Having multiple monitors makes working on almost any task easier. The additional displays allow a great number of windows to be visible concurrently thus obviating the need to waste time looking through the taskbar for them. There are a few disadvantages though the chief being the consumption of vast amounts of desk real estate. To address this issue I constructed a monitor stand to hold all of my displays above the desk. This allows the utilization of space under the monitor for something more useful than a monitor stand.
This stand is constructed of 32 feet of steel U channel, 16 feet of angle iron, 4 triple jointed monitor mounts, and 73 bolts. The U channel is SuperStrut which may be found at Home Depot. The frame utilizes two 80 inch segments of SuperStrut as its primary upright members. These vertical members reside on the outside of the desk and connect via ½ inch bolts through the desk to parallel elements on the inside of the desk. Tightening these bolts compresses the back plane of the desk between these parallel vertical members. This lets the desk take the load transferred from the stand and distribute it over a larger area than would be possible with bolts and washers alone.
Three 60 inch horizontal members connect the outer vertical supports together via right angle brackets. This forms two rectangles above the level of the desk. Spaces within these areas are candidates for monitor mount locations. When the horizontal location of a mount is determined two strips of angle iron are attached via angle brackets to the upper and lower horizontal members which define the area the monitor is being mounted in. These strips run vertically and parallel to each other with a ¾ inch gap between them.
The arms I choose to use for this stand each have 4 holes which would conventionally provide a means of mounting the arm to a wall. In my case they are mounted to the vertical angle iron strips. A rectangular piece of 1/8 inch steel is drilled to match the hole pattern in the base of the mount. The steel plate is placed behind the strips of angle iron while the mount is attached to it via bolts from the front. These bolts pass through the gap between the strips. When these bolts are tightened the mount and steel plate compress the sides of the angle iron securing the mount.
In addition to the monitor mounts this stand has also been fitted with a pair of backlights. Four monitors put out a considerable quantity of light and the presence of a dark background behind them can be uncomfortable over time. These lights are simple 18 inch under cabinet lights normally used in kitchens. Plywood was cut, glued, and painted in the form of a J hook which rests on the center
horizontal member of the frame.
