Anyone Looking for Quick Project

[PeteW]

I am re-arranging my desk at home since I'm getting back into audio production and need to make room for studio monitors.

I'm very frustrated I can't find a laptop hanger to do what I want. I have looked everywhere.

Is anyone interested in making two of these bent metal parts? I'm not looking for anything fancy. Bent aluminum with a simple gray rattle can finish and rounded edges is all it needs. I am also very open to alternative ideas or changes to make function or fab easier/better. Totally not set on these exact dimensions or this exact design.

Rough draft of idea:

Rough photo mockup:

 

[Honest Bob]

I dont know how the cooling system is designed in that particular laptop you might be defeating it by keeping it in that position. Just something to think about.

 

[PeteW]

I dont know how the cooling system is designed in that particular laptop you might be defeating it by keeping it in that position. Just something to think about.

The sides are open for the dell laptop cooling vents. The MacBook vents are built into the hinge on the long edge.

That's a good question, but cooling has been considered with this design.

 

[kazlx]

FWIW, I don’t want to say impossible, but would be very difficult to bend. If you’re interested in maybe two separate brackets cnc machined instead of folded sheet, let me know. I could probably figure something out.

 

[MP&C]

I've made similar before, and you're right, they are hard to find. Instead of aluminum I used stainless rod, easy bends and weld together, good ventilation. Anyone could do these in a bench vise.. Don't forget the wrap around the back side to keep things from pushing on through....

 

[rsanter]

I have a magnetic brake so that inside bend can be done on that.

I might think of adding some bead rolls for stiffness and some hole for added ventilation.

Let me know.

Otherwise the idea with it made out of rod stock sure looks like a good one

 

[fordkid88]

If that's flat sheet thats not easily feasible with most press brake tooling

 

[PeteW]

All good suggestions. I was thinking the narrow bottom bends could be a single radius rather than two right angle bends. Which would make it a total of 2 bends per piece and, in my mind, was doable without a full press. Then again, other than working in a machine shop a few summers during highschool, I have no practical experience with it.

I do like the bent rod solution.

I live in a condo now, so I don't have a shop to do any of this. Does anyone want to bid out the bent rod solution? I'd like two of them. It doesn't need to be stainless since it will only be used inside.

 

[fordkid88]

All good suggestions. I was thinking the narrow bottom bends could be a single radius rather than two right angle bends. Which would make it a total of 2 bends per piece and, in my mind, was doable without a full press. Then again, other than working in a machine shop a few summers during highschool, I have no practical experience with it.

I do like the bent rod solution.

I live in a condo now, so I don't have a shop to do any of this. Does anyone want to bid out the bent rod solution? I'd like two of them. It doesn't need to be stainless since it will only be used inside.

I spend a fair amount of time on our press brake at the shop, you so I've got a fair idea of the situation.

The radius of the bend is not the problem, it's the depth of the bend and the overall angle. Using an arbitrary value of about 12 inches for the height of your laptop you would need tooling that exceeds that height just so you don't hit you tooling holders. Even if you have that you would have to do it out of some really light gauge stuff so you don't flex the hell out of the punches.

I think of this were to be a commercially made item it would be coined with custom made tooling

 

[slowtwitch73]

I would go to one of the many online parts fabricators.

 

[bradpac]

On our folding brakes, I would bend it until it crashed, then it would have to be smashed to finish bending it to spec. If I had some scraps of thick enough material lying around I'd give it a run for you, but we don't' do much aluminum and certainly not anything thick enough to hold the weight.

 

[PeteW]

Alright. I'll go elsewhere to get it done. Work does a lot of stuff with Weldkraft so I'll call them. I was hoping to catch a forum member that likes to do little things in their garage on the weekends.

 

[MP&C]

Pete, this is where it comes in handy to have your location written under your name. A forum member that sees you are close by may be more inclined to invite you over, even work on the project with you. Not knowing what town you live in they may be less enthusiastic to help, or even offer. I will say, having made a few of those wire frame holders, I would want the laptop in my hands to make it easier to insure clearance around connections, any opening trays, sizing, etc. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to send your laptop to someone you didn’t know, so before discounting the membership and their weekend activities, perhaps you could help a bit more on your end. Where do you live?

 

[PeteW]

Pete, this is where it comes in handy to have your location written under your name. A forum member that sees you are close by may be more inclined to invite you over, even work on the project with you. Not knowing what town you live in they may be less enthusiastic to help, or even offer. I will say, having made a few of those wire frame holders, I would want the laptop in my hands to make it easier to insure clearance around connections, any opening trays, sizing, etc. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to send your laptop to someone you didn’t know, so before discounting the membership and their weekend activities, perhaps you could help a bit more on your end. Where do you live?

Good point. I created this account many years ago and didn't realize there were no details. My apologies. I wasn't dismissing the community and apologize if it came across that way.

I am in Minneapolis, MN (a city twerp).

Also, there was a member that, offered to see what they had in their garage to put a solution together. I'll update with progress in case anyone else is looking for the same type solution.

 

[sberry]

I know this sounds extreme but would hand bend that over a bench of a board from a strip but I spose if a guy worked at it could find a harder way.

 

[gorilla]

I would make that out of two pieces overlap the bottom and weld.

 

[PeteW]

I know this sounds extreme but would hand bend that over a bench of a board from a strip but I spose if a guy worked at it could find a harder way.

I thought about hand bending after looking at the bent rod solution. I couldn't think of a good way to attach rods together without a welder or without using a ton of extra stock.

 

[bushmechanic]

I am re-arranging my desk at home since I'm getting back into audio production and need to make room for studio monitors.

I'm very frustrated I can't find a laptop hanger to do what I want. I have looked everywhere.

Is anyone interested in making two of these bent metal parts? I'm not looking for anything fancy. Bent aluminum with a simple gray rattle can finish and rounded edges is all it needs. I am also very open to alternative ideas or changes to make function or fab easier/better. Totally not set on these exact dimensions or this exact design.

Rough draft of idea:

Rough photo mockup:

Dude... Go to Office Depot and get one of those wall-mount document organizers.

 

[homebuilt burner]

You could bend it out of brake line tubing. Cheap and easy

 

[Jeff95TA]

Could you make something like this work, or do you want something more secure?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R6792WH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[budget76]

having just used my vice with two wood boards to bend some sheetmetal, i'm thinking your best bet is that route: manual with a vice or clamps to clamp the sheet in between wood boards. you may need to get creative for the 2nd of the small bends, but I'm sure it would be way easier to do manually than trying to fit on some sort of brake.

doesn't need to be too thick of a gauge, i think it'd be fairly easy?

 

[PeteW]

Could you make something like this work, or do you want something more secure?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R6792WH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That might have potential.

 

[abachman]

Bend it over a piece of pipe for the center opening. Could easily be done by hand/vise. I am home with covid, or I might have given it a go.

 

[Bsmb62519]

Why not just use a wire file folder hanger? Or make it out of stiff wire rod. Then you can be d it up the front then around the sides.