Parabolic Mirror Mold for Collimated Display

thingiverse

I created a parabolic mirror mold for a collimated display project, a massive print measuring 2.37m x 1m x 0.5m, roughly equivalent to 93" x 39" x 20". I'm now working on breaking down this large mold into smaller interlocking pieces that can be printed using most printers. The focal point of this collimated display is located 1.5 meters vertically from the bottom and about 840mm from the back edge at the top. This may seem counterintuitive given the file name, but the primary reflection point was cut from the mold, making it slightly shorter from front to back. The Design Process A colleague on the internet constructed his own 220-degree collimated display using mylar and a vacuum. I was inspired by this endeavor, deciding to contribute to the field. My creation is based on an ultrawide monitor's aspect ratio (21:9), offering approximately the same angular perspective. While it doesn't reach the incredible 220 degrees, the mold forms a true parabola (Y = X^2/4P) capable of generating a remarkably sharp collimated image. Design Philosophy This approach deviates from the vacuum method, relying instead on stretching mylar over the convex surface, which is then coated with a form-holding substance such as bed liner or epoxy. Once removed, this process should yield a permanently shaped concave mirror that maintains its form precisely.