On Dec 30, 2004, at 1:57 PM, djbrow54 wrote:
> I designed a desktop cabinet similar to yours in concept. Each
> row of modules is in a cabinet with pivots on the sides. See
> http://home.earthlink.net/~djb-synths/DJB-Cabinet/
> The photo is 24Ux3 System 12-23-04.jpg
>
> After filling it up with modules, I discovered that the cabinet
> is quite front-heavy. I was going to use thumbscrews on the
> ends but the force was quite insufficient with the weight.
> In retrospect, I should have put the pivot points nearly to the
> front of the cabinet and not centered front to rear. I never
> determined the correct position but on a 9" deep cabinet I would
> guess somewhere around 2 inches.
I hope you don't mind that I posted this back to the list, this is some
good advice.
> I ended up putting some large rubber washers for friction and using
> bolts that I had to tighten down in order for the pivot point to
> remain firm. Each cabinet is 24U wide and quite heavy when full.
> Yours would be 2X as heavy as each of mine which would make the
> friction issue even more significant.
Yeah, I'm starting to think that unless I model each module and find
the balance point that my current plan isn't going to work too well.
Too much torque on the wood will cause cracking in the frame too.
> I welded 3/8" nuts (or possibly 5/16") on the back of 2" washers
> that I screwed to the sides of each cabinet with 3 #8 screws and
> T nuts on the inside. I can send photos if you wish. What I
> should have had are two interlocking groved plates that would have
> locked into position. This would have provided the anti-rotation
> lock and the bolts would only serve as pivots and to hold the plates
> together. I never have found any suitable.
This is where I'm leaning today. The current plan is to lathe and mill
a locking plate set for each side out of brass and then browse the MSC
catalog for a quick release lever of some sort. Failing that I'll just
go for a fixed position design.
Thanks for the pointers!
--mikes