could start doing cool stuff in my environment with it. This eBay sourced alum case measures 20cmx14cmx7cm, utilizes the same 6.7Amp 12V PSU as well as another set of Compact 506s from X-Laser with silvered mirrors (with thanks to Bill Benner and Ryan over at Pangolin).

Why silvered mirrors? Swamidog and I were chatting about dedicated 405nm builds and he pointed me to a video showing how an IR light can erase the glow on zinc sulfide based materials. I spent the next couple months testing a wide variety of IR diodes until I found a single mode near IR diode that worked best for my purposes. I admit that it was a bear to align the IR diode with the two visible (405nm) diodes with a cold mirror. Although my camera could see the IR clearly, there was a good deal of flare in the image. I quickly created a process to help me align more accurately by drawing and erasing on zinc sulfide based materials. Total power is relatively meaningless due to it being IR and 405nm diode based, but I used the most powerful (16x) 405nm diodes that DTR sells. They are more than adequate for their intended purpose of drawing on walls treated with glow in the dark (GITD) paint.



Build #3: This is my favorite build to date. (They aren't children, so we can have favorites, right?!? ) This build is tiny at a mere 22cm x 22cm x 5.5cm again utilizing a nice/inexpensive alum project case from eBay. The clearances are frequently just 1-2 mm and required small diode mounts, cube/dichro mounts and drivers. The former were those provided by Dave at Lasershowparts in Australia, and the later two were from BBE (X-Wossee on eBay) who is based in Russia. If you haven't heard me say it previously, I love BBE's diode drivers and I've been diligently replacing nearly every other driver I have with his. They are reliable and feature rich!

Oh, I forgot to mention, this build is a dual head build! Again I used Compact 506's and X-Laser's amp. One side is dual 405nm and far red while the other is typical single mode RGB. The point was to project graphics over GITD art. As with the other builds, its working great so far. If you've seen a dual head build smaller than this one, I'd love to see how they managed it.



Build #4: I suppose this is more of a significant upgrade as I incorporated most of the parts from an existing build. The case on this one is an adapted small computer case. It sports CT-6210 galvos with a Medialas amp, measures about 1.5W (well balanced like the rest of the builds here) and does triple duty for graphics, beams and lumia.



Build #5: This is my latest 'favorite child'. Another nice alum case from eBay measures 23cm x 32cm x 9cm houses 1.2W of single mode lasers and most importantly Pangolin Saturn 1b galvos. This projector does double duty for graphics and beams and is currently configured for 60Kpps at 16 degrees optical, which the Saturns can do without breaking a sweat. These galvos are cool, quiet and according to the on-line stats, aren't the least bit stressed - these are VERY COOL galvos, folks (pun intended). I look forward to acquiring more Saturns in the future.



OK, so that's my laser projector work for the year. I haven't figured out what I want to do for the coming year, just yet other than my general minor upgrades and tweaks to the existing projectors. I suppose what I really should focus on is reworking and creating new content. Any feedback you have is most welcome. Oh and here's a video of it all in action.



Cheers!

-David

[polishedball]

That is some great work, I just started another build myself. Going back and forth on single mode or correcting some multi's.

[Bradfo69]

For those who have not had the good fortune, and I realize that is many of you, to spend an evening in David's environment, I can tell you with absolute certainty it is an amazing and truly chillaxing experience. I am very much looking forward to another visit to Fort Mill. Especially with the progressions made on the glow in the dark paint. I was there at the beginning of the experimentation process and you could tell there was truly magic brewing and the accompanying video is a testament to that. Well done.

[djdulux]

Look great, appears you are using many of the suppliers I am which is good to see. I was about to go with the X laser 506 package, but was unsure about the performance, any comments as they still have a couple sets left I think?

Cheers,

Dupe...

[jors]

Thats pretty cool, we really enjoy members builds
Fantastic work and thanks for sharing!!

[dkumpula]

Thanks for kind words, guys. It's been fun experimenting with the glow in the dark paint. I was originally inspired by this street artist.



As I'm not artistically inclined (or motivated to draw things by hand that last just a few minutes), I thought having a laser do the hard work was the way to go.

I was about to go with the X laser 506 package, but was unsure about the performance, any comments as they still have a couple sets left I think?

Hey, djdulux! X-Laser USA's 506 package is not a limited offering although the website may still say so as that was the original intent. The amp that comes with those runs off of 12V+ instead of +/-24V so you won't get as good performance out of them as you would with several other amps, but it requires more work to get other amps and then tune them appropriately. I am getting good performance out of the X-Laser offerings for beam shows and light-weight graphics (25K or so at 8-10ish degrees optical deflection). The real advantage to the X-Laser offering is the ability to make tiny projectors where both the galvos and the lasers run off a single PSU. You can't get a smaller footprint for a conventional laser as far as I'm aware.

If you wanted really fast graphics performance and have a healthy budget, I recommend calling Pangolin and talking to the Scannermax team for guidance. The Saturn series are the top dog for graphics by a good margin, but are priced to be competitive with (slower) CT scanners. If you want graphics in the 35-40Kpps range and have serious budget limitations, you may want to consider the PT-40 Pros sold by Lightspace in China. At US$250+$50 shipping, I consider these nearly disposable galvos. They also offer the PT-A40s which scan wider, but with degraded performance.

Have fun with your build and feel encouraged to ask this forum for advice. (We love to help people spend their spare cash on lasers!)

-David

[10Fenny]

Sorry double post won't let me edit on mobile. Great builds!!! I meant to write

[SaltyRobot]

I have seen many of these builds in person and it is impressive to see a dual head projector that can fit in a book bag.

Time to get cracking on the content David. You will need to have more material for your DiscoLEM in early April. (Nudge Nudge send our wives away so us geeks can play.)

[KANG]

Amazing compact builds, blows my mind how you can fit all that and do good work with the cable management nonetheless.

I really enjoyed seeing these and even better seeing the full GITD wall that looks awesome...!

I'm excited to see what more you'll have in store for us for the next year

[kecked]

I'm really interested in the glow graphics. I have 355nm laser would that work?