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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: Mandolin on Mon, 29 April 2013, 05:13:14

Title: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Mandolin on Mon, 29 April 2013, 05:13:14: I saw something made by ergotron, and it's expensive as f***, but it looks amazing:
Its a articulated arm, kind of what the dentists use, for the keyboard (for the monitor also)

http://www.ergotron24.com/ergotron-lx-hd-table-with-swing-arm-and-keyboard-arm.html (http://www.ergotron24.com/ergotron-lx-hd-table-with-swing-arm-and-keyboard-arm.html)

I think it's not worth it, but if I had a ton of money, id try it. Maybe one could do some diy, but what for...
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Mandolin on Wed, 01 May 2013, 13:41:31: At 635 USD maybe it's an overkill, but there are by far costly alternatives in desks.
(http://www.my-device.de/media/catalog/product/cache/65/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/e/r/ergotron-lx-hd-tischmontage-mitschwenkarm-und-lx-tastaturschwenkarm.jpg)

This made me think I wouldn't get used to standing desks..., I prefer to stretch a while, then get back to work.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: keymaster on Wed, 01 May 2013, 13:47:21: Quote from: Mandolin on Wed, 01 May 2013, 13:41:31
At 635 USD maybe it's an overkill, but there are by far costly alternatives in desks.
Show Image
(http://www.my-device.de/media/catalog/product/cache/65/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/e/r/ergotron-lx-hd-tischmontage-mitschwenkarm-und-lx-tastaturschwenkarm.jpg)

This made me think I wouldn't get used to standing desks..., I prefer to stretch a while, then get back to work.

These things are usually insanely priced because they tend to be purchased by medical facilities (hospitals, doctor's offices). I can imagine something like this could be put together by for ~$100 by someone that's good with their hands.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: SmallFry on Wed, 01 May 2013, 14:14:51: I thought about modifying a chair to accept an ergoDox to it by having almost another layer platter that I weld to the chair while I bolt the rest of the case together. Seemed plausible to me.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Lanx on Fri, 03 May 2013, 05:46:37: my work desk is consisted of 1 ergotron keyboard arm and 2 monitor arms, they adjust perfectly, but i almost never adjust them anymore since they're always in a perfect position.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: dndlmx on Tue, 14 May 2013, 19:45:14: What a dope idea. I use an Ergotron MX for my monitor, I got it for super cheap. It'd be sweet to have my keyboard suspended too, tilted at *just* the right angle. Maybe you could use a monitor arm somehow, if the keyboard-specific products are too expensive.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Lanx on Wed, 15 May 2013, 14:59:16: the ergotron keyboard uses the exact same ergotron arms, only the mounting head is different. but the biggest cost is the keyboard mount tray.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: dndlmx on Wed, 15 May 2013, 15:09:51: Surely one could make a tray, with a nice piece of metal, drill some VESA-sized holes. Crank the arm resistance just right...
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Lanx on Wed, 15 May 2013, 20:40:13: you talking about the ergotron arms? i don't know about the MX, but the i know LX has about a 5lb weight requirement or the arm pops up, so yea need the tray to be kinda heavy, but i guess any material you use, if it's gonna be keyboard sized it'll be heavy enough.

the keyboard tray is small btw. it perfectly and i mean within 1mm fits my kinesis so 104 ppl are gonna have spillage. also the slide out mouse pad area is pathetically small, i pull that area out and slap my double sized mouse pad on it. oh i also had to mod the other side and have a chunk of metal hanging out so my nostromo has a place to sit, it's actually a piece of of a case and it's strong.

you can adjust the resistance in the MX arms? that's cool, the LX you can only adjust the head resistance.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Mandolin on Wed, 15 May 2013, 21:01:47: I just ordered the ergotron LX desk arm for the monitor, and I think the kb would need a wall mount or something, or a double stand. They're sweet. I'm just worried about my troublesome neck posture, more than hands. It aches so badly that I would make the most out of it. I just love them by their design too, but the neoflex are more limited than the LX series. I like the latter most.

I just don't make sense out of the standing desks, but I think I'd need to try it or I'm just too lazy to work standing.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Lanx on Wed, 15 May 2013, 22:16:43: a good headrest helps immensly for me, mine is fully adjustable mesh fabric, i can sit in this thing all day, but i cramp and cry if i have to drive for more than 2hours..., guess i just don't like car headrests.

oh and ergotron has a neoflex version for an underdesk mount, but i don't like the neoflex, that line has like nearly zero adjustability, i have a neoflex deskmount on my wifes rig and it's so un ajustable, it's just used so that there's more deskspace lol. i gave her a dual setup so the main is on a lx mount, and that adjusts really well.
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: RougeR on Wed, 15 May 2013, 23:32:39: something like this is just as good if sitting

repost from other thread, also the ones linked are pricey

since i have a typing and gaming board, when i have the money/moveout/whatever i wana ergo up my desk with stuff like this, will be so much better than lifting the boards over each other, and will look much cleaner + ther ergo benefits.
filco + mouse on the desk
m15 + trackball below the desk
http://www.ergodirectusa.com/Ergonomic-Adjustable-Mouse-Tray-p/s120.htm
(http://www.ergodirectusa.com/v/vspfiles/photos/S120-2T.jpg)
http://www.ergodirectusa.com/Comfort-Keyboard-Big-Board-Keyboard-Tray-p/2100.htm
(http://www.ergodirectusa.com/v/vspfiles/photos/2100-2T.jpg)
http://www.ergodirectusa.com/VIA-Voss-Mid-Back-Mesh-Task-Chair-p/voss.htm
(http://www.ergodirectusa.com/v/vspfiles/photos/Voss-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: dndlmx on Wed, 15 May 2013, 23:50:08: Quote from: Lanx on Wed, 15 May 2013, 20:40:13
you can adjust the resistance in the MX arms? that's cool, the LX you can only adjust the head resistance.

MX has two adjustable places. The spring tightness (head) and the elbow. I have no idea what the minimum weight is. But my U2412m is extremely light, compared to the previous 27-incher I busted. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Has anyone tried articulated arms for keyboards?
Post by: Lanx on Thu, 16 May 2013, 04:08:05: oh i take that back you can adjust the elbow in LX as well, i just haven't done it, since i got it that i forgot it was even there, heh, till you pointed it out.