Monitor Stand

Low-cost, parametric desk stand with a bamboo rod shaft, printed base and VESA hardware, and assembly designed for a single tool.

Project brief

What it needed to do

Design a low-cost, 3D-printable monitor arm with a base.
Use a minimum amount of plastic to reduce cost and print time.
Height-adjustable; support monitors up to 27″.
Standard VESA mount compatibility.
Accommodate uncertainty in final rod dimensions.
Minimal hardware and straightforward assembly.

1.1 Monitor arm

Design process

The design process began with minimizing material use. The goal was a stand people can build from widely available materials: a bamboo rod as the shaft, three M5 bolts and nuts, and PLA for printed parts.

All printed parts were designed so that no support material is required. PLA is not ideal under sustained creep loads; ABS is a better choice for anyone printing in an enclosed printer.

Hand-drawn concept sketch: base with reinforcing ribs, rod, adapter versions, overhang notes — Early sketches — ribs, adapter concepts, and overhang considerations.

1.1 Monitor arm

Assembly instructions

Step 1
Heat-insert the M5 nuts (1), (2), (3) into their places.
Step 2
Insert the rod into the base. Secure with the bottom set screw (5).
Step 3
Slide the VESA mount attachment (6) onto the rod.
Step 4
Secure the attachment with set screws (7), (8).
Step 5
Slide the VESA mount plate (9) onto the part (6).

On small screens, steps read top to bottom; on a large display they match the original left-to-right sequence.

1.1 Monitor arm

Dimensions & bill of materials

Engineering drawing sheet: top, front, side, and isometric views with key dimensions — Drawing set includes footprint (150 mm depth, Ø31.75 pole opening), base (200 × 45 mm), VESA 75 / 100 mm patterns, and bracket stack heights — replace this placeholder with your exported sheet.

Item	Part	Qty
1	Base	1
2	Pole	1
3	VESA mount	1
4	VESA mount adapter	1
5	M4 × 0.7 — 10 mm hex socket cap screw	4
6	M5 × 0.8 — 12 mm hex socket cap screw	3