Media Wall Design Guide

This guide uses Example 1 for reference. Mode-AL are always happy to offer assistance with your design if you find an area confusing or difficult. 2D (DXF) and 3D (Step) files of all components are available for download into your CAD system. We also offer a full design service at 10% of the Media Wall cost. If you wish to download the Design Guide in PDF format, please Click Here

Fig 1 Media wall and desk isometric

Fig 2 Media Wall without screens

Selecting and Positioning Screens

Positioning primary and auxiliary screens for ease of use is critical. The primary screens should be positioned directly in front of the operator and high enough that the whole screen is visible above any obstructions on the operator's desk (see fig 3)

Fig 3 Side elevation. Eye levels for typical media wall and control desk

How to determine Dim B

Dim B is the height from the floor to the base of the lowest screen. It is very important to obtain this dimension prior to specifying a Media Wall. If it is too low, then the operator will not be able to see the lower screens properly, and if it is too high, the cost of the stack will be unnecessarily high. As a rule of thumb, the lowest screen should be no lower than 800mm from the floor and can be as high as 1500mm.

The distance of the Media Wall from the desk (Dim A) and the height of any obstructions on the desk that obscure the line of sight, all need to be factored in before you can begin to specify Media Wall components.

We have provided a DXF file for importing into your CAD system that will assist you in determining this height. Please Click Here

Screen Layout

The layout of the screens can take virtually any shape, but on the whole, most Media Walls require as many screens placed as close together as possible for space saving and ease of use by the operator.

Fig 4 shows the Example 1 screen layout at sketch level where the layout of screens is decided and the basic dimensions are generated for the Media Wall.

The two most important calculations are the width and height of the screen layout. This is calculated by:

(Width of screen +5mm) X No of screens = Width of screen layout

The height of the screen layout is the same, but allow 20mm instead of 5mm. This can be reduced to 10mm if you are only using VESA brackets up to 200x200.

(Height of screen + 20mm) X No of screens = Height of screen layout

Fig 4 Basic screen layout

Fig 4 shows 4 calculations - 2 for the width and 2 for the height. This is because we have 2 different screen sizes - the Sony and Clarity screen. This is to check and find out which configuration is the widest and the tallest.

Leg height

We can now determine the leg height for the Media Wall. This is a simple addition of Dim B from Fig 3 and the largest height dimension from Fig 4

Dim B (830mm) + Max height of screen layout (1256mm) = 2086mm

We would recommend a 2.0m leg for free standing (2066mm) and the same height for bolt down applications (2006mm)

As a guide:

• 2.0m legs can accept screen heights up to 2100mm
• 2.2m legs can accept screen heights up to 2300mm
• 2.4m legs can accept screen heights up to 2500mm

Fig 5 Leg Component Description

1.) Extruded upright 180 x 30mm with length choice of 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4m

2.) End cover manufactured from pre-anodised aluminium natural finish. Powder coat option is available as a special order to any RAL or BS paint finish

3.) Cable Tray 100mm (4") as standard. Includes stand offs to allow for easy cable installation. Options of 75mm (3") and 50mm (2") trays also available

4.) Standard foot with levelling feet allows for ±10mm of height adjustment. Powder coated Mode-AL silver as standard. Can be colour matched to the end covers as a special order

5.) Bolt down base - ideal for reducing the footprint of the stand or for high traffic areas

Fig 5 Leg Components

Beam Options

All beams come with 75mm (3") cable trays as standard. Options of 50mm (2") and 100mm (4") cable trays are available.

Under-slung cable trays can be specified if required. You will need:

1.0m beam length - 2 brackets

1.0 - 2.0m beam length - 3 brackets

2.0 - 3.0m beam length - 4 brackets

Please note, the 60 x 30mm beam maximum load is 30kg evenly distributed over the length of the beam and the maximum screen size is 24". (i.e. do not put a 42" plasma on this beam!)

Beam length calculations

As the overall length of our example Media Wall is over 3.2m (the maximum beam length), we will require 3 legs. As the Example 1 is a symmetrical design, we can cut the stack down the middle. This would mean that the beam length would nominally be 1740mm long and if the screens were within the legs as per Example 3, this would be the beam length. Example 1 has the screens in front of the legs so we have to subtract the thickness of 3 legs from the beam lengths. We need to subtract 3 x 30=90mm (30mm for each leg) from the overall length of the beams so the total length of the beams is 1695mm. (see example drawing MW-EX1-02)

Overall screen layout width - leg thickness = virtual beam length ÷ 2 for actual beam length = beam length

3480 - 90 (3 x 30) = 3390 ÷ 2 = 1695mm

Stub Beams

These short beams are handy if you need to add a little width to the outside of a stack or as used in Example 1 to infill between a larger screen without going to the cost of a full size beam. The maximum length of stub beam is 600mm and they are available in 2 sizes - 60 x 30 and 120 x 30mm.

Stub beam 60 x 30 max length 60mm max load 16kg

Stub beam 120 x 30 max length 600mm max load 21kg

Fig 7 Stub beam and cable tray

Fig 8 Stub beams in place

Fig 8 shows a cut down beam end plate. This is to enable the screens to be positioned correctly. Mode-AL can make these modifications if requested prior to shipment.

Screen Positioning

The Media Wall allows for adjustment of the screens during set up; allowing all of the faces of the screens to be as flush as possible. Each beam can be positioned in 10mm increments forwards or backwards, allowing a maximum discrepancy of 5mm between screen faces.

The legs of the Media Wall have slots every 30mm and the beam end plates have holes spaced every 10mm, allowing easy positioning of the beam during set up.

Figs 9, 10, 11 & 12 illustrate how we show the position of the beam in the slots and how the holes in the beam end plates can be adjusted to bring the screen faces flush with each other or to the front face of the Media Wall legs.

Fig 9 Beam mounting detail

Fig 10 Example 1 top view of central leg beam locations

Fig 10 above, shows our layout in Example 1 and as you can see, the Clarity screen is very close to the centre leg of the Media Wall.

When placing screens forward of the legs, either to reduce the overall width of the wall or for aesthetic reasons as in Example 1, it is very important to pay attention to the actual depth of the screen. Many manufacturers chamfer or step the back of the screen at the sides and the top. This enables you to bring the screens closer to the legs and keep the centre of gravity of the Media Wall within its design parameters, thus negating the need for tie backs to keep the Media Wall stable.

Please note a 10 degree tilt test forwards and backwards must be carried out to check the stability of the Media Wall prior to handover to the client (see fig 13)

Fig 12 Mount types & beam end plate hole designation

Fig 13 Tilt test

Working out the beam positions front to back

First you will need the depth of your screens. This will be added to the screen mount suitable for the screen (see figs 13 & 14). This will give you your 3 depths available for mounting onto the leg slots.

Assuming we are going to place the same Sony screen LMD1410 flush with the front face of the leg, we can work out the slot number and hole letter for correct installation when building the Media Wall.

Sony LMD1410 is 87mm deep and has 100x100 VESA mountings. This would mount on to our VESA 100x100 making the range of depths:

• A98 (87 + 11) mm

• B108 (87 + 21) mm

• C118 (87 + 31) mm

Transposing this over to the leg in fig 15, slot 4 at 105mm is the preferred choice using hole B on the beam end plates. This is closest to the ideal 108mm position.

fig 14 Screen Mount to end plate dims

With the beams in front of the legs

As in Example 1, the only change is when you have worked out the combined screen and beam depth, you have to subtract this from the ABC dimensions.

As we have the front of the screens 55mm in front of the leg and have the same Sony LMD screen, the ABC dimensions would be:

• A 98-55 = 43mm

• B 108-55 = 53mm

• C 118-55 = 63mm

Transposing this over to the leg in fig 15, slot 2 at 45mm is the preferred choice using hole A on the beam end plates.

Fig 15 Leg slot positions (plan view)

Beam heights

To set the beam heights, you will require the distance from the bottom of your screen to the upper holes on the mounting points on the screen. This is one piece of information that is most difficult to obtain from most manufacturers and it is the reason all of our beams are height adjustable on site.

Please do not assume that the screen mounts are in the centre of the screen, as this is unlikely to be so. Fig 16 shows the distance from the top mounting screw of our bracket to the top of the screen. With these dimensions and Dim B from fig 3, you will be able to work out your beam heights.

Remember to add 10mm between screens using VESA mounts and 20mm with Universal mounts as in fig 4 for screen spacing and easy removal of the screen for maintenance.

Fig 16 Mounts to beam dimensions

Fig 17 Beam heights

Bank tilting screens

All beams can be bank tilted by the positioning of the holes in the beam end plates and slots in the legs. Fig 18 shows the available angles of tilt and the corresponding holes used.

It is important to remember that the tilt can also be done in reverse if you require to tilt the lowest bank of screens upward.

Small Beam Plates

Medium Beam Plates

Large Beam Plates

Fig 18 Available tilt angle with standard beam end plates

All 60x30 and 120x30 beams will be supplied with the medium end plate unless otherwise specified.

Fig 19 Beam in situ with tilt