I am creating a three-legged stand for a monitor (not really a table, but whatever) and am not sure how to conduct the measurements so that all three legs are accurately spaced in an equilateral triangular shape such that the weight of whatever is sitting on top is evenly distributed over all three legs. How do I go about calculating this?
How to measure the leg positions for a three-legged table with a circular top
table
Related Solutions
Deep scratches and broken edges are a bad sign. If you want to learn about stone polishing, this would be a good learner project. Don't expect to be able to craft a Michelangelo. A matte finish would be reasonable, and expect to leave the deeper scratches in place.
Matte marble finish should be polished out to 1500 grit. Gloss finish out to 3000 and buffed
These diamond pads are meant to be used wet and no higher than 4000 RPM. Buffers are the usual motor, but there are a few angle grinders that are variable speed and slow enough (Metabo and Makita).
A velcro back is handy to changing the pads.
Using two legs at a "T" will result in a table that is very prone to tipping. In the diagram below, the sum of the moments (torque) about the R1-R2 axis must be zero for the table to remain in equilibrium. Just before the table tips, all the reaction force from the legs against the floor will be concentrated at R1 and R2.
If the weight of the table at the centroid contributes to a greater moment about the axis than that from a downward force at AB, the reactions from the legs will be distributed more evenly than just the tipping point at R1 and R2.
If you're dead set on a "T" table leg configuration, consider making L1 and L2 the entire length of W and H respectively. That's not enough to achieve stability however, since the far corners of the table are still at a much larger distance from the R1-R2 axis than the centroid of the table is. Therefore, consider trimming the table down to a trapezoid or triangle, with the narrower end corresponding to the bottom of the "T". Otherwise, consider an "H" or "X" configuration for the legs as @Wayfaring Stranger suggests.
Related Topic
- Concrete – How to grind and smooth a concrete table top
- What should be the thickness of a glass table top
- How to adapt caster wheel to tubular table leg
- Cut 2” thick bamboo butcher block for table top
- Looking for quick attach and release options for a table top attached to a metal frame
- Wood – What to look for in wood selection when building a coffee table frame with glass top
- Ny way to stop a low-profile desk from racking back and forth
Best Answer
An easier method to using dividers is to get a piece of string, wrap it around the circumference of the table surface, and mark the and where the string meets itself. Measure the length, divide by 3, then mark off the thirds on the string. Put the string back on and use the third marks to find the leg positions. It's not as exacting as @woodchips method but it's faster, you don't need special measuring tools, and it's probably good enough for your purposes.
Of course you could just eyeball it, you'd be surprised how exact you can get it that way.