New Studio Furniture Project

[MJKlein]

I have started a new project with one of our consortium cooperating factories. I am designing a new line of modular studio furniture that is mostly metal frame and sheet metal stock. The goals are to 1. Create a line of studio furniture products that can be powder coated in any color scheme, and have sound-insulated cabinets as well as lots of standard rack space. 2. Be modular to enable customization. 3. Breakdown as flat as possible for easy shipping worldwide. 4. Integrate wood surface and detail work as the design matures. 5. Keep the price as low as possible and (attempt to) work world-wide shipping into the price.

We are devoting a significant amount of our Taiwan industrial power to this project . Production versions will be laser cut and robotically MIG welded for consistency.

I will begin with the X32 mainly because not only do I have one at my disposal, there are about 3/4 of a million of them in the field.

The initial design will test/confirm/deny the feasibility of placing the X32 flush with the surface by removing the end caps and bolting though the side panels into the same threaded holes for the end caps. I will also explore a mounting solution that does not require the end caps to be removed (but I really hate how those desks look with the cutout for the console with the endcaps). There is a way to slide the console into the desk and hide the endcaps under the sheet metal. Headphone jacks can be integrated into the desk and plug into the end cap jacks either way.

I should have a solid prototype in something like 6 to 8 weeks. After that I'm going to turn my attention to the WING and other console models as well as non-console integrated studio desks.

Laser cutter:


2 examples of insulated panels for other types of equipment. This can be implemented inside the rack panels for sound insulation for computer isolation:

[pmaillot]

He He He... Cool!!!!

[MJKlein]

Oh, I forgot to say that I will sell the prototypes at my cost in order to get feedback from users.

[MJKlein]

This project is progressing slowly. I'm working out the dimension details and how I want it to interface with the X32.

At first, I thought that it would be good to take the end caps off, and to bolt the console in through the end cap holes and have a flush mounting solution. On further thought, I've decided to make my prototype so that the console slides into a section that will fit it with the end caps in place. The rounded nose of the X32 will fit into a receptable at the front of the desk, and there will be a padded bolster bar in front. The idea is to extend the front a bit to give the padded arm rest we all miss on the X32. The console end caps will be covered with sheet metal that will align with the edges of the end caps but be a few mm inside that so the end caps are completely covered. This will result in a less-than-flush surface, but only by the thickness of the sheet metal. Also, the edge will be beveled so it won't be an abrupt edge. The headphone jacks in the end caps will be accessible. This design would allow a single person to remove and install the console safely by themselves. This would make the console available for other purposes without having to put it back together. Some bands or sound companies could benefit from the flexibility of being able to install the console in furniture and remove/replace it at will, very easily.

I am also investigating the angle of the console. I personally like the angle to be higher than level, so the display is viewable more straight-on. Nothing drastic but this is a studio desk and will most likely be used at a sitting position. I will investigate the feasibility of making this angle adjustable (within reason) but given the above, the entire section would have to be movable. The side racks for 19" equipment will have to line up too. This is quite a lot to consider, altogether.

My original goal of a furniture solution that packs flat and can be shipped USP is still a top priority. I love some of those huge desks but the customer is paying to ship large volumes of airspace because they don't break down that well.

My goal is to start laser cutting sheet metal around the first week of January.