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After purchasing a 24" monitor, I felt the only way to optimize my deskspace was to build a custom monitor rack. Since I have a variety of monitors with different sizes and stands, a rack would help me line up everything so Synergy would perform perfectly. I decided at the beginning of this project to document everything well in an attempt to make my work replicable. I hope that this guide will help you build your very own command center!
The first step is to assemble all tools and supplies. Everything in the project can be purchased at your local Ace, Home Depot, Lowes, or any other hardware store.
Tools:
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Materials:
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Acquiring all the neccesary parts of this beast is the hardest part. Naturally, this entire project is very customizable. Galvanized pipe comes in various thicknesses and sizes, and depending on the size of the desk you're working on, and the load you are going to support, a different setup might be optimal. My reccomendation is to go to the hardware store and do a mock-setup in the store. People might give you bewildered looks, but that's better than having to return to the store a number of times due to miscalculation.
First, attach the flanges to the 10" pipes.
Ensure you screw the flanges in an equal amount across the pipes so they are all nice and level.
Now connect the cross and tee connectors to the tops of these pipes.
Now screw in the small 2.5" pipes into each of the top connectors. Once again, make sure the whole thing is staying nice and level
At this point we can screw in the the top two 90 degree connectors, as well as the two middle tee connectors.
After that, screw in two of the 12" pipes between the center two units you have created.
Take the 2.5" pieces and connect them to the straight couplers. Now attach a 45 degree coupler to the other side. After this, connect a 6" piece to the side with the 45 degree connector. Then screw in a 12" piece to the side with the straigth coupler.
Ok good! Your rack should be complete after you finish performing these steps.
Now take the wood, jigsaw, saftey goggles, and monitor mount. Draw an outline of the mount on the wood, then use the jigsaw to cut three blocks of wood to hold the mounts.
Use the clamps and your almost-done rack (it makes a great workbench thingy). Screw the two main mount screws into the wood.
Next, use the clamps to affix the wood to the pipes. Use the level to make sure it sits properly or else your monitor might be slanted!!
Take a sharpie and draw dots where the clamps should go. Then drill down each of the three pieces of wood using 4 clamps each.
Attach your monitor after you get one of these things mounted, and just sort of feel your way through the rest of the process. Mount a monitor to the center one, then determine how far away the side ones will have to be. After you attach them it should be looking good like this =]
Now put it on your desk and see if it fits alright. You're almost done, so make sure everything is VERY strong and is not going to fall apart and mess up your equipment.
Screw that puppy in and attach your monitors! All that hard work should pay off, and you'll be left with an AMAZING custom LCD rack! I had alot of fun making this thing, and I know you will too. Give it a shot if you have enough monitors. Like I said, there are tons of ways to customize this. One could easily make a 2 monitor rack. In the future, I am going to replace the top connectors and make mine into a 6 monitor rack!! Anyway...here are some money shots ^_^
If you make one of these please let me know so I can post your pics on here!!
I hope you all enjoyed and maybe even learned something. Until next time...
-ratchet
