| Project by KMP Wood Designs | posted 01-08-2012 12:42 AM | 7438 views | 11 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
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Hello everyone! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted any projects but here’s my latest.
My shop is in our attached garage and has limited bench and floor space so adding a roll around computer cabinet wasn’t an option. I had to come up with a way to suspend the computer cabinet from a pole that would run on a track system bolted to the ceiling.
The cabinet is 25 1/2” wide x 18” high x 19” deep. It’s made of red oak plywood with solid red oak trim. The entire cabinet is mounted on a 3” PVC pipe with two 1” thick pieces of oak split down the middle then bolted back together around the pipe.
Both the front and back sections are 6” deep to accommodate the 23” LG LED monitor and the HP Pavilion Slimline CPU. I used foam pad and two bungy straps to hold the CPU in place.
The keyboard shelf is mounted on two 14” full extension draw slides mounted horizontally. The shelf has two pivot points which gives me quite a range of height adjustments.
The track system utilizes the Johnson Hardware 111SD Series 96” Track and Hardware Set for 2-Door Bypass Doors (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100658028/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) from Home Depot. These are designed for pocket doors but I felt this would work for my application too.
The PVC pipe is mounted to a stainless steel flange which rests in a 1/4” counter-bore with a thrust bearing and two races. This allows me to rotate the entire computer cabinet 360 degrees. There are four roller assemblies; two in each track and each assembly has three wheels each which helps for easy movement back and forth. The entire unit is rated at 300 lbs.
When I’m done for the day, the keyboard shelf rotates up to cover the monitor and the entire unit can be pushed to the side of the shop for easy storage.
This was a challenging project to figure out how to safely suspend a computer for the ceiling and I’m very happy with how it turned out. The only thing I’ve notices in the last couple of days is I’m have some difficulty with keeping the keyboard shelf held securely in place with the two knobs.. I used external slotted lock washers between the rails and pivot board which works OK but the weight of the keyboard and mouse sometimes causes it to sag. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for checking out this post and hope to hear from you soon.
-- Jim, Virginia, http://www.kmpwooddesigns.com
12 comments so far
jaykaypur
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4017 posts in 2919 days
#1 posted 01-08-2012 01:40 AM
Now that is a sweet set-up. I really like this. Good job!
-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!
Rustic
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#2 posted 01-08-2012 01:56 AM
cool set up
-- www.carvingandturningsbyrick.com, Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
dspahn
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#3 posted 01-08-2012 03:20 AM
how about gluing some sandpaper on all of the hinges (or maybe only on one surface) to increase the friction coefficient (which is what you need to do to lessen slippage)? Or you could try to find some notched washers to create a detent hinge… Or possibly just buy some torque hinges: http://www.sugatsune.com/products/productss.cfm?CATID=7&SUBCATID=11
But very cool project!
Woodknack
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#4 posted 01-08-2012 03:23 AM
Well done, very functional!
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
a1Jim
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#5 posted 01-08-2012 05:16 AM
Very innovative design nice work.
Camel_Jockey
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#6 posted 01-08-2012 07:00 AM
Nice work its like a transformer cumputer. Lumbernus Prime…lol
-- Be gentle I am only new to the game
rikgn
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#7 posted 01-08-2012 08:14 AM
Excellent Idea!!! I have added this to my favorites for future reference
BAKTHAVATHSAL KADAMBI
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#8 posted 01-08-2012 09:40 AM
Extremely Creative idea. Very well executed. Congrats. and Grateful thanks for sharing the details.
-- ALPHA-ZEE CREATIONS
oi2342001
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27 posts in 2857 days
#9 posted 01-08-2012 04:18 PM
Great idea. I’ve thought about bringing a laptop into my garage before but didn’t want to put it down on a my bench in fear of dropping something on it or even knocking it on the floor. This is a perfect solution. I may have to copy this at some point.
-- If your not having fun you're doing it wrong.
KMP Wood Designs
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#10 posted 01-08-2012 08:11 PM
Thanks everyone!
dspahn - I didn’t try sandpaper but the external slotted lock washer does some what the same thing. I took it apart and the face of both surfaces have been scorn from the washer.
oi2342001 - I too was considering a laptop and had the same concerns. Just let me know of you need any additional information.
-- Jim, Virginia, http://www.kmpwooddesigns.com
Lenny
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1639 posts in 4038 days
#11 posted 01-09-2012 05:05 AM
Hi Jim. As others have stated, this is creative and innovative, not to mention that it also looks great. I don’t know much about such things but here’s my first thought about the keyboard shelf issue: It appears that there is a nut on the end opposite the knob. I wonder if you used a second knob instead of the nut whether you would get more overall tension on the joint? My second thought is, there is a substantial amount of weight on those joints. While it wouldn’t looks as nice, you could try a light-weight metal for the keyboard tray and the connector piece. That’s all I have for now. If I think of anything else, I will let you know.
-- On the eighth day God was back in His woodworking shop! Lenny, East Providence, RI
RexMcKinnon
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2593 posts in 3706 days
#12 posted 01-12-2012 11:46 PM
Cool stand.
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
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