DIY MT-50 Multitouch Table

The MT50 is a projection based 50” multitouch table. It is 31” high with casters and meets ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) standards. The MT50 supports a resolution of 1280x720. Its frame is made of aluminum, the shell is steel, and surface is thick tempered glass. The table is virtually indestructible and is designed for use in busy public spaces.

We’ve literally dropped bowling balls on it to test its toughness.

Ideum, a New Mexico-based company, built and sold MT50 multitouch tables between 2009 and 2010. There are dozens of these tables installed in museums, research labs, and a few are even installed at Fortune 500 companies across North America. The MT50 has been discontinued, as of March 2011, and has been replaced by a LCD based table, the MT55 HD (you can learn more about the MT55 HD on the Ideum website: http://www.ideum.com/products/multitouch/). It is worth mentioning that many of the techniques used in the MT50 are still used for large-scale installations such as walls, multiple projector tables. While the MT50 documentation is no longer available on the Ideum site. A description, videos, and reviews can be found on the GestureWorks website:
http://gestureworks.com/features/supported-hardware/ideum-mt-50-multitouch-table/

The instructions for the MT-50 are being released as part of the Open Exhibits, museum software and hardware initiative. Open Exhibits multitouch and multiuser software is free to students, museums, nonprofits, and US Government agencies.

If you have any suggestions for how we might improve these instructions, please let us know.

The Ideum and Open Exhibits Team
Corrales, New Mexico

Step 1: Assembling the Aluminum Frame

The main frame for the MT-50 is made of Bosch aluminum. The entire kit for the MT-50 can be purchased from our Bosch Supplier in the United States, Pacific Integrated Handling. If you would like to order the kit, please contact their office and let them know you’d like the Ideum MT-50(200-05320) kit.

Pacific Integrated Handling Inc
 480-379-0100 (phone)
Ideum MT-50(200-05320) kit

The kit will come with all the needed aluminum strut, screws, T-nuts, and gussets that are needed to assemble the aluminum frame.
If you have ever played with an Erector set, you will be able to put together the Bosch aluminum frame very easily.  

To assemble, you will need the following tools:

• 1 Metric 2.5 Hex Key
• 1 Metric 4 Hex Key
• 1 12mm Socket w/ wrench

The different thicknesses of aluminum strut will be referred to in millimeters.  For the most part, the sizes in this kit are 45x45mm, 30x30mm, 20x20mm, and 20x40mm.  This size convention also works for the Gussets (the triangular pieces that are used to connect strut). There will be 45mm gussets, 30mm, and 20mm.

You will need to refer to the drawing and strut diagram to put the frame together.  The strut chart will show thickness, length, quantity, and a part letter.   Use the part letter and the diagram to figure out which piece goes where. Do not attach the wheel assemblies until you have the bottom panel on.

Part F on the diagram needs to be slightly modified so that the wheels can be attached to it properly. A ½” hole will need to be drilled as shown in the image above. 

Comments

[tinker234]

ow nice job might send a link to freind of mine hey could i make this into a desk

[arianen]

Very informative instructable. But if you don't mind me asking, how much would this multitouch rig approximately cost?

[multitouch]

The price with the parts listed at the time the table was being produced was between 12-16k. We sourced and used the toughest materials available.

There are many interchangeable parts within the system that can be purchased for less. You can find some of these throughout the instructable.

[josheggleston]

VERY NICE!!!! I would of liked more pictures of the finished project.

[multitouch]

Here are a few more pictures of the completed table. You might also want to look at our Flickr page (flickr/ideum) as a number of our recent exhibits featured the MT50 multitouch table.