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Making virtual reality glasses with your own hands. DIY Google Cardboard virtual reality helmet! Virtual reality glasses in action

Three-dimensional images have always attracted people with their unusualness and closeness to natural perception. When going to the cinema, many people prefer to go to a session with 3D technology, as this allows them to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the film as much as possible.

How to make virtual reality glasses with your own hands

Assembly kit Google Cardboard. Everything except lenses can be made by hand

Today there are many technologies for creating three-dimensional perception, but most devices are different high cost. Is it possible to make VR glasses at home, and what is needed for this? In principle, quite a bit: ordinary office supplies that are easy to buy in a nearby store. The situation with lenses is more complicated, but this part can be found if desired - the easiest way is to order it from the Chinese on Aliexpress.

First of all, it is important to understand that glasses virtual reality for a telephone should be done with the utmost care, in strict accordance with the drawing. If there is the slightest deviation from the diagram or the use of incorrect materials when making virtual reality glasses from cardboard desired effect will not be achieved.

What materials are needed

Many people ask whether it is possible to make full-fledged virtual reality glasses out of paper? In principle, yes, if the paper is very thick. It is better to stock up on normal cardboard for such purposes if you are not making the device for a couple of weeks. To make the device look more or less aesthetically pleasing, use double-sided cardboard - regular matte on one side, glossy white on the other.

It is not difficult to make a virtual reality helmet with your own hands. To do this you will need the following materials:

  • thick high quality cardboard
  • sharp utility knife
  • round lenses for a virtual reality device (it’s better to order on Aliexpress)
  • Velcro or other fastenings for cardboard

It is better to cut out the parts with a stationery knife, since it is difficult to work with thick cardboard with scissors without creating torn edges.

Virtual glasses made of cardboard will last much longer if the material is dense and uniform. It is not recommended to make a helmet from corrugated cardboard, as over time it will begin to delaminate and quickly become unusable.

Google Cardboard Drawing

To make a fashionable device, you will need an exact drawing of virtual reality glasses, which can be downloaded on the Internet by entering cardboard, VR glasses or something like that into the search bar. In the same way, you can later find the desired smartphone application in the store for your platform.


Schemes for virtual reality glasses made of cardboard, drawings and drawings are presented in convenient form. All you need to do is download them to your computer, print all the details on a printer (on plain paper), and then transfer the resulting patterns onto cardboard. Following the diagram and using the drawing, you will receive a device correct sizes in the right proportions.

Assembling glasses

In order to make a virtual reality helmet, you should carefully cut out all the parts of homemade VR glasses from cardboard, bend them in the designated places and assemble the entire structure together, according to the attached instructions. Pre-prepared lenses should be inserted into special holes and fixed.
As a result, you should get a neat and compact box, similar in shape and size to the original device for viewing 3D media.

Phone setup

In order to enjoy full viewing of media files in the new device, you will need special software for your smartphone - for example, Google Cardboard, which can be downloaded from mobile Internet markets. Once you have installed the application, launch it by selecting necessary materials, secure the phone well in a homemade helmet and start watching.

Things to do with a helmet

After assembling the device, most users have a logical question: how and what to watch, is it possible to turn on games, etc.? Download special application for Android or iOS, you can watch movies with 3D support, as well as play certain games.

In order not to keep homemade helmet in your hands, you can attach a pair of comfortable straps to it for a secure fit on your head. Do not forget about securely fastening the smartphone in the device - the cardboard cover into which it is inserted should be equipped with double-sided Velcro for clothing, buttons or other fasteners.

Conclusion

If you have minimal manufacturing skills homemade devices, the question of how to make virtual reality glasses will not take you by surprise. Having a minimal set of stationery and materials on hand, you can make 3D glasses for your smartphone with your own hands, and this device is not much inferior in functionality to its expensive analogues.

Regarding external characteristics- everything is in your hands. Paste over homemade glasses beautiful paper, color the gadget in bright colors, turn it into a monster of new technologies, and surprise your friends and acquaintances.


Google Cardboard - assembly instructions

When making a cardboard yourself, you can also attach an NFC chip to the glasses to ensure more reliable pairing with your smartphone. Smartphones with a built-in magnetometer have the ability to respond to changes magnetic field. The application, in turn, analyzes data from the smartphone camera, accelerometer, magnetometer and simulates the effect of virtual reality in Cardboard. Google Play has created a whole section of cardboard applications from Google and third-party developers.

Download official application Cardboard for Android smartphones You can scan the QR code below or follow the link to the application page on Google Play.

But in reality, if in reality you want to assemble a cardboard with your own hands, you will be a little disappointed in its availability. For example, among the materials at hand, we can only name cardboard and a pattern drawing, but the main components are: 2 convex lenses (with focal length~45 mm), 2 magnets (neodymium ring and ceramic disk) and an NFC chip, are unlikely to be on your bedside table. Therefore, if you don’t want to bother too much, it’s better to buy a ready-made Google Cardboard and try out the available virtual reality.

This drawing cardboard glasses virtual reality based on a sample published in the New York Times in November 2015. Updated version of DIY Cardboard lets you use phones larger size and a button to control the phone, instead of magnets.

You can download the drawing from this link.

You will need:

  1. Cardboard paper measuring 5cm by 7.5cm, thickness 2mm. I used a shoe box and a pizza wrapper.
  2. A pair of biconvex lenses with a focal length of 45mm, with a diameter of either 25mm or 37mm. There is not much difference, but 25mm is cheaper and easier to get. For example, you can order if the delivery time does not bother you.
  3. Copper foil for button.
  4. A small piece of dense foam/sponge (about 6.3mm by 6.3mm by 2.5mm), like the kind you use to package electronic devices.
  5. Cutting tools.
  6. Glue. It is better to use a glue stick.
  7. Velcro (about 7.5cm, cut into 3 pieces)
  8. Metal ruler
  9. Cutting board or other work surface.

Step 1: Glue the template and cut out the outer parts


Cut out and cover the cardboard with paper. You should have two large pieces (1 and 2), two small ones (3 and 4) and a button. Don't cut out the internal parts, such as the holes for the lenses, just yet.

Step 2: Fold

Determine and lightly mark the fold lines with a pencil, and then, holding the edge of the ruler to the line, fold the cardboard towards you, unless instructed to do the opposite, such as a moving flap with a button (see fold directions on the template).

Step 3: Adjust and customize

Adjust the pleats and cuts to make sure everything matches up. Pay special attention to the part where your eyes will be looking and the front of the glasses where the phone will be inserted.

Step 4: Cutting the Inner Holes

I suggest you cut holes in the outer layer first and make sure those holes line up with inner layer when they are folded and assembled into their final position, because depending on the thickness of your cardboard and your cutting skills, the cardboard pieces may be slightly misaligned when the pieces are folded together.

Step 5: Add a Button

The button is a “pyramid” attached to a movable flap that you can press. At the top of the pyramid there will be a sponge (for a soft touch) placed over a conductive copper foil strip to transfer a small current from your finger to the screen. If you want, you can skip this step and operate the phone manually through the nose hole. On the flap, bent inward, we glue the button at a distance of about 5mm from the place where the phone will be located.

Step 6: Color if desired

If you want to color your cardboard VR glasses, now is the best time. It is better not to paint the surfaces that you will glue.

If you don't want to paint your glasses, cover the cutout under your nose with tape, because while watching, the cardboard will become greasy around the nose and then everyone will be sure that your glasses are made from a pizza box.

Step 7: Glue the sponge and copper tape



Cut a piece of copper foil the width of the sponge and glue it as evenly as possible. Then cut a strip 5cm long and wrap it around the bottom of the sponge, over the top of the pyramid to the base. (Tip: It's best to peel off the foil a little at a time as needed as it tends to curl, wrinkle and stick to itself) Then cut another piece about 12cm long and attach it to the base on top of the moving flap.

Step 8: Insert the Lenses



Glue the inner (3) and middle (2A) parts that form the front surface and insert your lenses with the curved side forward (towards the phone screen). Then glue the outer panel (1B), making sure they fit together well when folded.

Step 9: Final Assembly


Glue part 4 inside part 1B, making sure you don't glue the button flap (in the first photo I'm pressing it loosely). If the flap does not snap into place, carefully trim the 3 loose edges as necessary. The final look will be the same as in the second photo, except for the still missing part with the button.

Fold top part section for the phone, aligning it with the outer layer of this section (2A) and gluing it. Next, fold and glue two pairs of small side panels (my finger is on the right one so you can see it).

The large side panels 2B and the phone cover 1A are not glued together as they will use Velcro to hold them in place.

Step 10: Installing Elastic Bands and Velcro


Velcro holds the front panel and foldable side panels. Basically, if you are not going to lay out the glasses, you can glue the side panels. If you carefully cut out the Velcro and holes for them, they will fit flush.

The rubber band is necessary to prevent your phone from sliding sideways.
Download the virtual reality app and insert your smartphone. If desired, you can use a head strap, but for total immersion It is highly advisable to use headphones.

An interesting story turned out with Google Cardboard; in general, Google developed them for an exhibition as a mockery of the ever-increasing trend of virtual reality, but the idea spread to the masses and now 3D glasses for smartphones are one of the trends.

In the Android market and the iOS application store you will find many games and entertainment applications for Google Cardboard, they are located both in the paid section and in free programs.

How to make 3D glasses for a smartphone

Making your own Google Cardboard is very simple, download the drawing from the link below, insert two lenses and assemble these homemade 3D glasses using your smartphone as a screen.

Download Google Cardboard drawing Can .

The only problem may be the lenses; you need biconvex magnifying glasses with a diameter of 40 mm, magnification 3x, focal length 80 mm. But they can be ordered online.

Look at the animation on how to properly assemble 3D glasses from cardboard.

As you can see, no problem.

By the way, people make a lot of money on these 3D glasses!

During the Geek Picnic 2015 festival, these cardboard boxes were sold for “only 990 rubles”!

The funny thing is that such a Google Cardboard set can be ordered from China for $3!!!

But visitors loved the cardboard 3D glasses!

And many who do not know their true price bought them, and took more than one copy, but also took them with them to give a gift to their loved ones.

Work 3D Google glasses Cardboard with almost any Android smartphone or iPhone. For Android, the only limitation is that the OS must have a version of at least 4.1.

The standard Cardboard application for Android is a set of mini-utilities that demonstrate the capabilities of 3D glasses. All applications are displayed in the form of a ribbon of icons, which can be navigated by turning your head left and right. The very first thing you should do is launch the Tutorial program - a very short and simple video teaching how to work with 3D glasses.

In addition to the instructions, the package includes the following applications:

Earth: you can fly in 3D Google maps Earth.

Tour Guide: Visit Versailles with a local guide.

YouTube: Watch popular YouTube videos on a virtual screen.

Exhibit: Explore cultural artifacts from every corner of the planet.

Photo Sphere: View your own or other uploaded spherical photos.

Street Vue: Drive around Paris on a summer day.

Windy Day: Interactive cartoon from Spotlight Stories

Also pay attention to the VR Cinema program.

VR Cinema for Cardboard - Virtual reality cinema for Cardboard

Thanks to this application you can watch movies on your VR display. The application splits any MP4 video. The screen is divided into two halves with the same picture on both sides. It's not real 3D, but the feeling is comparable! Videos are downloaded from the memory of your gadget or from Google Disk. VR Cinema allows you to watch videos captured on your gadget’s camera. The app also has a VR camera feature that uses front camera. It's a funny effect, but I didn't appreciate it. The application has not yet been finalized and you can feel it. In future versions, the developer promises to introduce control using a magnetic ring, the ability to transfer video online and will increase the number of processed formats.

If you cannot get lenses or they are offered to you at a price above $3, then order right away Google ready Cardboard worth $3.2!

All you need to do is fold these 3D glasses from the disassembled state, insert your smartphone into them and you can enjoy 3D reality!

Buy Google Cardboard Can

Having your own virtual reality module has been the dream of many since childhood, and progress is already very close to the creation of such devices. In 2014, Google developers presented the world with a stunning invention that uses the capabilities of regular smartphones on the Android platform. Right at the conference, any participant could assemble a virtual reality helmet from cardboard and a few simple parts and appreciate the delights of three-dimensional graphics and atmospheric video with the ability to view a full 360-degree view.

Virtual reality on the cheap

Google Cardboard was not a technological breakthrough; virtual reality helmets have been around for quite some time; moreover, many are familiar with children's devices for viewing three-dimensional images. Nowadays, few people can be surprised by the ability of smartphones to navigate in space; no, the public was surprised by something else. The simplicity and accessibility of the design is what really deserved attention, and besides, the developers have now released many applications that use this device to immerse themselves in virtual reality.

The developers of Google Cardboard opened up all the technical documentation for the device, refusing to trade their invention, and manufacturers instantly picked up the idea. On at the moment There are many different models made of plastic, cardboard and even leather products. For around $20, you can purchase cardboard kits like those that were first presented at the developer conference in June 2014. Also, instructions and diagrams are available to anyone, and it will not be difficult to assemble Cardboard with your own hands.

Materials

The prices for a cardboard box are, of course, quite significant, but before you make Cardboard yourself, you should know where to find or purchase the rest of the materials. We will need:


Electronic component - a powerful smartphone

Let us now analyze all the components point by point, starting with the models suitable smartphones. Anyone can find the ones invented by the developers for Google builds DIY Cardboard drawings. The sizes of phones suitable for such versions of glasses 2.0 are limited to a width of up to 83 mm and a diagonal of up to 6 inches. For other sizes, you will have to think through your own design, selecting the distances to the lenses experimentally, or look for an option from ready-made products in the store. 3D glasses also place additional demands on the device’s screen. Remember, you won't just be looking at your phone screen from very close, but you'll be getting magnification through the lenses. Of course, the better the screen, the less discomfort. At the moment, it is possible to use smartphones based on or higher (from 4 iPhones) or Windows Phone 7.0 and higher, but initially the entire system was designed specifically for Android 4.1. Download any VR application and check your smartphone for compatibility by rotating it and watching the picture.

Housing material

It is not difficult to select cardboard for the base of our glasses; a large pizza box has suitable parameters. You can also purchase cardboard in craft stores or disassemble some ownerless box from household appliances. Cardboard that is too thick will be inconvenient to cut and bend, while thin cardboard will most likely not hold the lenses and smartphone in a rigidly fixed position on the head.

Optics

With lenses, perhaps, it will be the most difficult, but this is the most important material for 3D glasses. Google recommends using lenses for Cardboard with a focal length of 45 mm; accordingly, the sizes of the virtual reality glasses themselves on the site are designed only for lenses with this focal length. Thus, the desire to use different lenses, or perhaps a system of two or more lenses per eyepiece, will inevitably lead to a readjustment of the distance to the eyes and the screen, thus changing the entire design. If you feel confident enough, it's worth experimenting, but it's much easier to order lenses.

Fasteners

As an attachment to the head, you can use a fabric elastic band or a Velcro strap. It’s not difficult to find rubber bands for the case, and even easier to replace. After assembling the entire structure, it is only needed to hold its shape. You can simply glue the 3D glasses at all joints after adjusting the lenses with glue or tape. Two Velcro strips measuring 15x20 mm will be needed to secure the closed lid with the smartphone inserted. In the absence of one, there are many options for fixing the cardboard cover; the main thing is to make sure that the smartphone does not fall out while using 3D glasses.

Additional controls

Magnets are needed to make an optional 3D headset control button on the case, and are only suitable for smartphone models with a built-in magnetometer. When creating a helmet for testing, you should not waste effort and money searching for suitable magnets. Such a button can be attached to virtual reality glasses separately after full testing of the device or not installed at all. For long-lasting 3D glasses, you will need a neodymium magnet ring and a magnetic ceramic disc, both measuring no more than 3x20mm. You can also cut holes and operate your smartphone with your fingers.

An NFC sticker is glued to the inside of the glasses, which allows the smartphone to automatically launch the necessary applications. You can probably find it in communication shops or online stores; it is also not mandatory, and you can install it later.

Tools and safety precautions

The simplest tool you will need is:

  • Google Cardboard template. The drawings are in the article.
  • A sharp knife, a durable stationery knife will do. The cardboard needs to be cut clearly along the lines of the template, especially the grooves and holes, so scissors won’t do the job.
  • Scotch tape or glue.
  • Hard line.

Google claims that scissors are enough for the job; don’t delude yourself; thin slits and fixing grooves are much more convenient to cut with a blade.

The design is reinforced with stiffening ribs from the inside, so there is not much difference between cutting out a whole pattern from a long piece of cardboard or assembling it from 2-3 parts, connecting them with tape. When cutting with a knife, be careful not to scratch the surface of the table or floor; take a special board for this purpose, for example, a cutting board from the kitchen. Particular care must be taken when cutting out holes for lenses, so that subsequently the lenses lie in the same 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 lenses. In a fixed position, the cardboard will firmly press the lenses so that they do not move relative to each other. Next you need to glue Velcro as fasteners along the edges of the top side and on inside covers, and also install magnets in place. At this stage, you can already try on the 3D glasses on your head to determine areas of possible skin chafing. When watching a movie for a long time, for example, these points can be very irritating, so you can additionally pad them with thin strips of foam rubber.

Is the game worth the candle?

The 3D glasses are ready, all you have to do is secure them on your head with an elastic band or strap of your choice, insert a smartphone with a 3D application and enjoy virtual reality. As for the cost of the resulting device, there are many offers of ready-made kits priced under $10. You can save money only if all the parts are on hand or within easy reach. If you order spare parts, taking into account various expenses For shipping and order fulfillment time, it turns out to be somewhat more expensive than buying the entire set. Naturally, if your dog bites the 3D glasses because you sat in virtual reality instead of feeding or walking the animal, you can easily assemble new ones using the instructions above and the remaining parts. In the meantime, you are looking for cardboard to replace the damaged one, in order to restore the Cardboard with your own hands, you can also walk the dog and feed it.

Device capabilities

At the moment, there are already a significant number of optimized for Google Cardboard applications and several films. Paired with headphones, virtual reality glasses can easily replace a good 3D cinema, and games, according to users, despite their primitiveness, can add a strong sense of presence and atmosphere. For craftsmen and fans of various technical tasks, it can be noted that it is possible to connect Cardboard glasses to a computer to use the virtual reality module in games. This is where the truly immersive experience comes in.