One day, your pristine laptop will be an old piece of hardware. Before you dispose of it, you may want to grab a few valuable pieces out of it. One of the most useful pieces is the screen panel. With that, you can build yourself a standalone monitor, and this is what I did.
The first thing that I needed was a screen panel controller for the panel model that I have. The model number/ID can be found behind the panel itself. I was able to get one from eBay for about 20 USD. Once I got it, I made sure it was working before going forward with the rest of the project.
To make the monitor casing, I went with 1/8″ MDF. It is easy to work with and will be sturdy enough for that purpose. I also got a pair of cabinet hinges that will be used for the supporting legs, some PCB standoffs, and a can of spray paint.
During this project, I used two types of glue. I used Gorilla glue (some kind of very strong glue) when gluing the wood to the metal of the screen panel. I used wood glue when gluing, well, wood.
Here is the starting point; the screen panel, the sheet of MDF, and lots of motivation to make it work.
Because of where the connectors are located on the panel, I didn’t find a better way to install the controller other than passing the cables under the casing. To do so, I needed to create space behind the panel to do cable management. For the sides of the monitor, I decided to leverage the screw holes on the panel. That would help make the monitor more sturdy. It was hard to drill holes that were perfectly aligned. My first attempt was not a success. In the end, I went for just two screws and glue. It did the trick.
With the sides done, I then cut the back plate. This is where the controller will be screwed on. I kept an extra length at the bottom to elevate the monitor. It will also make it easier to install the legs later. You’ll also notice that the cuts in the wood are not perfectly straight. I still don’t have a saw bench, so I’ve used a jigsaw and a sander to make a perfect line. I know, it is a long process, but I was not in the business of buying a bench saw at that time.
One thing that is hard to show is that I added pieces at the bottom of the panel to add support. To complete the base of the monitor, I cut four rectangular pieces that I will glue together. That will also give some weight for stability. Notice that I had to cut a cavity on the top piece to pass the power cable through the back.
Up to that point, I still didn’t glue anything. I still needed to cut through the backplate for cable management. I placed the PCBs on the backplate as I wanted them to be and drew where the holes should be. I ensured the cables would be long enough for that setup to work. I then cut the holes and did a dry fit with the PCBs screwed and the cables going through the holes. I wanted to make sure that everything was working fine before gluing things together.
Once done, it was time to paint the backplate. The novice in me did not think a coat of primer would be necessary. I was wrong. It took four coats of paint to have a decent result.
After the paint dried up, I installed the PCBs. Standoffs were used to ensure that the electronic components were not directly against the wood. With the cables hidden, I find the result is pretty satisfying.
With everything connected, I did a power-up test. When I saw this was successful, I went ahead and sealed everything. I screwed and glued the sides to the screen panel, including the top piece. I then glued it all to the back panel. Again, once dry, I glued the four pieces of the base, using clamps.
The screen needs legs to stand on its own. I made 2 using MDF and cabinet hinges. I also made a rectangular piece of MDF that will cover the electric components on the back to add a bit of protection. With those two final pieces cut out, I masked the screen and started to paint everything. The result is not bad, considering I should have used a primer.
With the components cover completed, it was time to fix it on the back.
Finally, the last piece of the puzzle, the supporting legs. I glued the MDF pieces to the cabinet hinges. I then screwed the hinges at the back of the monitor. Since those hinges open all the way, the monitor would slide flat if left like that. I screwed a stripe of rubber for each leg to ensure that the legs can’t open all the way. (I used old bike tires for that purpose.)
Now is the time to test that all that was not for nothing. I grabbed a Raspberry Pie, connected it, and success! We have a fully functioning monitor made from a laptop screen panel!
Looking back, there are a few things that I would have done differently. The monitor could have looked better if I had pre-coated it with a primer. I would have also designed it in a way to have the supporting legs screwed closer to the center of gravity of the monitor for better stability. The last thing I would have done differently is to use more clamps when gluing the bottom of the screen. The final result would have been more sharp.
That said, I am pretty happy with it. I can bring this monitor to CTFs, use at my home workshop, and maybe more!
