Foldable Desk Used on Bed

Speaking of school-related things, that is the foldable desk used when you're on a bed. I have a desk like this and I use it every day because I don't have a table in my room. However here's the problem, in my personal experience of using this desk, there were some small issues that are very inconvenient. So I decided to design and improve the desk which meets the requirement of what I think is convenient. This can have some beneficial impact when doing school works in your room, especially when you're lazy and don't want to get off your bed.

• Autodesk Fusion 360

• The desk of image #2 is the one I had at home. You can tell that there's no place to hold your mouse, which caused the mouse to slide off the desk every time I put my arm on to the desk (typing or writing). So I have to put the mouse in the place where you put your cups. But if I put a cup there, I would have no place for my mouse. Also, the drawer is very small, I can only put the piece of wood they gave me to hold and block the iPad or laptop when you raise the table. (I barely use this feature)
  • This inspired me to design a place to hold a mouse and more space for the drawer. (Instead, I wanted two drawers)
• The desk of image #1 is the one that inspired me on the sunken part to put iPads and kind of -ish inspired me of the shape of my desk. (I actually got the idea of the shape of my desk when I was having my dinner. Since most of the desks have a curve on the front, maybe I can add curves to all sides.)
  • My iPad doesn't have a case that allows it to stand. So the sunken part to put iPads can be very helpful.

• I sketched my desk on my iPad using a random drawing app. The sketch includes the top view and the bottom view of the desk. (This is actually the third sketch I had, I discarded the first two because one of them looks too simple and the other one is too complicated for me. So I chopped the second version and made it into this third version)
• Since I don't have a ruler around me, I measured everything that is needed for the desk using my fingers. (When I open my hand wide, my thumb to pinkie is about 7 inches. And a thumb is about 2 inches.)

• In image #1, I modeled the top surface first. I made the mouse holder look similar to the shape of the desk, so they match and look nice.
• In image #2, then I modeled the bottom half of the desk. So you can insert the drawers.
• At first, I made the length of the body of the desk too thick, which made the desk very high. So I tried out different measurements for the desk to fit in the drawers and the legs without being so thick.

• I decided to add the thing in image #1 because that allows the iPad to lean on something and can be closed when you don't need it, so the desk can be flat. (You can probably put pens in there too)
• In images #2 and #3, I modeled the legs of the desk and added a piece between them, so they connect.
• In images #4 to #6, I modeled the drawers, added parts on the front, and shelled it.
• I tried out different measurements for the legs, so when you open it, the desk will end up with a normal height. (The first version of the leg was too long and it looks like it's going to break when you open it)

• In image #1, I modeled the hinge to connect to the piece, so it can be open and closed.
• In image #2, I modeled the screws for putting the legs onto the desk.
• In image #3, I modeled the screw caps, so the screws won't fall out.
• I learned how to make these while I was modeling this desk.

• In image #1, I jointed the hinge with the piece, so now they're able to be closed and open.
• In image #2, it shows how the drawer is jointed. Basically, you don't need anything, just insert the drawers.
• In image #3, I added two boards under the drawers, so they can separate the legs and the drawers.
• In images #4 and #5, I jointed the screws and screw caps with the leg. So the legs are stable and have the ability to be closed and open. (This is my first time using the joint features. It was pretty funny when the legs and the drawers are going crazy before I put them in the correct places)
• I filleted most of the edges and sides, I just think they look better when they're round-ish and also It wouldn't hurt as much if you accidentally knock into them.
• The desk should look like the one in image #6 after assembling them.

• In image #1, I used yellow and black as the main color of the desk. I picked yellow because it reminds me of woods with light colors. I picked black because it's one of the colors of my bunk bed. Surprisingly, I think it ended up looking nice.
• In images #2 to #5, I tried out different color matches and they're all pretty nice. I personally like the yellow one because the light color gives me a good mood.
• This desk should be made out of wood because other materials seem heavier.

• In image #1 and #2 is the final product and how it would look if you fold them.
• In image #3, I imported the laptop, iPad, mouse, and cup from Grab CAD for the display of how we can use this desk.
• I actually liked my design. The mouse holder, so the mouse doesn't slide down the desk. The moveable and sunken part, allows the iPad to stand and makes the desk flat when it's not used. The two drawers with big space, so I can put blank papers, pens, and other stuff in there. I don't have to walk off my bed to get supplies anymore, so I can focus more on my assignments. I think this can be very convenient if you don't like to walk off your bed, like me.

• Overall, I enjoyed the process of designing this desk. Although I restarted twice, which kind of hurts my brain. When I was modeling this desk, I actually learned a lot from this. I learned how to make hinges, screws, and screw caps. It's also my first time using the joint feature, it was quite funny when I first tried to use it. But in the end, I figured out how to use it correctly.
• I know there are lots of things that can be improved on this design. I will go back to this design to make improvements after I get more inspiration from other places. I also would like to go back to my second sketch, once my modeling skill improves. Hope I can actually build the desk out in the future (I guess I'll have to take a carpentry class next year). But for now, I will focus on finding inspirations to make this desk better.