How to assemble Cardboard with your own hands: drawings, dimensions

Own module of virtual reality is a dream of many since childhood, and progress has come very close to creating such devices. In 2014, Google developers presented to the world a stunning invention that uses the capabilities of conventional smartphones on the Android platform. Right at the conference, any participant could gather from a cardboard and a few simple details the helmet of virtual reality and appreciate the charms of three-dimensional graphics and atmospheric video with the ability to view all 360 degrees of the review.

Virtual reality for low prices

Google Cardboard did not become a technological breakthrough, the helmets of virtual reality have existed for a long time, moreover, many children's devices are familiar for viewing large images. The ability of smart phones to navigate in space now too few people can be surprised, no, the public surprised something else. The simplicity and accessibility of the design - that's what really deserves attention, besides, developers have managed to release many applications that use this device for immersion into virtual reality.

The developers of Google Cardboard opened all the technical documentation for the device, refusing to trade their invention, and manufacturers instantly picked up the idea. At the moment there are many different models of plastic, cardboard and even leather products. Within $ 20, you can buy cardboard kits, similar to those that were first introduced at the developer conference in June 2014. Also, instructions and diagrams are available to anyone, and it will not be difficult to assemble the Cardboard yourself.

Materials

Prices for a cardboard box, of course, are quite significant, but before you make a Cardboard with your own hands, you should know where to find or purchase the remaining materials. We will need:

• A smartphone based on the Android operating system with a very high resolution screen.
• The cardboard is 1.5-2 mm thick and about a quarter square meter square.
• Optical lenses.
• Tape to hold the device on the head.
• The stationery.
• A piece of textile velcro.
• Two magnets.
• NFC tag.

Electronic component - a powerful smartphone

We will now analyze all the components of the items, starting with the models of suitable smartphones. Anyone can find invented by the developers to build Google Cardboard own drawings. The sizes of phones suitable for such versions of glasses 2.0 are limited to a width of 83 mm and a diagonal of up to 6 inches. For other sizes, you will have to think through your own design, picking up distances to the lenses by experience or looking for an option from the finished products in the store. Additional requirements 3D glasses are shown on the screen of the device. Remember, you will not just look at the phone screen from a very close distance, but get an increase through the lens. Of course, the better the screen, the less discomfort. At the moment, it is possible to use smartphones based on iOS 6.0 or higher (from 4 iPhone) or Windows Phone 7.0 or higher, but originally the whole system was designed specifically for Android 4.1. Download any VR-application and check your smartphone for compatibility, rotating it and watching the picture.

Housing material

Cardboard for the basics of our glasses is easy to pick up, a suitable box is a large box of pizza. Also, cardboard can be purchased in shops for needlework or dismantle some unattended box from under household appliances. Too thick cardboard will be inconvenient to cut and bend, whereas the thin one, most likely, will not hold the lenses and the smartphone in a rigidly fixed position on the head.

Optics

With lenses, perhaps, it will be most difficult, but this is the most important material for 3D glasses. Google recommends the use of lenses for Cardboard with a focal length of 45 mm, respectively, the dimensions of the virtual reality glasses themselves on the site are calculated only for lenses with such a focus. Thus, the desire to use other lenses or, perhaps, a system of two or more lenses per eyepiece will inevitably lead to a reconfiguration of the distance to the eyes and the screen, thus, to a change in the entire structure. If you feel confident enough, you should experiment, but it's much easier to order lenses.

Fastening elements

As an attachment to the head, you can use a fabric elastic band or velcro strap. The stationery for the hull is easy to find, and it's easier to replace it. After assembling the entire structure, it is only needed to hold the mold. You can simply glue the 3D glasses at all joints after adjusting the lens with glue or tape. Two Velcro size 15x20 mm will be needed to fix the closed cover with the inserted smartphone. In the absence of such a lot of options for fixing the cardboard cover, the main thing is to make sure that the smartphone does not fall out in the process of using 3D glasses.

Additional controls

Magnets are needed to make on the case an optional control button 3D-headset, and only fit to models of smartphones with a built-in magnetometer. When creating a helmet for a trial, do not waste energy and money on finding suitable magnets. This button can be attached to the points of virtual reality separately after full testing of the device or do not install it at all. For long-term 3D glasses you will need a ring of neodymium magnet and a disk of magnetic ceramics, both sizes not exceeding 3х20 mm. You can also cut holes and manage your smartphone with your fingers.

The NFC sticker is glued on the inside of the glasses, which allows the smartphone to automatically launch the desired applications. You can find it, perhaps, in the salons of communication or in online stores, it is also mandatory, and you can put it somehow later.

Instrumentation and safety technology

The tool for work will need the simplest:

• Google Cardboard template. The drawings are in the article.
• A sharp knife, a durable clerical suit. Cardboard needs to be cut clearly along the lines of the template, especially the grooves and holes, so the scissors can not cope.
• Adhesive tape or glue.
• Rigid ruler.

Google claims that there are enough scissors to work with, you should not flatter yourself, thin slots and fixing grooves are much more convenient to cut with a blade.

The design is reinforced with ribs from the inside, so there is no particular difference, cut an integral pattern from a long piece of cardboard or assemble from 2-3 pieces, connecting them with adhesive tape. When cutting with a knife, be careful not to scratch the surface of the table or floor, take for these purposes a special board, for example, cutting from the kitchen. Particular care must be taken to cut out the lens holes, so that later the lenses lie in one plane perpendicular to the view.

Assembling the device

Assemble according to the drawings, strengthen the frame with adhesive tape and carefully monitor the location of the lens. In the fixed position, the cardboard tightly presses the lenses so that they do not move relative to each other. Next, you need to stick Velcro as fasteners along the edges of the top side and on the inside of the lid, and also put the magnets in their place. At this stage, you can already try on 3D glasses to the head to determine the places of possible rubbing of the skin. When watching a movie for a long time, for example, these points can be very annoying, so you can additionally lay them with thin strips of foam rubber.

Is the ovchinka worth the dressing?

3D glasses are ready, it remains to fix them on your head with an elastic band or strap of your choice, insert a smartphone with a 3D-application and enjoy a virtual reality. As for the cost of the device, there are many offers of ready-made kits with a price of less than $ 10. You can save money only if all the parts are at hand or are easily accessible. If you order spare parts, taking into account the various costs of forwarding and the lead time for orders, it turns out to be somewhat more expensive than buying a complete kit. Naturally, if your dog bites 3D glasses for sitting in virtual reality instead of feeding or walking an animal, you can easily assemble new ones using the instruction given above and the remaining details. And while you are looking for a cardboard in place of the damaged one to restore the Cardboard with your own hands, you can also walk and feed the dog.

Features of the device

At the moment there is already a palpable amount of optimized for Google Cardboard applications and several movies. Coupled with headphones, virtual reality glasses can easily replace a good 3D cinema, and games, according to users, despite their primitiveness, are able to add a strong sense of presence and atmospheric conditions. For craftsmen and fans of various technical problems, it can be noted that it is possible to connect the Cardboard points to a computer to use the virtual reality module in games. That's where the full immersion is.