Automating an electric standing desk with Arduino
IKEA sells – among many, many other items – a motorized sit/stand desk called the BEKANT. Although it seems like a nice item, creator “Hardware Unknown” found having to hold a button down the entire time that it goes from one position to another to be a bit inconvenient.
To remedy this situation, he cannibalized the stock PCB out of a spare control panel, then hooked up an Arduino Nano to emulate button presses to the board via a pair of MOSFETs. Four user input buttons were added, along with a 3D-printed enclosure for a custom controller.
Two buttons are used for manual up/down adjustment as before, while the other pair make the desk rise or fall for a set amount of time, automatically moving it to a sitting or standing position.
More details on Hardware Unknown’s project can be found in his write-up as well as in his video below.
December 30th, 2020 at 12:15:37
Seems like a really long-winded way of doing this, the Bekant stock controller has Bluetooth. You can control it via the Bluetooth. I’m using a raspberry pi with a python Bluetooth library to control mine but pretty sure you could do the same from an Arduino, no destroying the original controller required!
December 30th, 2020 at 20:43:52
The reason that you have to hold the button is that if someone or something gets in the way the table should stop.
Bypassing that safety feature could be a boring way to loose a finger (or destroy a computer)
December 30th, 2020 at 23:30:05
Really nice idea! It’s been bothering me to do hold it in as well.
December 31st, 2020 at 07:24:41
Great technology and development of the business
December 31st, 2020 at 08:25:04
Nice Helpful Blog