Projector Lift

Problem

A projector mounted in a low ceiling cavity needed a way to disappear from view when not in use, without the cavity height allowing for a standard drop-down mount. The lift needed to raise the projector into the cavity and lower it back out on demand, without damaging the bulb or the mechanism in the process.

Process

I designed the lift structure and mechanism in OnShape, driven by a linear actuator, and produced the engineering drawings needed to manufacture the parts, which is ongoing. The next stage is the electronics: an IR receiver circuit with a timer delay, so the projector bulb has time to cool before the lift raises it back into the cavity, followed by integration with the house's smart home system so the lift can be triggered alongside the rest of the setup.

Outcome

The mechanical design is complete and part manufacture is underway. Once the electronics and smart home integration are built, the lift will let the projector be hidden and revealed on a single trigger rather than requiring a permanent, visible mount.