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all 64 comments

[–]gaedikus 43 points44 points ago

x-post to /r/DIY, they'd eat this up.

[–]optec[S] 14 points15 points ago

Done, thanks for the suggestion :)

[–]gaedikus 6 points7 points ago

i saw that :) looks like they're enjoying your submission.

[–]optec[S] 15 points16 points ago

I have updated the album with another photo of the finished product in slightly better lighting. Also I have included a parts list below.

Tips if you are planning on building this:

  • The crossbar is hard to fix perfectly level, the arms tend to tip the beam forward. To get round this I put a spare repair washer behind the bracket and in front of the beam to prop it slightly backward, this made the whole thing level.

  • Cut three holes on the back of the middle bit of MDF to allow the nuts on the bracket to sit inside the block. (Good bit about this in the Techradar article)

  • Measure your vertical beam sensibly before building, in the first build I had my monitors set for the right height if I was sat bolt upright in my chair but when I actually got into my comfortable gaming position it was too high. Luckily the off cut made a good substitute.

  • The Unistrut has holes every 5cm this means your holes for the bolts need to bo this far apart.

  • Buy a few spare bolts etc as you may need to do something novel with them

  • Getting the positions of the VESA holes just right can be tricky. I measured it but got it wrong when it came to drilling. Making the holes slightly larger (through a little bit of drill wiggling) allowed me to just drop the bolts in and find the right position easily.

  • Make sure you know whether your monitors are 75mm VESA or 100mm VESA, 100mm are easier as you dont have to do anything about the mount (75mm gets in the way of the middle bracket)

  • Monitors without internal power supplies (i.e. ones with power bricks) are lighter and easier to fiddle with when mounting it to the stand.

Parts List:

  • 1 x Unistrut P3300T Shallow Slotted Channel x 3m
  • 2 x Unistrut P1358 Flat Delta T Bracket
  • 2 x Unistrut P1074 45 Degree Long bracket 4 Holes
  • 15 x M10 25mm Bolts
  • 18 x M10 Washers
  • 15 x M10 Full Nuts
  • 10 x M10 Repair Washers
  • 12 x M4 Bolts (for the screens)
  • 1 x 450mm x 120mm x 18mm MDF or Chipboard

[–]enkil7412 11 points12 points ago

I was actually wondering how strong those cut -> bent areas were... I assume they're strong since they're holding the monitors up, but doesn't that mess with the structural integrity of the metal? It looks really great though! :D

[–]kmj442 6 points7 points ago

He put some 45 degree brackets on, you can see them in image 9 (I believe). Though I may have also put them on the base, but I guess there is less torsional force down there?

[–]optec[S] 5 points6 points ago

They are surprisingly strong but I added brackets to strengthen it. The cut formed a small fracture in the metal which would have magnified the stresses. I wouldnt go any larger than 23" without the brackets. The monitors I used didnt have an internal power supply so were quite light.

[–]jaxspider 3 points4 points ago

What about at the 45 degree base? No addition support for that?

[–]optec[S] 3 points4 points ago

It doesn't need it, very little stress is going through it. Not noticed any cracks in the base like I did in the crossbeam.

[–]SonicFlash01 8 points9 points ago

sees building equipment
Nope. I live in an apartment. I have a hammer and a screwdriver.

[–]optec[S] 6 points7 points ago

I bought the workbench and hacksaw for £20 you dont need premium tools for a one off build. Got the drill for work around the house for £14. Other tools you need are a spanner (wrench?) and some pliers.

[–]Megabobster 4 points5 points ago

Yes, wrench. I remember back in my RuneScape days, the game referred to the settings menu as the one with the spanner. I was mighty confused.

[–]TheRealNortson 3 points4 points ago

You can sometimes rent tools at certain stores. I think autozone will let you, maybe local hardware stores as well.

[–]STINKY10306 3 points4 points ago

This is how feel most of the time.

[–]bigano 2 points3 points ago

I think you a word.

[–]STINKY10306 2 points3 points ago

DAMMIT!!!!

[–]Weetabixxx 2 points3 points ago

The stand looks great! May I ask what monitors thoes are?

[–]NiceSpare 3 points4 points ago

LG IPS234V, with closer inspection of the packaging, if I am correct.

[–]optec[S] 2 points3 points ago

You are correct

[–]mlus 3 points4 points ago

Did you secure the stand into your table, or does the weight of the stand support itself?

[–]optec[S] 5 points6 points ago

The weight supports itself. It is surprisingly strong and sturdy. I can slide the whole assembly along the desk easily. It flexes a bit but that's it. You could bolt it to the desk but this way worked.

[–]pigsbladder 3 points4 points ago

nice pink pliers ;)

[–]optec[S] 3 points4 points ago

All my tools are a manly pink :-)

[–]Fantasysage 4 points5 points ago

No one steals pink tools.

[–]lurker_becomes_lurkd 0 points1 point ago

This is why my old boss had only pink extension cords.

[–]cbleslie 3 points4 points ago

Paint that matte black, and I am sold. :)

[–]bro_b1_kenobi 1 point2 points ago

What is the weight capacity of this rig? Do you think I could build a custom version for 3x 30" monitors that weigh 28 lbs each?

[–]optec[S] 1 point2 points ago

To be honest I cant see this being good for anything higher than 24" especially if they weigh that much. You could make the base a lot bigger. But the arms would likely flex under that load.

[–]bro_b1_kenobi 0 points1 point ago

Yeah I figured as much. Do you think if I tried a different material I could have better results?

[–]BodProbe 1 point2 points ago

You could probably cut a couple vertical pieces of uni-strut to brace up the sides and keep it from bowing. Just attach them with flat brackets similar to the angle brackets OP used.

Might not be quite as pretty, but it should work.

edit: Might need to make the sides a little longer at the bottom for this to work. Also, might want to use the same brackets as OP used for the vertical piece in the middle for even more stability.

[–]u0da2 1 point2 points ago

I congratulate you on a job well done sir

[–]barneybwilde 1 point2 points ago

I used to be a instrument tech, we use strut quite a bit. Never thought about this. Great Job!

[–]TobiasMX 1 point2 points ago

Got any more photos/information you can give us? I like your design (and its price :P) and am interested in cloning it

edit: I see you've mentioned getting the design elsewhere above, able to provide a link?

[–]optec[S] 1 point2 points ago

I will add some extra info when I get home.

[–]TobiasMX 1 point2 points ago

Awesome, thanks! :)

[–]pigletiger 1 point2 points ago

Here's the source of the design. I have been considering making a similar stand for a while

[–]TheRealNortson 1 point2 points ago

Nice looking stand! Looks great for not much money.

[–]manys 1 point2 points ago

$40 maybe...how much were the tools? ;)

[–]optec[S] 2 points3 points ago

Spent about $40 on the workbench hacksaw and spade bits for my drill. But as I have just bought my first house I'm sure they will come in handy in the future :).

[–]TheBigDoak 1 point2 points ago

Any chance of a picture of the finished product with lights on? How do they look at the corners? From the picture with just one monitor, it looks like they would either touch at the bezels but interfere with the corner brackets/bolts, or that there would be some serious separation there.

[–]OlXondof 1 point2 points ago

How much did you get each monitor for?

[–]optec[S] 0 points1 point ago

£120 each

[–]seishi 1 point2 points ago

I would leave the side two monitors off. It looks like it's trying to give you a hug.

[–]SegamanXero 1 point2 points ago

That looks really slick too, great work!

[–]3stacks 1 point2 points ago

I am 2 monitors away from trying this.

[–]Simbrian 1 point2 points ago

I strongly suggest securing that to your desk if you haven't done so already. I can't tell in your pictures.

[–]Glenners 1 point2 points ago

That's awesome! Definitely going to give that a try when I upgrade to a triple monitor setup! When you cut and bent the metal for the monitor bracket I was freaking out because the side monitors would probably fall of eventually, but then I saw you reinforced it and breathed easy haha.

[–]i_rape_moms 0 points1 point ago

Right...thanks to make me remember that I can't even screw a piece of wood the right way...Hell, I did not even know what unistrut was before this post.

[–]kurtdyoung 0 points1 point ago

It's a lot more if you don't have any of the tools, but that is pretty cool. I like the jagged metal and toughness look. Nice work!

[–]optec[S] 0 points1 point ago

Very nice :-)

[–]kmo_9000 0 points1 point ago

Great now build yourself a mechanical keyboard.

[–]tediousd 0 points1 point ago

Nice WT poster :)

And Nice stand!

[–]t04glovern 0 points1 point ago

Doesn't the metal slide along your desk? or does it have rubber feet to stop that?

[–]maraedits 0 points1 point ago

Imo it would probably look cooler with a coat of black paint or something. Just a suggestion.

[–]Genion123 0 points1 point ago

I love your stand, do you mind if i can build one for my self?

[–]optec[S] 3 points4 points ago

Not my design so help yourself. I may add some additional info when I am not on my phone. I can provide a parts list and give a few tips.

[–]sblizzack 2 points3 points ago

you mention you followed a guide on techradar... mind linking?

[–]not_quite_there_yet 2 points3 points ago

This perhaps?

[–]optec[S] 2 points3 points ago

Thats the one. I posted in response to the article with some info that they leave out in the guide that I had to figure out myself.

[–]Genion123 1 point2 points ago

oh man you are amazing, thank you, if you can put the plans on how to make this, it will help me alot. best of luck friend _.

PS: cant wait to build this.

[–]Tashre -1 points0 points ago

Make it your design! Patent bracketed angles or some shit and sit back while the cash rolls in.

[–]siilver 2 points3 points ago

Why did I read it in British english?!