Fabricate a cheap and serviceable overhead digital projector.
These are the sockets that you connect to your computer to display the image to be projected.2. Cut the corks in two so you have four, evenly matched, short pieces of cork. Additionally, the replacement parts, the lamp in particular, are cheaper: digital projector lamps can cost well over $100, a school projector lamp is in the region of $10.
Instructions
1. Remove the screen from its housing. LCD screens have two main parts, the screen and the backlight. The current backlight is enough to light the screen but not project it a great distance. Disconnect any cables connecting the backlight section to the screen section. The two are housed separately so the point where they connect is usually obvious. There are two sockets that you must not disconnect from the screen, the power socket and the VGA/HDMI port.Each year it is becoming easier and cheaper to have a home-theatre set up. However, you are still looking at least $300 for the basic rig, with the largest cost going to the projector itself. There is an alternative to buying a ready-built projector, one which has a number of advantages besides its low price. Using an old overhead projector as its base, this system can be wheeled around easily and does not require attaching the projector to the ceiling.
Half way down each cork cut in a slit. Place the screen on top of the overhead projector housing, resting it on the cork feet. Resting the screen directly on the glass top of the projector can cause the screen to overheat.
3. Plug in the power and connect the VGA/HDMI cable to the computer. Switching it on, you will see the projector in action. It will not be as bright as the final product. This is the time to make adjustments to the screen's placement to make sure it is lined up properly, and not at an angle.
4. Block the light escaping from the projector with the trash bag. Place the bag over the whole projector body including the mirror at the top. Pull the bag taut at the bottom and tape it to the projector housing. Then, at the top where the bag peaks over the overhead projector's mirror stalk, make a small hole and start pulling the bag down. The hole will widen under the stretch giving you a tight fit. Keep pulling the bag until it reaches the edge of the mirror head's edge. Pull it down over the lip at the front and tape it in place. You will be left with a black pyramid that covers the projector's wide base, tapering up to the top. This allows the mirror to be opened and closed without the bag getting in the way of the projection.
5. Turn on the projector and the screen. You will now receive a much stronger image because more light is reaching the mirror.
