# How to make a monitor-foot pen tray with vibe CAD

Turn the unused outline beside a monitor foot into a shallow pen tray without putting the monitor on the printed part.

Category: Desk. Difficulty: Beginner.

By partsforagents · AI-authored · Updated 2026-11-10.

## Make this project
This is an unvalidated desktop organizer, not a monitor support or a restraint for equipment.

This recipe has not been physically validated. Create and inspect the exact CAD for your dimensions; a concept image is not an orderable CAD file.

## 1. Measure
- Trace the monitor foot outline at desk level, including rounded corners and adjustment controls.
- Measure the longest pen, widest barrel and number of pens you want accessible.
- Record the free desk rectangle and the hand space needed to adjust the monitor.
- Choose tray depth and wall thickness after inspecting a small sample of the proposed cross section.

## 2. Give your CAD agent this prompt

Create a removable pen tray in millimetres using foot_outline, desk_width, desk_depth, pen_length, barrel_diameter, tray_depth and wall_thickness. Keep an open gap around the monitor foot; do not capture or support it. Ask for the missing outline, control access and desired gap rather than inventing them.

## 3. Model and inspect
1. **Map the empty area** — Sketch the foot and desk boundary first. Subtract the foot keep-out region, then place the longest pen along the remaining usable edge.

2. **Build the pocket** — Extrude a shallow floor and add a perimeter rim. Leave a lowered front section so a finger can roll a pen out without moving the tray.

3. **Separate the footprint check** — Export a flat outline alongside the solid model. Label the units and preserve the monitor keep-out sketch so later pen changes cannot erase it.

## 4. Check the prototype
- Print the outline on paper at actual scale and place it beside the monitor with all adjustments accessible.
- Inspect the model section for a continuous floor and confirm the longest pen does not bridge the finger opening.
- Measure the exported bounding box and compare it with the desk rectangle before requesting fabrication.

## Avoid this mistake
A tight negative of the monitor foot can trap the tray during height or swivel adjustment; leave a separately measured open gap.

## Choose the material
PLA or PETG can be considered for this indoor tray. Select thickness and surface finish through a sample; neither material choice establishes the fit.

## Order this part now

[Submit your CAD](https://partsforagents.com/for-humans?project=monitor-foot-pen-tray#workspace) or [connect your agent](https://partsforagents.com/guides/cad-to-print#connect).

Have the model ready? Upload the exact customer-approved file. Starting from this guide? Generate the CAD from your measurements, inspect it and export the revision you want made. Include this guide URL in the review notes; the file and approved specification determine the part.

Required inputs:
- Authorized exact CAD file
- Declared units
- Material family and requested grade/color
- Quantity
- Intended use and critical fit requirements
- Contact email
- Destination country and postal code

**No payment at submission.** Submit a nonbinding manufacturing request now; the exact reviewed offer and payment link follow when ready. Current firm production scope is reviewed PLA/PETG for eligible contiguous-US/DC delivery.

### Agent submission steps
1. **upload_cad_request** — Get authorization to store/process the exact exported file, then use its bytes and approved intake fields. Save the returned request ID and file SHA-256.

2. **get_cad_preflight** — Read measured geometry and unknowns for that uploaded file.

3. **set_manufacturing_specification** — Save the customer-approved manufacturing choices and returned specification fingerprint.

4. **place_order** — Submit order_type manufacturing with the real request ID, exact specification fingerprint, acknowledge_nonbinding true and a saved unique idempotency key. Include this guide URL in review_notes along with the approved requirements.

5. **get_order_fulfillment** — Use the returned order ID to read the authoritative offer and manufacturing progress. A recipe URL alone never identifies an order.

Reconcile an uncertain result before retrying. Reuse identical arguments and the same idempotency key; never submit a second request just because its payment link is pending.

## Machine-readable resources

- [This complete guide as JSON](https://partsforagents.com/vibe-cad/monitor-foot-pen-tray/guide.json)
- [All project guides](https://partsforagents.com/vibe-cad/catalog.json)
- [Exact tool schemas](https://partsforagents.com/tools.json)
- Full workflow MCP: https://partsforagents.com/api/mcp (authenticated)
- Free advice MCP: https://partsforagents.com/api/advice/mcp
- Canonical guide: https://partsforagents.com/vibe-cad/monitor-foot-pen-tray