Trading desk “UP”-grade

Manny–Upgrades–

The idea’s when developing indicators and finding solutions in the process came when walking (and when in the shower… LOL). Therefore, I set the target to have the walking possibility during screen time at the desk.

The role model being “Walkolution” I quickly found out that this will be a very costly endeavor! However, let’s take it step by step starting with the standing ability.

My desk underwent quite some transformations for enlargement in the past and received a rig carrying 6 monitors currently. Two of which are 34″ ultrawides. The PC is suspended underneath the desk and all cable management is attached to the desk. It can be moved around without headaches and I only need to worry about the main power cable and the network connection.

These were actually good preconditions to just add the ability to elevate the desk. There are these ready to use motorized desk frames. But due to weight and keeping it future proof I would have needed two of them. Good quality frames would set me back more than 1000 bucks. Of course, I took the DIY-challenge. For my requirements I did not need to switch between standing and sitting on an hourly basis, but I still wanted it to be adjustable in height.

After inspecting the telescopic leg (which was added in the past due to the desk area enlargement) I found that it’s quite simple to upgrade those to fit my needs. In their original setup they are way too weak to suspend the full table weight.

When turning the threaded bar the lower telescopic pipe moves up or down.
The lower link against the lower pipe consists of a butterfly nut on which I simply removed one wing. This way it won’t turn in the existing slot of the lower pipe and move up or down when the all-thread is turned.
The upper link is a fix bearing in the upper pipe. The plate welded into the top of the pipe has actually an M10 thread which originally is intended to fix the leg from above. In my configuration I will run the M8 threaded bar through it.

Despite this setup being suitable for the load and adjustability requirements, the leg is too short even when fully extended.

Therefore, I have purchased fixed length legs applying the same principles.

Preparations

Some of the materials from Jumbo. Total spendings for the legs was approx. 80 bucks.
Luckily I kept most of the tools last time we moved the home.

Fabrication

Most parts were ready to use. Few holes had to be enlarged, threaded bars to be cut length and a guide for the lower link to be created.

The pipes where supplied with a bunch of plastic inserts which came in very handy to serve as bushings and guides.
Cutting a piece from the lower part from a pipe insert…
… and glueing a large washer into it serves as ideal lower link guide as the lower pipe moves inside the upper pipe.
Telescopic pipe entered into the fix pipe.

Assembly

Guide bush where the telescopic pipe penetrates the fix pipe.
Bush slid onto the telescopic pipe.
Inserted into the fix pipe.
The old feet of the desk had these inserts which I could switch to the new legs.
Lower link guide with adjusting nut on the threaded bar with the lock nuts at the end which limit the maximum travel.
Lower link assembled. Note: Under load the nut stays stationary.
Adding the upper link fix bearing.
The threaded bar needs to protrude through the desk plate to have the ability to turn the threaded bar from above.

Using the mechanism

Leg locked and tightened
Loosening the lock nut and lock against the cap nut to allow for height adjustment.
Adjustment of the desk height cm by cm on all 4 legs.

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