Searching for the Perfect Articulating Arm / Mount for Laptop

[Jan McL]

Have been browsing for cart laptop mounting solutions for a six months or more.

Ideally:

• lightweight and/or easily removable
  
• articulating so I can move it around
  
• small
  
• secure
  
• locks in place
  

Looked a lot at the Ram mounts (for cars), but without hands on, felt those might be a bit 'much' in every way. Thought some here might have some input about that option.

Just this week found some things that look interesting. A script supervisor was using a stand from Instand. I thought about starting with just the rubber-coated tray, that's like a pigeon, and going from there. Maybe there's a small drum stand that can be dissembled and re-purposed.

http://www.instand.com/instandmenu.shtml

From the Instand.com site, found the Evo articulating arm for laptops @ just under $400.

http://www.lcdarms.com/laptop_tablet_arms.php

The Evo base clamps to the table, but it looks like holes could be drilled. LCD arms has some vertical mounting options available, including a pole clamp and custom mounts that might just be sweet for on the side rail of the FilmTools cart. See this page: http://www.lcdarms.com/avail_mounts.php?model=5507T

No perfect out-of-the-box solutions, but getting closer. Until now, Velcro [male on the computer side, which is not ideal] has been my best laptop cart mount friend. With the re-design, Velcro & I had a laptop mount falling out.

Talk amongst yourselves.

-- Jan

[greg sextro]

Jan,

I've actually got a monitor arm made by this company.  It's probably light enough. 

There is one big problem I can think of though - as far as I know, they don't lock.

If you're on a slope, it might not end up "sitting" where you want it.  And, also might swing around when you go to move your cart.

-Greg-

[Jan McL]

Ah-ha! Thanks, Greg.

Doh: locking seems important. Revising my original post to reflect that.

[larry long]

http://www.ram-mount.com/

[Jan McL]

Hi, Larry,

Thanks. Been there. Spent hours. Couldn't make much sense of it. Need to find a brick & mortar dealer, or get on the phone with someone. Yeah.

Maybe it would help if I had some images from the field of soundies who have implemented this solution. Instigating JW.net search now.

-- Jan

[bcopenhagen]

Granted, I think you're not looking for another RAM-mount recommendation....but

IIRC, Paul Graff has implemented ram-mount for his a-la-cart laptop.

http://jwsound.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1948.msg14641#msg14641

Send him a PM, he can probably give you some specific hands-on info.

-Brian

[Zack]

Jan, maybe see if that French company (Camagrip) will custom fabricate an arm for you, or individually sell one they use on their carts?  Of course there will be the expense issue

[Jan McL]

@Zack, my guess is the French solution will be a bigger investment than  I'm prepared to make on this project. @bcopenhagen Had eyes on Paul's solution, but it seemed more beefy than I'd like. See below for what I'm thinking.

Allrighty:

AirDesk has the mounting strategy I like.

InStand has the tray I like.

Heard back Monday from InStand relative to the laptop tray mounts available: "The SuperStand tray  accepts a 3/4" diameter tube, and the lightweight InsTands attach with a  1/4"-20  mount, the same size as a camera tripod attachment." I don't think the 1/4"-20 mount will handle enough cart abuse.

So, in my dreams I'm seeing a combination of the two above ideas:

• 3/4" tube mounted like a vertical grab bar to the FilmTools aluminum upright
  
  
  
• this type of cross-fitting on the vertical tube above (this from AirDesk @ 7/8" -- so I don't think it will work with the tube the InStand tray requires)
  
  
• a horizontal 3/4" tube through the cross-fitting
  
  
• similar cross-fitting (or something) at the end of the horizontal tube to accept the InStand tray
  

What I like about this is:

• it seems like it could be very light weight
  
• flexible placement
  
• easy to put it away
  
• the InStand tray is perfect - rubber coated, light, and low-profile
  
• can attach other things to the vertical mount tube
  
• can probably get tube & hardware to mount the tube @ Home Depot, basically like this, but with a straight bar to curved flange mounts rather than a single piece:
  
  

Maybe there is a grip gear solution. Have spent some time perusing grip gear options, but their pipes are not quite the right size.

Feeding the idea mill.

Will send a link to this post to both InStand and AirDesk and see what they come up with since they have both kindly asked if they could help solve the puzzle.

- Jan

[ao]

not sure where you are hoping to attach your tray but filmtools has this arm for their tray:

http://www.filmtools.com/mag-lap-top-offset-arm.html

ao

[Jan McL]

Thanks, ao. Bought one along with the cart. It's solid. Heavy, actually. Not much room for adjustment since it pivots around a 5/8 spud. I've got it handy just in case, but suspect it will be for sale soon. You want one?

-- Jan

[ao]

I use a PDA for notes and a laptop for burning DVDs. I would like to move to a macmini once/if DC powering gets sorted out for it, in the same vein as the carnetix interface now. It would be easy to buy the old one but I like burning to SD card for the DIT, and the new mac mini has an SD card slot. I have got utility side tables on my cart for the laptop but I would like to avoid expanding sideways in tight locations.

ao

[Jan McL]

Hear you, ao. Looks like this is going to be a customization schmeggie to achieve the laptop integration of our dreams.

In the meantime, a second, smaller shelf mounted under the handles will have to do the trick. Think I'm going to order the InStand tray though, so I can play around with possibilities.

Manfrotto makes a robust articulating arm that I got and do not use for mounting monitors, and have saved for use with a video camera, but it will only hold 8 pounds. The laptop is 5.5 pounds.

The RAM mount begins to look pretty good, though I did just spend another 15 minutes drooling over Chinhda's elegant solution.

-- Jan

[ao]

Jan:

have you discounted this platform? is it too small?

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/3221

it is not too expensive and has a low lip around it with a recessed mounting slot.

ao

Hear you, ao. Looks like this is going to be a customization schmeggie to achieve the laptop integration of our dreams.

In the meantime, a second, smaller shelf mounted under the handles will have to do the trick. Think I'm going to order the InStand tray though, so I can play around with possibilities.

Manfrotto makes a robust articulating arm that I got and do not use for mounting monitors, and have saved for use with a video camera, but it will only hold 8 pounds. The laptop is 5.5 pounds.

The RAM mount begins to look pretty good, though I did just spend another 15 minutes drooling over Chinhda's elegant solution.

-- Jan

[Jan McL]

Jan:

have you discounted this platform? is it too small?

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/3221

it is not too expensive and has a low lip around it with a recessed mounting slot.

ao

It's just a wee bit smaller than my current laptop and don't imagine that the lip would pose a problem if covered with rubber. Light weight. Check.

With a bit of further research found this clamp with 5/8 socket that would interface with the 1" square aluminum horizontal strut on the cart and allow a place to attach a magic arm:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124731-REG/Avenger_C700_Square_Clamp_with_5_8.html#features

Oh goodness, we're getting somewhere!

Thanks, ao.

-- Jan

[Jan McL]

Had a great conversation with Jim, the owner of InsTand yesterday. He's putting his mind to the issue, and offered the possibility of road-testing a store model of their Evo Laptop Arm. He says that while the arm does not lock, he is able to type on the device with no trouble. Sent him some photographs of the cart, and look forward to his response.

In the meantime -- because Air Desk works with 7/8" pipe -- did a search for "7/8" pipe fitting"  which led me the idea that with two of the above fittings from Air Desk, I could mount a vertical 7/8" pipe between any two sturdy shelves, add their cross-fitting (or mast-coupling) device, and another pipe for the horizontal axis, their laptop tray, and be good to go on either of my carts.

Here's their 'car rig':

Gonna sleep on this as I wait to hear from InsTand, but feel like progress is being made.

-- Jan

[Alex Sullivan]

Hi Jan,  I have a setup that works well for me with a 15" mac laptop.  If you visit the filmtools website and look at the pictures of their vertical junior cart you can see a picture of my cart in the previous configuration I had on Conchords (thanks again Jan) and see the laptop arm there.  I basically used a magic arm and a manfrotto plate made for 8" Sony CRT monitors and it was a perfect fit for the mac.  I used a rapid adaptor to connect the plate to the arm, and a super clamp (aka maffer clamp) to attach to the cart.  Hope this helps.

Alex

[Jan McL]

Hi Jan,  I have a setup that works well for me with a 15" mac laptop.  If you visit the filmtools website and look at the pictures of their vertical junior cart you can see a picture of my cart in the previous configuration I had on Conchords (thanks again Jan) and see the laptop arm there.  I basically used a magic arm and a manfrotto plate made for 8" Sony CRT monitors and it was a perfect fit for the mac.  I used a rapid adaptor to connect the plate to the arm, and a super clamp (aka maffer clamp) to attach to the cart.  Hope this helps.

Alex

You're welcome, Alex

Thanks for the specific instructions for a system that works. The most weight the toughest magic arm will hold is something just over 8 pounds. Since I have one, I'm confident it will hold both a laptop & fairly lightweight shelf (no steel) just fine. With the super clamp, it's a fairly heavy group. With the other mount I linked to, less so.

That said, I'm adding another shelf above the battery shelf you have installed in your picture @ FilmTools. It's between those two shelves I want to install the modified Air Desk. I think it will be very light & secure indeed since Air Desk promises up to 15 pounds. Plus, I can install a similar 'permanent' vertical and mast coupling on the main cart, so all I have to do is move the horizontal pipe & tray as between the 2 carts.

Failing that, I think I'm going with exactly what you suggest, but with the Avenger Square Clamp in place of the Super Clamp. I'm thinking I might be able to use a couple of these, especially if they also come with 5/8 pins.

Best,

Jan

[Jan McL]

Update.

Ordered this combination of 'replacement parts' from Air Desk today:

I am optimistic about this solution that I predict will work with either the Gemini Jr (between the top shelf and the top half-shelf) or the FilmTools Upright Jr. (mounted between 2 under-handle shelves).

More later, after it all arrives.

-- Jan

[Jan McL]

So, my original plans as above were way wrong. Wound up ordering other things and learning more about Air Desk.

• The upright 'mast' is 7/8" round

• The 'arm' is oval and comes in a 19" length. Maybe Ed could make it shorter or longer. Dunno. 'Arms' are not listed in the replacement parts section.

• The 'mast coupling' is to attach two masts inline with each other, and not what one wants for this project. What you need is a 'cross-fitting' to attach a vertical 'mast' to a horizontal 'arm'

• Base fittings are secured to the mast with two bolts tightened with an Allen wrench like speed rail

• You'll definitely want to add bits of Velcro to the laptop and the laptop tray for a secure mount

• The replacement laptop tray does not come with a fitting to attach it to the arm (known as a 'replacement hub'), and must be ordered separately

Ed from Air Desk is the man you can speak with about getting the right pieces/parts for your laptop mount project correct off the bat. I should have called him sooner

Here's a video tour:

All that said, I have ordered the Instand laptop tray that comes with a 1/4"-20 mount, to see how that might fit into the works.

-- Jan

[Jan McL]

http://12seconds.tv/v/C2ZD7

Oy.

The InsTand solution is pretty darned light, clean, and easily put away, if not terribly adjustable or articulating -- with the current 5/8" spud installation anyway.

Next attempt will be to attach the InsTand tray to the Noga arm [ http://www.filmtools.com/noga-holdit-arm-dg1105-lindcraft.html ] and hope the arm will carry the weight.

Gonna have some spare parts when it's all said and done.

Sigh.

-- Jan

[Jan McL]

Gonna try to wrap up this quest with a nice bow.

Much as I tried to make it work, Air Desk didn't work out for me. It might have were the mast and arm more like 1/2" and the cross fitting more fully adjustable, like this:

Ran out of experimentation energy, or I would have ordered the above, taken it to Home Depot, found some smaller pipe and appropriate flange fittings, and worked it out.

As it is, the InsTand tray is working out pretty well with the heavier duty Noga/Israeli arm found here:

http://www.filmtools.com/heduisarm.html

Am not sure I'm completely happy with the small InsTand tray's 1/4"-20 mount point, but it will do for the nonce. Field testing is required. Next time around, I would be inclined to start with InsTand's larger tray for its 'pipe' mount, that seems like it should be stronger.

Bottom line, this arrangement gets me where I wanted to go, fulfilling all the parameters set out.

-- Jan

[Guest BobD]

Don't know if you tried, but Backstage Equipment has great 15" and 17" laptop trays, with Heavy duty swivel and mount. Mounts to a custom or standard arm with the normal stud...

Call them for info:  Not really on the site...

http://www.backstageweb.com/

Love mine... super sturdy, built like a truck....

[Jan McL]

Don't know if you tried, but Backstage Equipment has great 15" and 17" laptop trays, with Heavy duty swivel and mount. Mounts to a custom or standard arm with the normal stud...

Call them for info:  Not really on the site...

http://www.backstageweb.com/

Love mine... super sturdy, built like a truck....

Thanks, Bob. Did spend some time looking over there but did not -- until after reading your post -- find a laptop tray or mount there. Their laptop tray / mount may be found in the pdf of their Mag World catalog:

http://www.backstageweb.com/Mag%20World%20Summer%202009V2%20WEB.pdf

I love, love, love that the cheeseplate tray is red (it's a chick thing). Love that it has a 'lip' and protective hole for cables. Wish, wish, wish I'd seen this tray sooner.

A good read, that Mag World catalog. Am amazed that so many accessories specific to the Magliner carts are available. Bought my Magliner Gemini Jr. on Canal St. in 1992 or '93. Don't recall how I managed to get a top shelf... Back then, there was nothing much specifically made for it. Life is good, no?

Continue to mix and match mounts / arms etc. today. Ongoing.

-- Jan

[Richard Lightstone, CAS]

Jan,

Since you are into "chick thing" colors,. I spotted this Audio panel on the sales floor of Coffey Sound and thought you'd like the color.

[Jan McL]

Jan,

Since you are into "chick thing" colors,. I spotted this Audio panel on the sales floor of Coffey Sound and thought you'd like the color.

OMG, have you ever got my number, Richard.

Swooned when I first saw this board on Griffin Richardson's cart.

Yeah. It's a beaut.

-- Jan