DIY Information on motorized canopy lift systems.

[XDUDE3D]

I am wanting to know any and all there is to know about who sells, or how to build a motorized canopy lift system.

I have looked around and not saw much (unless I missed it) about this. Some people use gas shocks to make their hood lean back easier for servicing. However, I am talking about a FULL automatic lifting of the whole hood about 20 to 30 inches above the tank at the press of a button.

I have seen videos of people making their own, not sure if any company makes a kit, but would love to make this a person DIY.

My basic idea is to have some sort of rail system attached to the tank stand (or wall) that keeps the hood inline on a vertical path above the tank. Then to have some gas shocks to assist in the lifting and lowering while having one or 2 heavy duty linear actuators to lift and lower the actual weight of the hood along the rail system with the shocks helping with the load.

As I said, I looked around and didn't find much so sorry if I am copy-posting. But, I don't believe I am. The hood I am wanting to make for my newest tank (size: 96wx18dx22h) I want to have planters built into the top, to have lush tropical plants growing all over (I'm a sucker for plants!) But want the hood to have the lighting and anything else below for the tank with the ease of a button to lift the loaded hood up to a height that I can service the tank.

Post any ideas, thoughts, comments, DIY attempts, or setups you may already have! As I will do so with my own idea once I start. Have a good one!

 

[yogurt_21]

best i can do is point you toward jerry rigging a garage door opener. though it sounds like it would be overkill.

Might be much easier to help you if you did a sketch up of what you're talking about. from here it almost sounds identical to a garage door setup.

 

[XDUDE3D]

I will be working up a visual blueprint of what I am personally talking about. I have seen someone use a garage door opener with a bunch of pulleys to do the same, but it was all set up in the attic I believe. Thought it was a bit "unsafe" as the motor was not very smooth to set the hood onto a glass tank.

But, Will get a image of my idea up soon. Thanks!

 

[O2surplus]

checkout-http://www.trossenrobotics.com
They've got a good selection of linear actuators and microcontrollers.

 

[XDUDE3D]

Thanks, I will check them out!

Here are the images of my idea. PLEASE note these are very rough drafts and I am sure I will be changing things here or there to make this work.

Also, I wish to add that anyone that uses these drawings to plan their own lift system does so at their own risk, as this is not a finished design and I would like to work the bugs out myself before this is used as a template for everyone!

 

[The1and only]

Looks good the only thing I would do is get rid of the gas shocks they will interfere with the linear actuators. I would also put the actuators as close to the slides as possible to prevent binding. If you build the canopy out of light gauge steel and wrap it in 1/4" plywood will help beef it up and cut down on the weight.

 

[rrmedicx]

Has anyone come up with a real plan to make this work?

 

[Oughtsix]

I have plans to do the same thing. I want a plant filter on top of my tank with LED's built in for tank lighting.

I would love to share some brain-storming on how to accomplish this.

In my design above I am thinking the canopy / vegie filter will have to rest on the tank in the down state to maintain stability. The hard part for me is engineering the posts on the back to slide easily and support the cantilevered canopy. For a lifting mechanism I plan on just using a hydraulic jack from harbor freight. I don't mind a little pumping to raise the canopy. I would like to hide the electrical and plumbing inside the support columns for neatness.

My thoughts are to use linear bearings like this:

Where the columns protrude from the top of the stand.

Then use another set of linear bearings like this:

mounted to the inside of the back of the stand about 15 inches above the floor. Assuming my stand is 30" high this would give me 15 inches between the top and bottom bearings to counteract the cantilevered forces and ~15 inches of elevation. With this in mind I am thinking of using 1.5 in OD pipes for the columns and corresponding 1.5" ID linear bearings. (Kind of pricey to buy new but maybe I might get lucky and score some off of ebay).

Another thought I had was to use square tubing for the columns and then weld up a bracket similar to the flange bearing above to hold skate board bearings to support the square tubing.

Other thoughts I have had include building horizontal rails on the top of the tank so I can slide the whole canopy forwards and then remove it for tank access. Kind of like pulling out a drawer and removing it from a cabinet. I have also considered splitting the canopy in two and making the two halves so they can rotate horizontally around the columns located in the back corners so they can swing out of the way. Another idea is to use the above mentioned horizontal rails so I could roll the whole canopy to the left or right exposing half the tank at a time.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Oughtsix]

Like this. With the bearings on a common shaft. On the weight supporting side I would use several bearings. On the other three non weight supporting sides of the square column I would use only one or two bearings for alignment.