How to Make a DIY Travel Phone Projector with 4 Tools

One thing that many people enjoy
using to create a new and exciting movie experience is a projector. However,
many people just simply can’t afford a huge projector system for their home,
and what if they want to travel with their projector? What are they to do? You
could purchase a travel move project for your phone, or you could make a DIY
projector that is easy to travel with and great for watching movies on the go.
In this article, we will discuss an exciting way to make your own smartphone
projector for your movie viewing pleasure.

Gather Those Materials

Before you make a DIY smartphone projector, you
need to first gather your materials. This projector is easy to make with simple
supplies that many people just have laying around. If you don’t they are still
relatively inexpensive to purchase. To make this project, you will need four
major tools:

• Magnifying Lens

• Xacto Knife

• Hacksaw

• Hot Glue Gun

Preparing the Items

Now that you have all your
materials, you need to prepare your items for the rest of the project. This
will include doing things like reinforcing your box and cutting the handle off
your magnifying glass.

The first step is to grab your
hacksaw and your magnifying glass. By propping the glass on a sturdy table,
hold the lens part of the object with the handle sticking off the end. Gently
use the hacksaw to cut off the handle and discard it. Next, you will need to
reinforce the box by gluing the corner and the flaps of the box to prevent any
wiggling as you finish the project and use it. Let it dry for several minutes
before continuing. Now, you will take your magnifying lens and place it on the
side of the end of the box where you will be placing it. Use the lens to draw
off a line to cut the box. Using an Xacto Knife from your
favorite hobby or craft store, cut out the circle line for the lens and pop the
excess box from the hole.

Adding the Lens

Before you pop out the glue, you
need to position the lens you are using. Once you get the lens in place, grab
your hot glue gun to glue the lens in place on the box. Before you can finish
off the rest of the project, you will need to put the lid back on the box to
prevent any extra light from getting in the box and blocking the phone. Start
by adding the lid and cutting off the excess box that sits over the lens. You
can use your Xacto knife to cut it off.

Phone Stand

Using your phone in the projector
means you will need a stand to keep the device from shaking or falling. By
taking your foam board, you can make a simple phone stand. Start by cutting out
two pieces. One piece needs to be the height of your phone, and the other
should be wide enough for a base. Now that you have your pieces, position the
foam piece onto the base, ensuring that it is perpendicular to the base. Taking
your hot glue gun, attach the foam piece to the base to create a stand.

To add your phone to the stand,
grab some double-sided tape that is padded. Add a piece or two to the
back of your phone and stick it directly to the stand.

Setting your Phone

Before you turn on the movie, you
need to set the phone to a few settings just to ensure that you are getting the
right brightness. First, set your phone to the highest brightness setting that
it will go. The more light you have the better the projection will be. After
you set the phone, lock the screen since the lens will invert the light source.
You will need to turn off the auto-rotate to prevent the screen from turning
while you are watching the movie. Some people even download an image flip app
to flip the orientation of the image for projection.

Adjust the Projector

Before you use your projector,
you need to first position your phone to adjust it. Try moving to the phone
closer or further away to get a better image on the wall. You might notice the
image getting sharper or softer. When making a DIY projector, you need to
ensure that it is just as calibrated as a typical projector to make your moving
watching experience the best it can be. Once you have adjusted the projector,
you can turn off the lights and enjoy your movie.

Conclusion

While you could just buy a
projector, many people enjoy making their DIY projector. This project is a fun
and easy project that can be done with the family or just for fun. Not only can
you use it at home, but you can travel with the projector as well, making it a
great option for vacation movie watching.