Motorized Monitor Mount

This instructable was created in fulfillment of the project requirement of the Makecourse at the University of South Florida (www.makecourse.com)

Step 1: Download Necessary Files and Additional Items Needed

Included are the Solidworks files that are used in order to 3D print the majority of the parts for this project. Also posted below are the links the any other parts that need to be purchased in order to complete the build of this project and the Arduino Code.

Linear Actuator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K0HYGVG/ref=...

Arduino Uno 3: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MMMSNYH/ref=...

Breadboard: https://www.amazon.com/Breadboard-Solderless-Prot...

L298N H Bridge: https://www.amazon.com/Breadboard-Solderless-Prot...

Voltage Regulator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TMFKJ9Q/ref=...

Servo Motor: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07569WJ1M/ref=...

Step 2: Open Files and 3D Print Parts

Once you open the Solidworks files and create an STL file from each of the parts. You can then load the parts into a software such as Cura in order to create the .gcode file for the 3D Printer.

Step 3: Assemble 3D Printed Parts

Once all of your 3D printed parts you can begin to assemble them together.

1. Using Super Glue you can glue the (Base Gear) on the top center of the (Base Mount for Actuator) as well as the (Base Mount Middle) part to the top of the (Base Mount for Actuator).

2. Using Super Glue glue the (Rear Motor Side Plate) to the back of the (Base Gear Fitting)

3. Once these parts have fully cured you can then place the (Base Gear) into the (Base Gear Fitting)

4. Once you have completed the pervious step place the (Base Gear Fitting Cover) on top of the (Base Gear Fitting) and put it into place, but do not glue down yet in case it need to be removed later.

Step 4: Assemble the Mount Plate

Disclaimer: For my particular monitor I needed a spacer for my mount plate. This was due to a notch on the back, but with most monitors the spacer would not be necessary. This Mount Plate is made to standard VESA Mount specifications.

1. To attach your monitor attach the (Mount Plate) to the Linear Actuator inserting screws into the eight holes that are slightly recessed into the plate.

2. Once the monitor plate is attached you can then (if necessary) attach the (Mount Plate Spacer) to the (Mount Plate)

Step 5: Attaching Linear Actuator

Place the Linear Actuator into the (Base Mount Middle)

Step 6: Attaching the Servo

Using the circle attachment provided with the servo, attach the small gear using screws to the servo. Then place the servo meshing it with the large gear and securing the servo in place.

Step 7: Breadboard Connections

1. Begin by connecting the wires for the IR Receiver, then connect the wires and resistors for the buttons (220 ohm resistors are sufficient for this). Then connect the L298 H bridge IN1 and IN2 pins to the Arduino and the red and black wires from the actuator to the positive and negative terminals on the opposite side of the H bridge.

2. Before connecting the servo to the Voltage Regulator the voltage regulator has to be adjusted to the proper voltage that the servo requires. The servo that is listed in the purchased items requires a voltage between 6 and 7.4 Volts. Once the Regulator is set then you are ready to connect it to the Servo.

3. Connect the Servo to the out ports on the Voltage Regulator and the negative side of the input to the breadboard and the positive to the battery. (You can wait to connect the positive port until the end so the battery doesn't drain) Connect the control pin for the Servo to pin 9 on the Arduino.

Step 8: Uploading the Code

The next step is to upload the code to the Arduino. Make sure the the Arduino is connected and that the correct port is selected in the software. Once all of this has been verified you can upload the software to the Arduino.

1. The code starts by including the Remote, Servo, and Wire .h files.

2. I then defined the IR input pin

3. In the next section I defined all of the different inputs for the remote that I am using. I ended up not using the plus and minus buttons but have left them in case I use them to add more functionality at a later date.

4. Next, I initialized all the different pins that are being used on the breadboard and in the sketch with each pin being defined for exactly what it is being used for in the sketch.

5. The next section is the setup. I set the motor control pins as outputs and the buttons as inputs. Separately I also started the receiver and declared the servo. The last part of the setup is ensuring that both of the motor pins are set to LOW so that the motor is turned off.

6. For the loop, the first major section consists of the code that controls the rear servo. Pressing button 1 on the remote turns the monitor 45 degrees to the left and turns the servo to 0 degrees. Button 2 turns the monitor to straight ahead and turns the servo to 180 degrees. Button 3 turns the monitor to 45 degrees to the right turns the servo to 90 degrees.

7. The next section consists of the code that controls the linear actuator. The code reads for if the up button is pressed and if it is then it sets pin in1 to High and pin in2 to Low which makes the linear actuator go upward. In the same way the code when run checks to see if the down button is pressed and will reverse the high and low to pins in1 and in2 and the linear actuator will go down. The delays at the end of each direction determines how long the motor run for which allows it to go back and forth between two predetermined points. These points can be changed based on the users liking with only the delays needing to be adjusted. After either button is pushed both pins in1 and in2 are set to LOW which turns the motor off.

Step 9: Running the Code

You are now ready to connect the battery to the control system, upload and run the code for the program. Once the code is uploaded you should be able to press the up and down button and use the remote control to turn the monitor.