in CAD in 3D so, I can see how it will
fit and where fixings and supports
need to go.
Being a design engineer for my
nine-to-five job really helps. The
designs tend to evolve slightly
as they go along, as I’m always
asking myself how I’m actually
going to achieve what I want.
The CAD drawings really help
during construction, as I can
explode them from the 3D model
to make cutting diagrams with
therightmeasurements.
We love the control console.
How does it work?
Martin: I have two young children,
and they always want to get on
daddy’s computer. On previous
builds, I’ve kept them away by
making the process of switching on
the PC less obvious than a simple
power button, but they soon work
things out as they get older. Along
with a 7in monitor on this build,
there’s a centrally mounted key
switch that’s wired to a double-
pull double-throw switch, and to
a momentary switch. If the key
is removed, or in the off position,
nothing works.
What does the console
unit control?
Martin: I use the 7in screen for PC
stats, and the switches control the
up/down on the monitor lifts and
PCpower.We watched the video of the
monitor lifts on Imgur, and it’s cool
how they rise up from the flush
desk surface. How did you go about
making the lift system?
Martin: I started by searching on
Google and YouTube to see what
others had done, but then ended
up coming up with a method that
hadn’t been done before to fit what I
needed. Nearly every type of hidden
monitor or TV lift I saw had a hinged
flap to cover the lift, or a piece of
spare wood to be removed, but I
couldn’t really do that as the desk
was L-shaped.
Originally the monitor boxes
were going to be made from
aluminium, but after a few issues
with weight and the lifting force
of the actuators, I had to go with
wooden surrounds instead. The
actuators push on the top of the
box, with the monitors attached via
the VESA mounts to the sides of the