Showing posts with label device. Show all posts
Showing posts with label device. Show all posts

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Custom Wall Shelving Part 2: The Projector Mount

After getting the shelves up, the next step is getting that digital projector to sit majestically atop the upper shelf.

After purchacing the projector (the BenQ W1070, in this case), I learned that the 'Lens Shift' adjustment is really only viable if your projector is on a ceiling mount. Seeing as I intend to use my projector right side up on a high shelf, I needed a way to angle the image downward. The simple solution is to angle the projector downwards.

Preliminary Work

My idea was to use 2 threaded rods to suspend a wooden board, so you can adjust the tilt as well as the angle so it would be easy to adjust the image on my wall.


the general idea

I was hoping to find some generic plastic feet with  a thread, but it was easier to find a bolt of the right length, so plans changed slightly.
The bolts alone wouldn't be stable enough, so I added a piece of wood as a base.


much more stable. drawn after the fact.*

a small piece of wood in the front to ease nerves
* I made a few revisions as I went.


Materials

I had a bunch of leftover wood from the shelving project, so I just bought some hardware.

leftover wood, drawer liner, and hardware
> wood. I had some. > 2x 6 inch bolts > hinge > tea nuts > small angle bracket >  drawer liner* > small piece of masonite or some thin durable material*



The Process


I cut the wood I needed to size. One base, one piece to secure the front of the projector, and two for the back and footing.

a piece of wood in the shape of a square
I secured a the front piece with the angle bracket, and attached the hinge underneath the middle of the opposite side.


safety belt


I drilled a few pilot holes in the footing to allow the bolts enough room to freely turn in two pieces that were the same size for the bolts to go in.


safety first

For the back, I then hammered in the tea nuts and attached it to the hinge connected to the base.
On the footing piece, I used a chisel to cut a square hole around the pilot hole that was deeper than the head of the bolt. After inserting the bolt, I covered the holes by gluing a square of masonite pegboard over top and covering them with non-slip drawer liner to act as the feet.


I was impatient
I added two nuts onto each bolt and locked them together part way down so I could grip the bolt to adjust each side individually.



The Product

Works like a charm!


I'm still thinking about the cable situation


I'll think of something...

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Network Device Organization

Most ISPs provide customers with modem/router combination units these days, but if you find yourself with more than one device, you generally have a mess on your hands.

I have a modem, router, and switch. When these guys hang out together they tend to heat up something fierce. Being a strict administrator, I decided to separate them to stop the shenanigans.
I did this for about $1.00. 


Materials


There's a dollar store not far from my house that has a great selection of... well... everything. This includes cheap cooling racks.

> Cooling rack
> Wire cutters, metal file
> Thin hard surface


The Process


Step 1.  Cut a wire for either side of the device you want to secure, being sure to leave a wire in between

Step 2.  Bend  the cut ends up at a 45 degree angle and inwards so that it can apply firm pressure on the device it's holding

Step 3. Use your file to take off any sharp edges that may have been created when you cut the wire.

Step 4. Slide the hard surface under the cut wires and over the uncut ones.

Step 5. Put your devices in the rack and rest easy!


The Product