Chief VCTUB black

A 30 or 40 kg laser projector suspended from the ceiling presents two challenges. First, it needs to be held securely for years, then the image needs to be aligned to the millimetre on the screen without taking everything apart for each adjustment. This large universal mount addresses both: it supports up to 68 kg, and fine adjustments are made by hand using knobs once the projector is in place.

A 68 kg capacity in a compact form

The VCTUB is the XL model in the VCT range from Chief. It supports projectors weighing from 22.7 to 68 kg, meaning the large laser models installed in dedicated rooms facing a large screen. It replaces the VCM, retaining its function with a housing that is 30% thinner and 25% lighter. The mount still weighs 14.3 kg and measures 53.5 × 19.3 × 19.3 cm: a substantial piece of hardware, but compact enough to remain discreet overhead. The knobs and fasteners are black like the rest of the body, with no chrome parts to catch the light from the screen. A white version is available for light-coloured ceilings.

Three adjustment axes, no tools required

Aligning a projected image involves adjusting three movements. Pitch tilts the projector upwards or downwards, with ±20% of travel. Roll corrects a sideways tilt when the image leans to one side (±5°). Yaw rotates the unit horizontally: ±10° for fine adjustment, and free rotation through 360° for the initial orientation. Each of these axes is adjusted independently of the others, so correcting a sideways tilt does not shift the height of an image that is already aligned.

Chief’s MicroZone system uses reduction gearing. For pitch, the 100-to-1 ratio means that a full turn of the knob moves the unit by only a fraction of a degree, which matters when the screen is five or six metres away and a tiny deviation translates into several centimetres on the screen. This adjustment is made by hand or with a 13 mm socket wrench when the mount is difficult to access. Once the position is set, the PrecisionSet mechanism locks the pitch, while locknuts secure the roll and yaw: the image stays in place, even if someone bumps the projector while changing a lamp or dusting.

A universal interface included as standard

Each projector has its own mounting points beneath the chassis, and their spacing varies considerably from one model to another. The VCTUB comes with the HCUB universal interface, a plate sized to accommodate most mounting hole patterns that fit within its surface. Two sets of arms are included: short ones for projectors with closely spaced mounting points, avoiding clutter beneath the unit, and long ones for wider chassis. When a model falls outside these dimensions, Chief makes dedicated interfaces for certain projectors. Checking the unit’s weight and the spacing of its threaded inserts before ordering remains the first step.

Mounting exclusively on CMS columns

The VCTUB mounts only on Chief CMS columns. This column, purchased separately along with its ceiling mount, determines the height of the lens: its length is chosen according to the ceiling height and screen position, so that the beam is aligned with the screen. This restriction has an advantage, as it allows the projector to be lowered beneath a high ceiling or to pass through a suspended ceiling to reach the load-bearing structure. With an assembly that can exceed 80 kg (including the mount and projector), anchoring must be into concrete or a joist, never into plasterboard alone, and installation requires two people.

Technical Specifications

Projector Mount

• Maximum load: 68 kg
• MicroZone adjustment
• Compatible only with CMS tubes

Rotation

• Vertical tilt: ±20°
• Horizontal tilt: ±5°
• Rotation: 360°

General Features

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 53.50 × 19.30 × 19.30 cm
• Weight: 14.30 kg