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DIY Curved AT screen with Somfy based automated masking - Page 4

post #91 of 104
8/28/12 at 1:16pm
Thanks!
Yes, I`m welding it up myself. Triangular supports in the corners is a good idea.
Found a local workshop that can roll the tubes to the desired radius. Used the Aussie Bob spreadsheet, and calculated the radius to about 11m. But according to the spreadsheet the pincushion distortion would be small enough that I`ve been thinking if it is better to use a flat screen? Not as cool, but give more flexibility.
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post #92 of 104
8/30/12 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
Gunnar,

The curved screen is definitely cool but if you can live with the pincushion a flat screen would be half as complex to build. The pincushion will be most noticeable on non-video images with vertical lines near the edge of the screen.

Make sure your screen border is wide enough to absorb the excess image because you will have to zoom in a little more than you would with a curved screen.

Don't forget to show your results -- I'm interested.

Cheers.
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post #93 of 104
9/1/12 at 1:01pm
Thanks! I have mounted the PJ and a flat screen temporarily at a about 2.0 throw. I`ll try with/without the lens to see how visible the pincushion is. I`ve been designing a masking controller that I plan to use with this screen. If I go with a flat screen It will have a 4-motor masking system w/tubular motors. It can also be used with two motors. But if I feel that it is not necessary to change zoom when going from eg. 16:9 to 1,85:1 it would be nicer with a true CIH-setup. I have both a Lumagen Radiance and a RS45 projector w/lens memory, so I can try out the different options. I also would like to DIY a lens slide that is controlled by the masking system. I think that the guts from a scanner can be used as a horizontal moving slide. The one I took apart yesterday had a bipolar stepper motor that is easy to interface with a micro controller. But I may have to make a lens lift instead, because the lens have to move far sideways to get clear of the PJ air exhaust.
Your building thread is a great inspiration! Though my skill/budget/ambition is on a different planet, there are still ideas that I can use in my own room.
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post #94 of 104
9/4/12 at 1:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post

Thanks! I have mounted the PJ and a flat screen temporarily at a about 2.0 throw. I`ll try with/without the lens to see how visible the pincushion is. I`ve been designing a masking controller that I plan to use with this screen. If I go with a flat screen It will have a 4-motor masking system w/tubular motors. It can also be used with two motors. But if I feel that it is not necessary to change zoom when going from eg. 16:9 to 1,85:1 it would be nicer with a true CIH-setup. I have both a Lumagen Radiance and a RS45 projector w/lens memory, so I can try out the different options. I also would like to DIY a lens slide that is controlled by the masking system. I think that the guts from a scanner can be used as a horizontal moving slide. The one I took apart yesterday had a bipolar stepper motor that is easy to interface with a micro controller. But I may have to make a lens lift instead, because the lens have to move far sideways to get clear of the PJ air exhaust.
Your building thread is a great inspiration! Though my skill/budget/ambition is on a different planet, there are still ideas that I can use in my own room.

Love the idea of using the insides of a scanner for lens slide/lift. I'd guess you would need a pretty heavy duty scanner to get enough power for a lift though. Are you keeping a build thread? Would love to follow along..
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post #95 of 104
9/4/12 at 2:54pm
Hooked up the steppermotor to a mikrocontroller today, and the accuracy seems very good. Will try a stronger motor and a more powerfull H-bridge to make it run a little faster.'
I have an old thread from when I was eksperimenting with the masking controller Here . I think I`ll start a new one for the new screen/lens lift-project.
Also tried the lens yesterday, and the pincushion is about 1cm at the middle of the sides. Not bad, but with the projector behind the back wall I can not have a screen much higher than 120cm, so it will be CIH, and curved.
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post #96 of 104
9/7/12 at 5:19am
Moggie, I noticed that you folded the edge of the screen material before attaching the grommets. Did you sew along the fold, or do something else to prevent frying?
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post #97 of 104
9/9/12 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
Hi Gunnar,

The screen material doesn't fray. The reason I folded it over was to create a stronger mount for the grommet. To hold the material together whilst fitting the grommets I used some strong double sided tape and ironed the crease.
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post #98 of 104
9/10/12 at 12:52pm
Thanks!
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post #99 of 104
9/17/12 at 9:59am
Is it wrong to be turned on by the coolness of that HT setup?

Moggie, are those Klipsch THX Ultra2's? If so, how are you liking them?

- Terry
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post #100 of 104
9/17/12 at 9:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by terrys999 View Post

Is it wrong to be turned on by the coolness of that HT setup?
Moggie, are those Klipsch THX Ultra2's? If so, how are you liking them?
- Terry

I guess it depends on how literally eek.gif

The Klipsch setup is just awesome for movies. Incredible dynamic range, horn loaded design to help with multi-row seating arrangement and bullet proof. I find them quite musical as well although they are a little closer together than ideal. I added a pair of smaller Klipsch speakers as wides for a 9.2 setup and although blasphemy to some they really broaden the sound stage significantly. I've heard people complain about the harness of the Klipsch horns but in a acoustically treated room they sound sweet to me. No regrets.

Cheers.
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post #101 of 104
9/18/12 at 5:44am
Thanks for the update on the Klipsch speakers. I'm trying to decide between the B&W CT700 series and Klipsch's THX Ultra2 setup. Sadly I can't find a local audio shop to test either out.

My planned theater room is about 17' x 33', I'm very tempted to go 9.2 as well, but not sure. I'm just plain overwhelmed by the amount of choices for sound, visuals, acoustics, seating, etc. Thank goodness for AVSforum.com and its cool members.
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post #102 of 104
10/20/12 at 1:04am
Moggie,

Thanks for sharing the build this fantastic DIY screen! I'm also building my own screen, and I wondered what type of silicon O-rings you used to fasten sthe screen material with? And also where you got them from...

5261423681_1922ae4d09.jpg

Thanks again,
Arve Hunsbedt, Norway
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post #103 of 104
10/22/12 at 7:16pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Arve,

I know I have already replied via PM, but in case anyone else is interested here are the details:

I purchased the rubber o-rings from Amazon:

"-228 Buna O-Ring, 70A Durometer, Black, 2-1/4" ID, 2-1/2" OD, 1/8" Width (Pack of 10)"

They are available in all sorts of sizes. The quality is very good and I'd expect at least 10 years of service when used indoors. The great thing about the use of o-rings is that you can change the diameter to add or reduce tension to the screen. If you fit similar to the way I did you should be able to change them out if they ever became brittle or damaged. Note that I added little pieces of tubing to the self tapping screws so the screw thread did not cut into the o-ring.

BTW the brass grommets I used around the edge of the screen were also on the same Amazon order:
"Lord & Hodge 1073A-0 Grommet Kits"
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post #104 of 104
10/27/12 at 12:46pm
I got my curved steel tubes for the screen frame Thursday, and I`m also interested in this. This seem to be a great way to attach the fabric. The DIY lens lift and the projector is in place, just waiting for the screen:)

Gunnar
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