Conveyor Belt Chair
I collaborated with a Cal Poly architecture student to develop a dynamic chair for the annual Vellum Design Build Furniture Competition. The seat surface functions as a motorized conveyor belt, powered by a 12V DC motor and operated through a custom braking mechanism. I designed and integrated the electrical and mechanical systems, ensuring smooth belt motion, effective speed control, and safe user interaction within compact spatial constraints.
Rotational Movement
Chair features a continuous loop seating surface, resembling a conveyor belt rotating around cylindrical rollers at the front and back.
Exploded Axion
​The seat belt wraps around two cylindrical rollers, with the rear roller directly driven. Internal supports, motor housing, and electronics are revealed, highlighting the mechanical integration within a minimal structural frame.
Mechanical Components
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The conveyor belt seat is powered by a 12V DC motor housed within the left side of the chair base. A manual brake handle serves as an interrupt switch, giving the user control to stop the belt’s rotation at any time. The system runs on a rechargeable power bank, providing approximately 4 hours of continuous operation per charge.
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All electrical components and wiring are seamlessly integrated and concealed within the chair’s frame. To maintain a clean aesthetic, the wood side panels are secured with recessed magnets, allowing for easy access to the internal assembly.
Axel Assembly
This sub-assembly includes the front and rear cylindrical rollers, each supported by side-mounted cylindrical housings to maintain axial alignment and resist lateral forces. The system integrates ball bearings for smooth rotation, a custom 3D-printed motor mount, and a rubberized grip layer to ensure consistent traction between the rollers and the belt surface. This assembly ensures reliable and efficient seat movement driven by the DC motor.
Final Product
Completed prototype and submitted to the Vellum Furniture Design Competition. The final design showcases a fully functional conveyor belt chair, integrating mechanical motion with clean, minimal aesthetics. The result is an interactive seeing experience that inspires people to stop and take a look around in our chaotic society.
