Installed a keyboard drawer on my desk

Managed to install a "tray" of sorts below my desk, and put my keyboard on it...

Here are some pics:

CLOSED DRAWER


HALF OPEN


FULLY OPEN DRAWER


38€ total, plus 30 minutes of my time.

Not exactly something to write home about, but certainly something to play on....got tired with the previous setup, having to have the PC keyboard on TOP of the Casio. Very akward.

Now I just have to find a way to add some height to the whole desk, so I can position my knees below the keyboard, the drawer is too low for that !!!


[This message has been edited by trident (edited 10-06-2007).]

Just saw off the legs of your chair, or maybe you can just drill a few holes in the floor

Seriously though, any chance of setting the table on a couple pieces of wood the right size?

Looks good though. Great idea.

[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 10-06-2007).]

Hi,

Here's mine.
I solved the 'knee-problem' with the shape of the drawer... it gives you an extra 3- 4- or 5 centimeters more space.

My drawer IN position is as far as possible under the desk. (almost out of sight)

Perhaps some use-able tips ?









My printer and mixer are located under the desk as well (drawers)

With the help of some sound-absorbing material (foam) it was easy to 'kill' all the noise coming from my PC.



In front of the PC a door closes the box. (tiny magnets to hold it)
The back remains open because air circulation is needed. The noise is reduced to almost zero.


This works for me !

Roel


[This message has been edited by kla4 (edited 10-06-2007).]

nice setups fellas...........


http://www.raxxess.com/

Roel,

Doesn't that leave your T2 kinda vulnerable? I mean, one wrong move and the screen's history.

Taike

Trident & Roel, nice looking setups. I also took appreciative notice of the foam sound insulation surrounding your CPU as well.

Can the slide out shelf be 'locked in place' when fully extended, in order to prevent it from sliding when playing your keyboard? Also curious how much weight your respective slide out shelves comfortably supports (weight of the keyboard plus the additional playing force weight).

Thanks for sharing.

Scott

Taike,
You are right it's the only con, but I'm used to it now.

Scott,
These shelves are 'heavy duty' ones and each one can carry at least 20 kg's. (They used to carry huge 21" CRT's)

Locking is not needed because while playing there is no 'horizontal' force, only vertical.

Essential for the foam-material : It's weight.

Realizing the drawer shape is not shown in my previous post



A metal bar underneath the drawer to add some extra strength.




[This message has been edited by kla4 (edited 10-07-2007).]

Roel,
you certainly have a very clever designed drawer (knee-wise). Congratulations. I can't do the same though because the height of the drawer is actually less than my foot-knee distance. Off to find some bricks!

Scott,
unfortunately the drawer mechanism doesn't lock, but I don't think it will pose a problem. As for the weight, you have to calculate the weight for the drawer as well as the keyboard itself and the playing force. I found a pair of Hettich (Made in Germany) rails that supposedly can hold 45kg. The drawer itself is maybe 3-5 kilos, the Casio is a toy, I think I have enough clearance. Only problem is that the keyboard is bouncing up and down a little, because the drawer is flexing. If it continues like that and becomes a problem, I'll have to find another drawer material that doesn't flex that much. Drawer costed only about 8€ so no problem.

Roel,
I thought about adding a metal bar.
Yours looks like the lightweight ones used in pairs to support shelves on the wall.
Is that right?

Also, cutting the drawer like that, doesn't it leave the middle of the keyboard without a place to sit on? Mine has one little rubber "button" in the middle, under the keyboard, as well as the ones in the corners.

[This message has been edited by trident (edited 10-07-2007).]

Thanks Donny, those are exquisite, but we are talking about $40-50 DIY jobs here!

Trident,

You are right about the metal bar ;-)

About the rubber 'foot' :
The Tyros2 housing is lightweight AND well constructed, so it's no problem...
When positioned on ordinary stands not all feet have a place to 'stand' on either.

Some dimensions :
Floor to drawer (bottom) 58 cm's
Floor to T2 bottom (knee position) 61,5 cm's
Floor to desk-top 77,5 cm's

T2 's total height (display down) = 14.0 cm's

I expect this could work for you as well ?

Both projects look terrific, although for security a one way catch/lock should be added to prevent accidental closure and subsequent screen demise.

Just a slight accidental bump against the drawer could be costly.

Nice work, guys.

Ian

OK guys.... I just designed a lock-mechanism to prevent such an event.
Again 'low cost' but it works !

Pics say more than I can explain ;-)




[This message has been edited by kla4 (edited 10-07-2007).]

Roel, leave it to you to come up so quickly with such a nifty 'low cost' solution.

Your DETAILED pics of your innovative locking mechanism was defintely worth more than a thousand words. Thanks.


- Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 10-07-2007).]

Roel,
this is genius !!!.

Roel,
I see we have the same computer (Dell Dimension 9200)