Motorized LCD Idea

**revbjeff** · 09-17-2009, 09:12 PM

The black curved part represents the dash. Ineed the screen to slide out then rise up to viewing angle. I would like it to slide down for a better position but that seems very difficult.

Does this look like it will work:

Black= Antenna base
Blue= Antenna "arm"
Red= LCD
Greens= Mounting Arm
Light Blue= Hinges
Yellow= Rails/Sliders
Step 1 Everything starts sliding out:

step 2 The slider hits stopping point:

Step 3 Actuator pushes screen into up position:

**koolkidd** · 09-18-2009, 08:22 AM

only problem i could see arising is the section (or size of) dash needed to be removed in order to allow the screen to flip up

**Bugbyte** · 09-18-2009, 08:44 AM

On step 3, the actuator won't work. Or rather, it will work sometimes and other times it won't. Because the short green mounting arm is underslung it could just as easily make the screen fold DOWN rather than up.

I think if you simply eliminate the short green mounting arm and connect the antenna arm directly to the hinge that the short green mounting arm is connected to in your diagram, it will work better.

That will make the antenna arm be at a slight angle which will be much more likely to push the screen up.

Also, use an L bracket and bolt it to the side of the monitor and move the hinge point inside your track. Like this:

**bes51659** · 09-18-2009, 04:58 PM

What is wrong with existing single DIN units?

**malcom2073** · 09-18-2009, 05:00 PM

The issue with most single DIN motorized units, is that they tend to stop working not too long after the guarantee runs out. Specifically the plastic gears break. This would solve that issue, but generally linear actuators are expensive, have you found a cheap source?

**bes51659** · 09-18-2009, 05:07 PM

DC motors are small and cheap and so are threaded rods....

**Bugbyte** · 09-18-2009, 05:27 PM

It looks like he's using a power antenna as the actuator. For awhile I thought it was an LCD with built in WiFi!

**Bugbyte** · 09-18-2009, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by bes51659

DC motors are small and cheap and so are threaded rods....

Right, but you have to build a controls system or use limit switches and a lot of people don't really know how to do that.

**revbjeff** · 09-18-2009, 05:54 PM

Yeah I don't know how to program servos and what not. I could buy a single din LCD but...
The screen I will be using is 12" and it's not coming out of the stereo opening it will be replacing the vents in the center of my dash.

After thinking about it real hard I think I'm going to attach the antenna/actuator to top of the screen and the rails that guide the screen on the top/sides. So the screen will come out and gravity will let it slide down. I will draw up something and post it in a bit.

Thanks for all the info and input though.