Fixing a monitor to a door

[John Rumm]

Any suggestions for the best way to sort this one: I need to fix a flat panel TFT monitor to the inside of a shop door (for viewing from outside through the door). The door is half of a double door, and this half is rarely (if ever) opened, so strain from flexing of the cables is not a worry. The tricky bit is finding / making a suitable mount.

None of the standard VESA mounts I have found allow for the possibility that you want to mount the monitor facing the surface it is mounted on. Anyone know different?

The other option I thought of a was a sheet of ali (say 12"x24") that could be bent up thus (top down): ___ ____ \ / \__________/

so the flanges could be screwed to the uprights of the door, and the monitor fixed into the "dip" at the back of the bracket.

Which begs the questions, where is a good place to source ali sheets like this, and what is the best way to bend them neatly without access to a proper bending / folding machine?

[sPoNiX]

Couldn't you make a tray from a piece of plywood and some suitably sized battens. Attach the TFT to the inside of the tray then screw the tray to the door.

sponix

[John Rumm]

Yup probably, although I don't know if a ply tray would look quite as nice as an ali one. Could also probably do it with a couple of bits of flat bar - might be easier to bend up.

[sPoNiX]

maybe a flat sheet of "checkerplate" aluminium, with some box section steel around the edge to act as a spacer?

sponix

[Rumble]

John Rumm said the following on 28/11/2005 11:34:

Go and visit your friendly local sheet metal-working company. Take a sketch, the TFT panel you want mounted and dimensions of the door frame, etc.

They will cut and bend a piece of ally or steel for you. They will also punch mounting holes and arrange for coloured anodising (aluminium) or powder coating (steel) as well. If you opt for powder-coated steel, you will be able to to specify a RAL colour and glossiness. See here:

would suggest you specify 30% gloss (which will be satin).

Expect to pay about GBP60-100 depending on whether you want the metal finished (i.e. anodised/painted). Offer cash (folding stuff).

[Rob Morley]

How about a couple of lengths of ally angle to support the top and bottom, and foam draught excluder to steady it against the glass?

[John Rumm]

Could do, although I wanted to do it without the screen actually touching the glass (so you get no trapped condensation etc). The glass is also inset from the steel door frame by about 3/4"