TV Mount That Can Handle Face-down Orientation

klaw81 on 25/04/2022 - 11:10

Preamble: I know this is an unusual requirement, but I'm sure there are suitable products available.

I built a cabinet where a 43" screen is mounted on the underside of a coffee table lid. The lid is opened to vertical (with gas strut assist) to use the screen, and the lid can then be closed and the screen is hidden away when not in use.

Thus, the screen is in a conventional "wall mount" configuration when deployed, but the mount must be able to also cope with a gentle transition to a horizontal face-down configuration.

I designed 3d printed mounts which work fine; however they melt and sag when subject to elevated temperatures. This happens when the screen is accidentally left on when the lid is closed. Operation when closed is not an intended use case and will be avoided, but has now happened twice so I'm looking for a more durable mounting alternative. I could potentially re-print the mounts in a different plastic with a higher plastic point, but my preferred solution is to find a commercial product which would do the job.

It seems that marine/caravan mounts are my best option, but most products for this application seem to have a swing arm of some kind, which is not required and indeed makes it less suitable for my particular application due to increased thickness etc.

My preference would be for a simple pressed/cast steel bracket arrangement if possible. It needs to accommodate a 200x100 VESA mounting pattern to suit my screen.

All suggestions would be welcome.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • mskeggs on 25/04/2022 - 11:14
    +4

    Why not just a normal metal wall mount with an extra bolt drilled through to keep it in place?

    • klaw81 on 26/04/2022 - 09:41

      Needs to be slim enough for clearance to the front of the screen while closed. My 3d printed mounts are quite slender so that the front of the screen doesn't touch the base of the screen cubby when the lid is closed.

      Slimline mounts generally rely on gravity to do most of the work - they're just a long pressed steel French cleat.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/04/2022 - 11:31

    you could ask a local metal worker if he could fabricate a metal copy of the plastic mounts, it probably wouldn't be too expensive (although it would be more expensive than mass produced, if you could find any to suit)

    • klaw81 on 26/04/2022 - 09:48

      The shape of the 3d printed mounts is heavily influenced by geometry suited to 3d printing. This is a major consideration when creating structural items.

      It could probably be cast from aluminium or machined from billet, but either option would be prohibitively expensive.

      I'm basically looking for scaled up version of this: https://www.selby.com.au/13-30in-lcd-bracket-slimline-black-…

  • Hithere on 25/04/2022 - 12:10
    +2

    This happens when the screen is accidentally left on when the lid is closed.

    Can you cut the power lead to your TV and install a simple push button on/off switch on a plate in the line which cuts off power when the lid is closed onto it and releases, resuming power, when the lid is opened?

    From memory, it'll be a single pole push button normally closed switch. (I'll leave that to the egg-spurts)

  • bloom on 25/04/2022 - 12:12
    -1

    The ol’ TV on the ceiling above the bed eh?

  • John Kimble on 25/04/2022 - 13:22
    +1

    Photos please!

    Would the TV not be too close if watching out of a coffee table?

    • Some Human on 25/04/2022 - 20:43

      I want to see it too. It sounds awesome!

      • klaw81 on 26/04/2022 - 15:05
        +2

        I posted an album of 2 photos here: https://imgur.com/a/MAmFEkz

        It's not a lclassic coffee table - more of a large side table with storage for board games, magazines etc underneath. The whole thing is Laminex, cut and edged by a local joiner to my design drawings.

        The pictures are old - with a previous screen while I was running a media server tucked in the lower portion. The struts weren't installed, and there's no foam liner to conceal the cabling.

        • Some Human on 27/04/2022 - 01:23

          That’s cool. Clever how you can put the lid down and play board games.

          You could market it to ikea if they don’t have it already.

          Appreciate you taking the time to post pictures.

  • nofate on 25/04/2022 - 15:29
    +1

    If your into home automation you could place a reed switch on the underside and a power plug on the tv plug so when its close its auto off. No accidents.

    • klaw81 on 26/04/2022 - 09:44

      I have a full Home Assistant setup and I probably even have a spare sensor and smart switch to make it work.

      Having said that, I have lost confidence in the printed mounts and I want something more solid. I have a colleague who has access to a small laser cutter and may be able to cut something out of plywood if I can't find a commercial solution.

      Maybe I'll do both - even if the mounts don't fail, keeping the screen running and building up heat in an enclosed environment is almost certainly bad for the screen itself.

  • slowey on 01/05/2022 - 15:13

    Cool idea, how about this mount?

    https://www.selby.com.au/bracket-finder/37-80-rotating-tv-wa…

    Probably depends how sturdy the locks are, but it looks like it could work.

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