Hallam first worked with CMD to design and manufacture the hugely successful “Cygnus” flat screen monitor arm and most recently has helped CMD to develop the “Reach” monitor arm variant. These complex projects involved the design of an articulating and positionable assembly of pressure cast aluminium parts, aluminium extrusion, laser cut steel plastic injection mouldings and a laser cut steel computer monitor mounting plate.  Assembly options allow the product to be configured to support up to three computer monitors from desktop or wall mounted anchorage points.

The functionality requirements for these products were wide-ranging and presented a considerable technical design challenge.

Market driven, the products had to offer:-

  • Flexible and diverse mounting options within differing office architectures
  • Safe height and angle positioning under user control in situ
  • Accommodation of a wide range of monitor designs, although some standardisation of mounting point design features has emerged within the industry.

 

In designing and simulating the assembly CAD models, the design for manufacture (DFM) elements of the projects were particularly challenging. In particular, there were uncertainties around:-

  • Tolerancing, across a range of diverse materials
  • Dimensional allowances for interference and push fit elements of the assembly
  • Material resilience to the longer term effects of positioning adjustment

 

Research at the DFM stage for the basic products and variants was particular intensive for this project.  Research and simulation elements included:-

  • Analysis of polymer specifications and attributes and selection of best suited
  • Research into the load bearing capacities of alternative materials and analysis of CAD assembly models in this respect
  • Repeated prototyping to ensure functionality would be as envisaged

 

 

The products are offered in many variants allowing optimum flexibility for alternative office layouts and alternative desking and cabling solutions.

Full details of the product range can be seen at:
https://www.cmd-ltd.com/ergo-solutions