Plug n’ play projector - 3d Modelling

Project overview

With strict COVID-19 lockdowns in place, individuals and families around the world found themselves stuck in their homes, with not much to do other than watch TV, Netflix, or a sports game. This experience on its own can be quite repetitive and after long enough, quite boring. The Plug N’ Play projector is a wireless, portable, and craftable phone projector that can enhance the experience of watching your favourite show, movie, or sports team in a variety of applications. The goal of this project was to not only make the experience of staying home and watching some TV far more enjoyable, but also bring together families to potentially craft this product together.

A portable and wireless projector can be beneficial for a number of reasons, including:

  1. Cost-effective: A wireless phone projector can be significantly cheaper than a commercial projector. Many of the materials needed to create a DIY projector are likely to be lying around the house or can be purchased for a low cost. This can make it an accessible option for those on a tight budget.

  2. Portable: Unlike traditional projectors that can be heavy and bulky, a phone projector can be compact and easily portable. This makes it ideal for movie nights with friends or family on-the-go.

  3. Easy to use: This projector is relatively easy to build and use. The steps involved in creating one are straightforward, and once it's built, all you need to do is place your phone in the right position to project your content onto a larger screen or surface.

  4. Versatile: A phone projector can be used to project a wide range of content, including movies, photos, presentations, and more. You can use it in a variety of settings, from classrooms to living rooms.

  5. Customizable: Because you may choose to build the projector yourself, you can customize it to your liking. You can experiment with different materials and designs to create a projector that suits your needs and preferences.

Tools

  • Miro

  • Notion

  • Sketch

  • Blender (3D Modelling)

Design Overview

The process

Before designing this projector, the team needed some inspiration. Projectors for mobile devices are becoming quite popular, but none appeared to be both wireless and portable. With this being a 3D printed project, we knew this projector could not have electrical components (other than a mobile phone) like the products we originally examined. However, we were hooked on the idea of creating a simple projector that could be used essentially anywhere. We wanted the design to still resemble a projector, but clearly we would need to make adjustments due to its inherent limitations. After researching wireless projection, we were able to sketch out potential designs and eventually, design our 3D model. While of course this design cannot compete with the traditional electronic projector in some settings, it was clear this could be a great option while outdoors/camping!

Craft it yourself!

While the team designed a 3D model that would eventually be 3D printed, this project can absolutely be built by an individual or a group! To start, a box (preferably a shoebox), a lens, and a phone will all be required materials for this project. A small, phone-sized, cut is made into the top of the box to allow for easy phone placement. Next, another small circular hole is cut into the front of the box for the lens. The lens can be acquired from a cheap magnifying glass. Then, all that needs to be done is the installation of the lens and voila! Simply place your phone inside the box with the screen facing the lens.