Nebuchadnezzar
Bridge
September 2010
After burning through 25
sheets of 4x8 MDF in building shelves and desks, I think that I am
finally ready to construct the crown jewel of the desk project. One of
my favorite movie sets is the bridge of the Nebuchandnezzar in Matrix.
I like the idea of the panoramic monitor display that cats can't knock
over. Resistance to cats isn't my only motivation for wanting to build
such a thing; there are plenty of reasons, the most significant of
which is my dislike for the traditional 6-foot lunch tables that I have
used for desks over the years.
This is the BEFORE picture of the
traditional lunch table setup. Lunch tables are usually studier than
the pieces of crap particle board computer desks but as you can see
from the taped edges and bowing in the middle from the weight, they
aren't meant to be used as desks for the long term.
The first step was clearing a space to build the shelves.
The next step was to install the guide rails on which the shelves were
to be installed. This was the same method that I had used for all the
previous shelves that I had installed.
Shelves installed, Timmy inspects the work and gives it his blessing.
Finally, construction of the bridge. I had to order another 10 sheets
of MDF (after burning through 25 sheets for all the other desks and
shelves).
At last, the desk starts to take shape.
I had to build a jig for the steel risers or else I would not have been
able to weld them perfectly vertical.
Steel risers and secondary desktop
installed. There is still some welding to do to connect the risers but
I didn't get any photos of me welding.
After some paint and custom mounting
frames for the monitors, it is finally time to move everything to the
boiler room and install. If you look closely at the custom mounting
frames, you will see that they are just C-clamps. Got those at Harbor
Freight for about $2 each. What is coolest about the whole project is
the flourescent white paint that I used so that the desks glow under
blacklight.