I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
not using it.
So, I was thinking about replacing the drawers on one side of a simple
conventional office desk design with a single cabinet in which I would
place the microscope. The top of the desk would be hinged there, and
when opened, I could raise the microscope to be flush with the desk
top.
This is a professional two-headed microscsope with photomicrography
capabilites, so it is about two feet high and weighs about 40 lbs. The
lift would have to be smooth enough that it didn't jar the objectives
or condensers.
I'd like something that I didn't have to crank like a car door, and for
which the mechanism wouldn't take up the rest of the desk. I read up a
little on pneumatic gas lifts as are found in office chairs, but that
didn't seem to be what I needed.
I would prefer that it lift more-or-less straight up, but a set of
hinges and springs that moved out, up, and back in, would also work.
I am fairly new at this. My father was an excellent woodworker while I
have been more of a dilettante -- I have done small projects and helped
my Dad when he worked. My father just died and left me all of his
tools. Since my family remembers my Dad in large part because of his
woodworking (we all have furniture, cabinets, wood toys, etc. he
made), I have decided to make each of my relatives something with his
tools as a final remembrance, and am using this desk as a way of
getting back into the groove of doingthis more seriously. I expect to
make a lot of mistakes, but I wanted to make soemthing useful
nonetheless.
Anyway, I don't have a clue where to look for this kind of thing.
Any pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
billo
Hi Bill,
I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but in some of my catalogs
lately I've seen remote operated motorized TV lifts. If I recall
correctly some of them were hydraulic and promised smooth jar-free
operation.
Of course, I don't know how much money you want to spend. I can't
remember how much they were except that I looked at the price, got a
good belly laugh out of it and then figured, well if I had the money
for a huge flatscreen plasma tv, I guess I wouldn't bat an eye at the
cost of the remote lifter.
I guess it would boil down to how much fun would it be to push a button
have your scope rise out of the furniture like a James Bond gizmo. "Hey
honey! Check this out!"
Dan
In article <[email protected]>,
Upscale <[email protected]> wrote:
>"Norman D. Crow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>>
>> Don't know if you can find one any more, but they used to make office
>desks
>> with a typewriter lift in one side. Open the door, pull the lift out/up
>and
>> it brings the typewriter(or microscope) out & up to nearly desk level.
>These
>
>I thought of that too, (used to have one) but I figured some parts might
>tend to fall off the microscope if it was placed in a horizontal position
>when not in use.
>
>
Yeah, the microscope has to stay upright. Lot's of things fall off if
it is tipped to the side or over. I found that out when I moved
offices not too long ago...
billo
In article <[email protected]>,
Pat <[email protected]> wrote:
>try http://www.auton.com/
>
>
Thanks for the suggestion. It's an interesting site.
billo
In article <[email protected]>,
Patriarch <[email protected]> wrote:
>[email protected] (Bill Oliver) wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>>
>> I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
>> pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
>> only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
>> in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
>> not using it.
>>
>
>http://www.rockler.com/findit.cfm?page=220
>
>It's a place to start. You may also want to check out sewing machine
>lifts.
>
>Good luck with your project. Work safely.
>
>Patriarch
I looked at the sewing machine lift there. It looks promising.
Thanks!
billo
In article <[email protected]>,
nospambob <[email protected]> wrote:
>Have seen some options in www.wwhardware.com catalog.
>
>On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:44:11 -0000, [email protected] (Bill Oliver)
>wrote:
>
>>I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
>>pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
>>only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
>>in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
>>not using it.
>
Thanks for the suggestion!
billo
In article <[email protected]>,
Upscale <[email protected]> wrote:
>[snip]
>Another idea that comes to mind is a door that swings out over a desktop
>bringing the microscope with it. A three sided box (two sides and a bottom,
>one side being the door) hinged to a cabinet at the back of a desk would
>function quite well.
>
>
If I read this right, wouldn't that require that the microscope either
be inverted or turned to the side when not in use?
billo
In article <[email protected]>,
Upscale <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>No, everything stays vertical as in normal use. Think of a standard cabinet
>door that opens normally. Add another side to it (close to the interior
>hinge side) and add a bottom interior lip to it. The microscope sits on the
>interior lip. I'm not sure how to describe it any better. The best I could
>offer is to draw a picture and upload it to abpw.
>
I understand. Thanks.
billo
Have seen some options in www.wwhardware.com catalog.
On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:44:11 -0000, [email protected] (Bill Oliver)
wrote:
>I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
>pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
>only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
>in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
>not using it.
"Norman D. Crow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
:
: "Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: news:[email protected]...
: > "Bill Oliver" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: >>
: >> This is a professional two-headed microscsope with
photomicrography
: >> capabilites, so it is about two feet high and weighs about
40 lbs. The
: >> lift would have to be smooth enough that it didn't jar the
objectives
: >> or condensers.
: >
: > Obviously, the first suggestion that will come to everybody's
mind is a
: > sewing machine type lift and that would be appropriate for
the weight of
: > your microscope, however as you indicate, the microscope is
prone to
: > jarring
: > whereas a sewing machine isn't. You might go with the simpler
alternative
: > of
: > a slide out tray utilizing heavy duty drawer slides. Much
easier to make,
: > cheaper and doesn't jar when slid out. It could easily be
hidden by a door
: > or tambour or something similar.
: >
: > Another idea that comes to mind is a door that swings out
over a desktop
: > bringing the microscope with it. A three sided box (two sides
and a
: > bottom,
: > one side being the door) hinged to a cabinet at the back of a
desk would
: > function quite well.
: >
:
: Don't know if you can find one any more, but they used to make
office desks
: with a typewriter lift in one side. Open the door, pull the
lift out/up and
: it brings the typewriter(or microscope) out & up to nearly desk
level. These
: were spring loaded enough to assist the lift, but mainly muscle
power, and
: as gentle or rough as you want it to be.
:
: --
: Nahmie
: The greatest headaches are those we cause ourselves.
:
:
Singer still makes an electric sewing machine lift that's smooth
acting and no bouncing or bumping. I've used two of them for
sewing cabinets and they're great, albeit a little expensive.
They have two auto-stops in the upward direction for flush or
raised sewing, and of course an autostop at the bottom of the
travel. Check out the Singer sewing machine site. I get mine
from a local Singer repair center here in town so a local phone
call might be all you need. A little expensive, like I said, but
they should treat that 'scope nicely.
HTH,
Pop
Depending on our final design, a "mixer lift" would be more
than enough...
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?&offerings_id=10751&SearchHandle=DADADJDJDADADDDGGBDADFGBDDGCDADFCNGGDEGEDBCNDEGDDDDBCNDIDJGFGBCNDIGEDEDEDCDADADCDBDCGFDEDADADADBDADADADADFGNGJHIGFHCDADADADEDADADADADADADADBDFDADADADBDADADADADADADADADADADADADBDADADADADFGNGJHIGFHCDADADADBDB&filter=mixer
Bill Oliver wrote:
> I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
> pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
> only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
> in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
> not using it.
>
> So, I was thinking about replacing the drawers on one side of a simple
> conventional office desk design with a single cabinet in which I would
> place the microscope. The top of the desk would be hinged there, and
> when opened, I could raise the microscope to be flush with the desk
> top.
>
> This is a professional two-headed microscsope with photomicrography
> capabilites, so it is about two feet high and weighs about 40 lbs. The
> lift would have to be smooth enough that it didn't jar the objectives
> or condensers.
>
> I'd like something that I didn't have to crank like a car door, and for
> which the mechanism wouldn't take up the rest of the desk. I read up a
> little on pneumatic gas lifts as are found in office chairs, but that
> didn't seem to be what I needed.
>
> I would prefer that it lift more-or-less straight up, but a set of
> hinges and springs that moved out, up, and back in, would also work.
>
> I am fairly new at this. My father was an excellent woodworker while I
> have been more of a dilettante -- I have done small projects and helped
> my Dad when he worked. My father just died and left me all of his
> tools. Since my family remembers my Dad in large part because of his
> woodworking (we all have furniture, cabinets, wood toys, etc. he
> made), I have decided to make each of my relatives something with his
> tools as a final remembrance, and am using this desk as a way of
> getting back into the groove of doingthis more seriously. I expect to
> make a lot of mistakes, but I wanted to make soemthing useful
> nonetheless.
>
> Anyway, I don't have a clue where to look for this kind of thing.
> Any pointers would be appreciated.
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
> billo
"Bill Oliver" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> This is a professional two-headed microscsope with photomicrography
> capabilites, so it is about two feet high and weighs about 40 lbs. The
> lift would have to be smooth enough that it didn't jar the objectives
> or condensers.
Obviously, the first suggestion that will come to everybody's mind is a
sewing machine type lift and that would be appropriate for the weight of
your microscope, however as you indicate, the microscope is prone to jarring
whereas a sewing machine isn't. You might go with the simpler alternative of
a slide out tray utilizing heavy duty drawer slides. Much easier to make,
cheaper and doesn't jar when slid out. It could easily be hidden by a door
or tambour or something similar.
Another idea that comes to mind is a door that swings out over a desktop
bringing the microscope with it. A three sided box (two sides and a bottom,
one side being the door) hinged to a cabinet at the back of a desk would
function quite well.
On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:24:52 -0500, Patriarch
<[email protected]> wrote:
>[email protected] (Bill Oliver) wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>>
>> I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
>> pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
>> only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
>> in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
>> not using it.
>>
>
>http://www.rockler.com/findit.cfm?page=220
>
>It's a place to start. You may also want to check out sewing machine
>lifts.
You can probably find one of these installed in a demo at a cabinet
shop or even at the Borg. It might pay you to try one there before
investing in it since my recollection is that these tend to sort of
snap into place with a pretty fair jar. May just have been the one
I've used, but considering what you are lifting I'd do the legwork to
find out.
That said, it is what I would recommend anyway if you find it smooth
enough.
--
"We need to make a sacrifice to the gods, find me a young virgin... oh, and bring something to kill"
Tim Douglass
http://www.DouglassClan.com
"Norman D. Crow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> The ones I remember kept the typewriter level. It was on a system of
> arms/hinges that let it come out/up while remaining level.
Ok, the one I had was just wood and some hinges. The only mechanism involved
was muscle power to lift the drop down horizontal door high enough to drop a
restraining ledge which held the typewriter level.
Speeling is not my strong point apparently...
Pat Barber wrote:
> Depending on "your" final design, a "mixer lift" would be more
> than enough...
>
> http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?&offerings_id=10751&SearchHandle=DADADJDJDADADDDGGBDADFGBDDGCDADFCNGGDEGEDBCNDEGDDDDBCNDIDJGFGBCNDIGEDEDEDCDADADCDBDCGFDEDADADADBDADADADADFGNGJHIGFHCDADADADEDADADADADADADADBDFDADADADBDADADADADADADADADADADADADBDADADADADFGNGJHIGFHCDADADADBDB&filter=mixer
>
>
> Bill Oliver wrote:
>
>> I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
>> pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
>> only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
>> in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
>> not using it.
>
"Bill Oliver" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >Another idea that comes to mind is a door that swings out over a desktop
> >bringing the microscope with it. A three sided box (two sides and a
bottom,
> >one side being the door) hinged to a cabinet at the back of a desk would
> >function quite well.
>
> If I read this right, wouldn't that require that the microscope either
> be inverted or turned to the side when not in use?
No, everything stays vertical as in normal use. Think of a standard cabinet
door that opens normally. Add another side to it (close to the interior
hinge side) and add a bottom interior lip to it. The microscope sits on the
interior lip. I'm not sure how to describe it any better. The best I could
offer is to draw a picture and upload it to abpw.
[email protected] (Bill Oliver) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> I am playing with a design for a desk for my office. I'm a
> pathologist, and use a microscope that currently sits on my desk. I
> only use the microscope about one hour a day, and most of the time it's
> in the way. I would like to be able to store it out of sight when I'm
> not using it.
>
http://www.rockler.com/findit.cfm?page=220
It's a place to start. You may also want to check out sewing machine
lifts.
Good luck with your project. Work safely.
Patriarch
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Bill Oliver" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> This is a professional two-headed microscsope with photomicrography
>> capabilites, so it is about two feet high and weighs about 40 lbs. The
>> lift would have to be smooth enough that it didn't jar the objectives
>> or condensers.
>
> Obviously, the first suggestion that will come to everybody's mind is a
> sewing machine type lift and that would be appropriate for the weight of
> your microscope, however as you indicate, the microscope is prone to
> jarring
> whereas a sewing machine isn't. You might go with the simpler alternative
> of
> a slide out tray utilizing heavy duty drawer slides. Much easier to make,
> cheaper and doesn't jar when slid out. It could easily be hidden by a door
> or tambour or something similar.
>
> Another idea that comes to mind is a door that swings out over a desktop
> bringing the microscope with it. A three sided box (two sides and a
> bottom,
> one side being the door) hinged to a cabinet at the back of a desk would
> function quite well.
>
Don't know if you can find one any more, but they used to make office desks
with a typewriter lift in one side. Open the door, pull the lift out/up and
it brings the typewriter(or microscope) out & up to nearly desk level. These
were spring loaded enough to assist the lift, but mainly muscle power, and
as gentle or rough as you want it to be.
--
Nahmie
The greatest headaches are those we cause ourselves.
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Norman D. Crow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>>
>> Don't know if you can find one any more, but they used to make office
> desks
>> with a typewriter lift in one side. Open the door, pull the lift out/up
> and
>> it brings the typewriter(or microscope) out & up to nearly desk level.
> These
>
> I thought of that too, (used to have one) but I figured some parts might
> tend to fall off the microscope if it was placed in a horizontal position
> when not in use.
>
The ones I remember kept the typewriter level. It was on a system of
arms/hinges that let it come out/up while remaining level.
--
Nahmie
The greatest headaches are those we cause ourselves.
"Norman D. Crow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
>
> Don't know if you can find one any more, but they used to make office
desks
> with a typewriter lift in one side. Open the door, pull the lift out/up
and
> it brings the typewriter(or microscope) out & up to nearly desk level.
These
I thought of that too, (used to have one) but I figured some parts might
tend to fall off the microscope if it was placed in a horizontal position
when not in use.