Final Project - Laptop Stand

The idea for this final project - making a laptop stand - came from many discussions and my own observations around the discomfort of using our IMA studios' tables while working, using laptops for many hours. The tables are of an awkward height where standing is not very comfortable (you would have to bend over to use your laptop) and sitting is also not the most comfortable position since the height of the chairs doesn't match this of the tables.

At the initial stage the laptop stand idea was in competition with changing our tables into risible tops tables. Asking students around the studio, many agreed the tables are uncomfortable to work at and that they alter their positions between sitting or standing to make it slightly better. The majority of students voted that a laptop stand which would be available around the studio for everyone to use at any time would be better than a change in the tables (that would make the tables harder to work at, since each could end up with a different height, objects might fall, etc.).

So with that I started my search into how to make a simple to use, yet versatile laptop stand. Initially, I had a lot of self-imposed constrains and requirements, making is small, lights, can add fans, etc... The final model's requirements were: you can use it when you sit and when you stand.

• plywood 5mm
• wood glue
• laser cutter
• 3D printer
• sanding box/ sanding paper
• one (1): metal rod 10mm diameter, 396mm length
• six (6): m8x45mm bolts
• six (6): m8 nut

I made a lot of drafts and tested a number of ideas. My first prototype, when fully unfolded, had the top layer (where you place your laptop) slanted, but the final version has it horizontal (I found out that works better for working while standing). I initially used 3D printed joints [pic.2] to allow the metal support bar to have a curve (one end attached to the wooden sides and the other end would be stopping in the pockets cut out in those sides, in the middle there was a straight, metal bar). That meant that the main support bars, those which allowed the laptop stand to hold its position, were composed of 3 pieces - this made the whole stand unstable and shaky.

Apart from the plastic joints, I also made plastic bolts that were to hold the wooden sides together [pic.3], this added to the shakiness, since they were not tight enough to hold two wooden sides together.

[pic. 3 and 4 - 3D printer messes from idea 1]

With my idea 2, the final version, I had to remodel the parts so that they were better aligned.

[pic 1] - I reshaped the wooden sides so that the layer 1 side would have space at the bottom for a 5mm plywood board [pic 3] which would add additional support to the stand by connecting the sides. Layer 3 side was also remade so that the board on which the laptop would be placed on [pic 4] sticks to its surface. This was made so that if you want to use any of your side ports you wouldn't be blocked by the wooden side like on the previous model [pic 2].

I added two holes on the top board [pic 4] so that a small piece could be placed in [pic 5] to stop the computer from sliding.

After the models for the wooden part were ready, I started laser cutting the pieces. Then I sanded them all until they were smooth and burnt marks from the laser cutting disappeared or were light brown.

I used 5mm plywood so for each wooden side piece I glued two of them together so that they would be thicker and more stable. When the sides were ready I started joining layer 1 and layer 3 sides with their respective board with wood glue [pic 2, 3]. It took a few hours for the wood glue to dry well and the pieces had to be clamped to make sure they stick correctly.

When the wooden sides dried, I used metal bolts to join them together - this was much more stable than the 3D printed ones + allows adjustment of how easy it's to unfold the stand just by tightening or loosening the screws. Since the screws available in the lab were only m8 x 45mm I had to cut them, making 4 - 23mm length ones (for the two wooden sides - 20mm together - connecting with the 3mm plastic side) and 2 - 13mm ones (for where there is only one wooden side - 10mm - connecting with the 3mm thickness plastic side).

This was the part where I decided to alter the plastic sides' shape from cylinders to 3mm thickness rectangles [pic 3]. There are two types of side bars one with: one hole is 8mm diameter for the screws and the other is 10mm diameter for the metal bar; the second type is: one hole 8mm diameter + an additional 10mm diameter cylinder of 9mm length to act as a stopper [pic 4].

After all the pieces ready [pic 1], I polished the wood and started putting the whole structure together. I cut the metal bar of 396mm to connect the level 1 unfolding [pic 4] plastic side bars. This added the final needed support for the stand. With that, the laptop stand was finally ready.