New project

[Barry Barcrest]

I only just realised that it was Zakkk posting... What software did you use in the end.... 

[Karaokedude]

I had to get gas trutts for my old folding caravan they do different sizes and normally have a gas release valve on them so you can adjust the pressure

if you want a motorised option what about a motorised sat jack the old echostar ones run on 36 volts but you can run them on 12 volts which would be better as it would be slower you should be aable to set the the amount of travel either way as they have limit swithes inside

[Zakk]

dunno how I missed the tail end of my own thread!  Anyway...

finished it up about 2 months ago.  The monitor I ended up mounting to a couple of heavy duty drawer slides, and to the top lid, kind of like Barry's idea, but it was on swivels at the bottom, and a piano hinge on the lid.  The lid I set up with a couple of fluid-filled lifts...they lock in place, and also allow the whole apparatus ease back down into the cabinet without slamming.  Software was touchtone audio system, but only because it seemed to run right out-of-the-box.  I got a copy of Barry's software, but never had a time to try it out and get it installed (I was already 2 months behind on this).  Barry's looked much slicker, so I think I'll give it a whirl on the next machine I put together.  Thanks to everyone in the thread, this one was a lot of fun, and that's what this hobby is all about!!!

*edit: add pic

[Silver]

Think I get it....

Any chance you could post a close up pic/diagram of how the hinges are arranged (to see how they work when its opened/shut?

[Zakk]

Well it's already gone and I didn't really document that part very well, so here's a cheesy diagram (without firing up 3D Max i can't do it much better)

A- the thicker part of the rolling shelf rail, attached to the sides of the monitor housing with small bolts.
B- The inner part of the slide...there are three pieces to this particular slide, I think it was a 24" extension slide..I just measured the distance between C and E and bought that size slider.
C- Piano hinge attached to a slim piece of hardwood, which was in turn attached to the top with screws and glue. I didn't think the hinge would hold on its own, and I needed a bit of height to clear the back of the monitor housing when the lid was open.
D- Plywood pieces that were secured with glue and angle brackets, the width of the monitor and rails.
E- Thin carriage bolts set into metal collars that I hammered into the holes I drilled into the wood.  I didn't want the wood to wear, and I had these little sleeves kicking around.  The bolt goes in from the outside, and then I put a nut and a locknut on the inside...not too tight, so that the bottom of the hinge swivels. 

The hinge and monitor move forward as the lid closes, and angles back then you open, so that bottom bit had to swivel.

Hopefully this is clear, I don't know as if I could figure out what I was saying by reading this, but hopefully you'll have more luck