How to build a hidden Projector Screen pop-out from a cabinet

Watch how this customer converted his dining room cabinet to a high tech piece of equipment that transforms into a large screen TV at the touch of a button. The Integration of Electronics and mechanical motion of this new home cabinet is both impressive and mechanically clever.

How to build a hidden Projector Screen pop-out from a cabinet

This 2 stage Motion control robotics project is made possible by using one actuator that first lifts up the top molding of the Cabinet where the Projector screen is neatly hidden away out of sight. A second Linear actuator pushes the projector outwards so that the screen which also happens to be electronically controlled can be lowered into view once it is moved in front of the cabinet.

How to build a hidden Projector Screen pop-out from a cabinet

The whole motion takes around 30 seconds to complete and everything is timed perfectly thanks to the use of some DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) relays and 2 Linear Actuators. The best part is that the cabinet managed to remain almost completely un-touched. The top molding part was added later to match the style of the cabinet and is where everything is hidden behind out of sight

How to build a hidden Projector Screen pop-out from a cabinet

The video is not great quality but at least you can see it in action and for those that are mechanically inclined as we are, you can see the inner workings as the Linear Actuators do their part at making everything move effortlessly. As you can see from the video some DPDT relays were used to create the sequence and the trigger for the entire mechanism to start is a 2-Channel Remote control system which is commonly used to control our Linear Actuators. Most of the components were purchased from FIRGELLI including the Relays, Linear Actuators, Remote control system, and Power supply. 

Also notice the use of the FIRGELLi Slide rails. as shown below circled in red. There are a few of these along the top to allow the crown molding to neatly slide forward with ease. Slide rails are ideal for this type of application, they can carry allot of weight and are basically frictionless, so they require very little force to move no matter what the weight is that's sitting on top. Another option would be to use Drawer Slides  which can also carry a lot of weight and offer very long stroke extension options. But in this application there was very little space so very short Linear Slide rails were the best solution. 

drawer slides

For more details on how this was accomplished please send us an email. 

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