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AboutThisInstructable
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Posted:
Jul23,2015

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rodski
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Bio: Ilovetodraft,dosomecrafts
"helmets,toysusingPepakurathen
fiberglass/EVAfoam,...imageandvideo
editingsometimes..Electronics
hobbyist..andilovedoingthisstufftokill
boredom...
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Introduction:
SinceGooglelaunchedit'sVRcardboardlast2014.,i'vereadsomegood
feedbacksaboutit.,AndlastMay2015.,thecardboardVRsupportsiOS.,Getting
theVRcardboardischeapestwaytoexperienceVirtualReality.,Andiasked
myselfcanyouDIYacompletefunctioningVRcardboardfromrecycled
stuff.,Includingthelens.That'showthisprojectstarted.,Andi'msharingithere
howtobuildaGoogleCardboardVRallfromscratchatnocost.,Using
recyclablematerials
(Thatisifyouhavehaveallthebasictoolsneededforthisproject.)

Tags:

GoogleCardboard(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keywordgooglecardboard/
VR(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keywordvr/)
,(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keyword%2C/)
DIY(/tag/typeid/categorytechnology/keyworddiy/)

Addinstructableto:
Group

Step1:NeededThings
MaterialsandToolsneeded:
GoogleCardboardtemplates
Scissors
Exactoknife(stencilcutter)
Glue
QuickdryEpoxy

Related
MaketheDODOcaseVR/
GoogleCardboardSwitch
WorkSamsungGalaxy
S3Phone(/id/Makethe
DodoCaseVRGoogle

*Transparent(clear)plasticbottle*
^madeof(PET)
*standsforpolyethyleneterephthalate.PET(alsoknownasPETE)*
Syringewithneedle
Velcroorrubberband
Gluestick(forgluegun)
neodymiummagnet(optionalforolderiphones)
*asmartphone(iOS&Android)

MakeGooglecardboard
overnight(/id/Make
DIYvirtualreality3D
glasses(/id/DIYvirtual
reality3Dglasses/)
byStojanMitric
(/member/Stojan+Mitric/)

MinecraftforGoogle
Cardboard(/id/MInecraft
forGoogleCardboard/)
bycoolryan108
(/member/coolryan108/)

HowtomakeGoogle
Cardboard(/id/Howto
makeGoogleCardboard/)

Step2:Steps

byElectrify
(/member/Electrify/)

SeeMore(/tag/typeid/?q=)

IwillfocusthestepsonhowtomakeaBiconvexlensoutofusedclearplastic
emptybottle.,BecausethecardboardVRisuselesswithouttheLens(themost
importantpartoftheVR)Soanyonewhowilltrythisprojectcangoforwardand
starttheCardboardVRcasing.,Andsomeoftheimageshereshowshowibuild
theGoogleCardboardVR.,
(youcanfindstepsonhowtobuildorassembleaGoogleVRcardboardherein
instructablesandinvariouswebsitesorinyoutube).Soi'llstartfirstwiththe
lens.ThenfollowedbythecardboardVR.
STEPSTOMAKELENS
1.Findanemptyclearbottlewithagood"Curvature"
2.Thenmakeacirculartemplate(25mmdiameter)onasheetof
cardboard/paper.Asseenonimage.
3.Thencutthemarkedyoumadeonplasticbottleusingscissors.
4.Makeandcutatleast4pcsofthis.,becauseyou'llneed2pcstogetherto
createaasinglebiconvexlens
5.Combine2pcstogethertocreateabiconvexshapelens.
6.Carefullysealedallthecircumferencesidesofthebiconvexshapeplasticyou
justjoined.
7.Nowthatyouhavesealedallthesidesusingquickdryepoxy.Fillyoursyringe
withclearwaterandcarefullyinjectitonthebiconvexshapeuntilyoufilleditup.
*toremovedbubblesjustpinchedorgentlysqueezethelenstoslowlyremove
allthebigbubblesinit.
8.Aftersuccessfullyremovingbubblesfilleditwithwater(thelens).,Sealedit
again.Sealtheholeyoujustmadebysyringeneedle.
9.Letitdryforafewminutes..Testitifitmagnifiesthings.Trytomagnifysmall
things(likeprintedletters).
10.Aftersuccesfullymadeabiconvexlensthatmagnifiesthingsup.,Repeatthe
procedureforyoursecondandlastbiconvexlens.
*Ifyousuccessfullymagnifiesthingsup..Congratulations.!.,yourgoodtogoon
buildingyourownGoogleCardboardVR.,
It'sfunbuildingthingsupbyyouself.
NextImagesishowibuildmyGoogleCardboardVR.
Thoughit'snotsoveryelaboratesteps,,butyoucangoogleitformoreelaborate
one.,speciallyregardingtheuseofmagnetstocontrolyourphonewhileinside
theVRcardboard.
idontuseanymagnetsonmyVRCardboard.Willbediscussedinsomeparts
ofthisinstructables.

Step3:Steps

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FX5/HKYB/ICFKPJA6/FX5HKYBICFKPJA6.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FT4/2BBX/ICFKPJCS/FT42BBXICFKPJCS.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FIE/UZNM/ICFKPJF7/FIEUZNMICFKPJF7.LARGE.jpg)

ShowAll13Items

*Inimageform
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F61/SXUJ/ICFKPJEQ/F61SXUJICFKPJEQ.LARGE.jpg)

Step4:GoogleCardboardVRassembly
AssemblingGoogleCardboardVR
1.Downloadthetemplatesforfreeandprintinonlongbondpaperinlandscape
mode.
(Linkwillbeprovidedinsomepartsofthisinstructables.)
2.Cuttingusingscissorsandstencilcutteraccordinglywiththetemplateguides.
3.Attachedthetemplatesaftercuttingonacardboard.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F19/WKKU/ICFKPJPZ/F19WKKUICFKPJPZ.LARGE.jpg)
4.Aftercuttingallthethreepagespartsofthetemplates.,assemblingitisquite
notdifficulttofollow.,astheirisamarkingontemplateswhereyoucanfold.

Step5:
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FIZ/75EW/ICFKPK30/FIZ75EWICFKPK30.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FO0/UQ4P/ICFKPLC9/FO0UQ4PICFKPLC9.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FYP/6D7X/ICFKPLFF/FYP6D7XICFKPLFF.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FXS/LS92/ICFKPLRQ/FXSLS92ICFKPLRQ.LARGE.jpg)

ShowAll8Items

Step6:

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FSP/QLQR/ICFKPLY2/FSPQLQRICFKPLY2.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FFX/IYN5/ICFKPM0O/FFXIYN5ICFKPM0O.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F21/OO0Q/ICFKPLLQ/F21OO0QICFKPLLQ.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FJA/84TC/ICFKPMDL/FJA84TCICFKPMDL.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FK2/7VIC/ICFKPMHU/FK27VICICFKPMHU.LARGE.jpg)

Step7:Sources
Sources:
https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/
https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/getcardboard/
VRAppsforiOS
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FPP/U9K4/ICFKPMKX/FPPU9K4ICFKPMKX.LARGE.jpg)
https://itunes.apple.com/ph/app/divecityrollercoaster/id771293168?mt=8

Step8:InDepthUnderstandingMagnifications

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FYT/27D2/ICFKPN0V/FYT27D2ICFKPN0V.LARGE.jpg)

Magnificationofimages
magnification\magnfkshn\
noun
:theactofmakingsomethinglooklargerthanitis:theactofmagnifying
something
:thelargerappearanceofanobjectwhenitisseenthroughamicroscope,
telescope,etc.
FocalLength
Focallengthisthedistancefromthemagnifyinglenstotheobjectbehindthe
lenswhentheobjectisinfocus.Toputitanotherway,theoptimaldistance
betweentheobjectbeingmagnified(whenitisinclearfocus)andthe
magnifyingglassisthefocallength.
MagnificationPower
Asthemagnificationpowerincreases,thefocallengthdecreasesconversely,
asthemagnificationpowerdecreases,thefocallengthincreases.Thestronger
theopticalpowerofthemagnifyinglens,theshortertherequireddistance
betweenthemagnifierandtheobjectbehindthelens.
Forexample,ifyouarelookingatadiamondthrougha10xloupe,thedistance
betweenthediamondandthemagnifyingloupewillbeverysmall(aboutaninch
orsoaway).Thefocallengthisthereforeaboutaninch.Youreyewillalsoneed
tobeveryclosetotheloupe.
Ifyouarelookingatfineprintwitha2xhandheldmagnifyingglass,the
magnifyingglasswillneedbeseveralinchesaway(roughly6to8inches)from
thefineprinttobringitintooptimalfocus.Thefocallengthinthisexampleis6to
8inches.
Ifyouarenotusingamagnifieratitscorrectfocallength,theobjectyouare
viewingwillappearoutoffocus,distorted,orupsidedownwhentryingtoviewit
throughthemagnifyingglass.
RelationshipofLensSizetoMagnification
Pleasekeepinmind,asthelenssize(diameter)ofthemagnifierlensincreases,
themagnificationpowerofthemagnifierdecreases.Asthelenssizeofthe
magnifierlensdecreases,themagnificationpowerofthemagnifierincreases.
Thisisaresultoftheamountofcurvatureinthemagnifier(lens).Magnification
powerisaresultoftheamountofcurvatureinthemagnifierlens.Asthelens

sizeincreases,theamountofcurvatureinthelensdecreases,resultinginlower
magnificationpowerofthelens.Asthelenssizedecreases,theamountof
curvatureinthelensincreases,resultinginhighermagnificationpowerofthe
lens.Thisiswhyhighermagnificationlensesaregenerallysmallerinsizethan
lowermagnificationlenses.

Step9:AboutMagnets
UsingMagnets
CAUTION:MessingwithpowerfulmagnetsnearyouriPhonecanalterthe
calibrationofthesensor!
Inresearchingthisarticle,weexperimentedwithanumberofpowerfulmagnets
nearthephone.Whilethecompasscanrecalibrateitself,itispossibletomess
itup.Inourcase,itseemsthatwemighthaveslightlymagnetizedsome
componentinsidethephone.
Whilethecompassstillseemstoworkreasonablywell,itdoesntshowthesame
overallfieldstrengthwhenwetwistthephonearoundindifferentdirections.This
relativelynewiPhonedidagreewithitselfbeforewestartingexperimenting.
ThereareanumberofstainlesssteelshieldsinsideaniPhonethatmighthave
beenveryslightlymagnetizedbythepassingmagnets.Hopefullytheywill
demagnetizeovertime.
Avoidgettingpowerfulmagnetstooclosetoyoursmartphone,orriskmessing
withyourowncompasscalibration.Anythingcloserthanafewinchesisstronger
thanthatsensorcanmeasureanyway.
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=iphonefun
Moreaboutmagnets
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=googlecardboard

Step10:GoogleAnnouncement

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FJN/GV8L/ICFKPNBW/FJNGV8LICFKPNBW.LARGE.jpg)

GooglehasannouncedanewversionofCardboard,itsvirtualrealityviewer.
ThelatestCardboarddesignwillfitlargerphones,upto6inches,andit'sgotten
ridofthemagnetcontroller,replacingitwithacardboardbuttonthatwillwork
witheveryphone.Italsotakesfewerstepstoassemble.Justasimportantly,
GooglehaslauncheditsCardboardvirtualrealityapponiOS.Thenewappwill
letiPhoneusersexplorecityenvironments,useavirtualkaleidoscope,andview
3Dobjectsfromamuseumcollection.Untilnow,theofficialCardboardappwas
availableonlyonAndroid,whereithasbeendownloadedoveramilliontimes.
FordevelopersthathavecreatedtheirownCardboardcompatibleapps,the
softwaredevelopmentkitalsosupportsiOS.

*GoogleCardboardisavirtualreality(VR)platformdevelopedbyGoogleforuse
withafoldoutcardboardmountforamobilephone.Itisintendedasalowcost
systemtoencourageinterestanddevelopmentinVRandVRapplications.Itwas
createdbyDavidCozandDamienHenry,Googleengineers.
AfterinitiallyonlysupportingAndroid,GoogleannouncediOSsupportforthe
UnityplugininMay2015attheGoogleI/O2015conference.Thirdpartyapps
withCardboardsupportareavailableontheGooglePlaystoreandAppStore
foriOS.
EverythingaboutGoogleCardboardVR
http://www.techradar.com/news/phoneandcommunications/mobile
phones/googlecardboardeverythingyouneedtoknow1277738

Step11:Result

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FGR/EK4N/ICFKPNDF/FGREK4NICFKPNDF.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FWW/CRJ5/ICFKPNNY/FWWCRJ5ICFKPNNY.LARGE.jpg)

Recyclingthingsupisagoodhabit.,youareabighelptomothernatureplus
you'recreatingnewthingsoutofold.,Andthatsallofit.,Theresultofbuildingthis
projectisfullfilling.,Ienjoyedusingthevirtualizationatnocost.Hopingyou
enjoyedreadingit.,aheartoravotewillbehighlyappreciated.,Thankyou!

Wehaveabenicecommentpolicy.
Pleasebepositiveandconstructive.

IMadeit!

AddImages

rodski(/member/rodski/)(author)

MakeComment

5daysago

Reply

Justbuildanotherone,newbutsameLensDIYprocedures.
(/member/rodski/)

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flag

rodski(/member/rodski/)(author)

9daysago

Foundabetterway,putawasherinbetweenof2plasticlens.,foreasy
injectingwater:,watchoutforbubblesinsyringe.
(/member/rodski/)

Reply

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FUS/9Z0P/ICICTOBS/FUS9Z0PICICTOBS.LARGE.jpg)
flag

Creative_Guy(/member/Creative_Guy/)

10daysago

Reply

Cool!I'lltrysomeday..
(/member/Creative_Guy/)

GWPoulos(/member/GWPoulos/)

flag

10daysago

Reply

Whycantyoujustuseapairofcheapreadingglassesforthelenses?
(/member/GWPoulos/)
Somethingaround+2diopters,dependingonyoureyesightandthedistance

betweenyoureyesandthescreen.
flag

Creative_Guy(/member/Creative_Guy/) GWPoulos

10daysago

Reply

Youreyeswillbroke
(/member/Creative_Guy/)

rodski(/member/rodski/)(author)

flag

10daysago

Reply

@GWPoulos
Asimentionedinintroduction,theideaistocreateagooglecardboardVRby
(/member/rodski/)
usingscrapmaterials.,Andidontthinkyourideaofusingordinaryeyelenses
willwork.,it'sanegativemeniscuslenses.
while2Biconvexlensesparalledto2imagescreatea3Deffectwhenheldup
toyoureyesatfocallengthof45mm.Itcombines2imagesinoneimagethat
creates3DeffectandOrdinarylenseswillnot.(imo)
Butmaybeitmightworktoowithplanoconvexlens.Thanksforyour
suggestion.
flag

rodski(/member/rodski/)(author)

10daysago

Reply

@kondzio29
Thanksalot!
(/member/rodski/)
flag

rodski(/member/rodski/)(author)

10daysago

Reply

@pucksurfer
Gladyoulikeit.,Thankyou!
(/member/rodski/)
flag

kondzio29(/member/kondzio29/)

10daysago

Reply

Greatinstructable!Reallywellexplained!
(/member/kondzio29/)

pucksurfer(/member/pucksurfer/)

flag

10daysago

Reply

That'sprettyawesome!Supercoolthatyoucouldmakethelensesyourself
(/member/pucksurfer/)

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