Thought I'd share my latest little project with everyone. I was trying to figure out how best to mount my phone without damaging anything or covering up any vents or the radio. I determined that the best location would be where the ashtray is. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a mount that would work there, so I made my own!
I had heard really great thing about the imagnet mount. It works by putting a thin metal piece on the inside of your phone case. It then sticks firmly to the mount and uses a suction cup base to stick to a flat surface. Problem: the ashtray area of our cars isn't large or flat enough to sick the mount to. Solution? 3D print a custom insert that drops into the ashtray that the imagnet can be stuck to.
Step 1: 3D model - I started out by taking detailed measurements of the ashtray. One would think the ashtray would be a simple shape, but alas it turns out there's a good amount of taper inside there as well as a "bump" that I think houses something
LED
related. Once I had the measurements, it was pretty easy to make a 3D model of an insert that would fit into the ashtray. Once I had the insert, I simply added a flat disc to the top of it that the imagnet could stick to. I shifted the disc forward, not only to allow for a better viewing angle but also to let me hollow out the insert. Hollowing out the insert allows the 3D model price to be lower (less material) but also provides a great place to push your power cord into. Bonus
points
! Added a
Porsche
Logo. (Attn:
Porsche
Corporate. Please don't sue me)
I used Shapeways to 3D print the thing. Total cost of the print was ~$30. After a couple of weeks of waiting and hoping I didn't screw up the measurements, my custom piece arrived! I decided to go with Red, because, well, it's cool!
Success! It fits like a glove. I made all the measurements a fraction of a mm smaller than they needed to be as I didn't want things to be super snug. Just secure enough that it holds, but loose enough to easily be removed and thrown in the glove box.
Next test, How does the imagnet stick to it? Perfectly. Just right and really secure.
Finally, here's what it's like with my phone attached. the angle is really good for a quick glance down at the screen. The power cord holder works great too. Overall I'm really happy with how it turned out. I think it's a great clean/functional location for mounting a phone in our cars. If anyone wants one, let me know and I'll share the shapeways link so you can order your own. It may not be the greatest solution for those with manual cars. It would probably depend on how big your phone is and how you angled the mount.
Great job, this is excellent work! :cheers:
Very interesting. That is a bit low for my taste but there are all kinds of phone mounts with long arms to get the phone higher if needed. Thanks for the writeup.
Can you make more...very nice project.
Sent from my
iPad
using Tapatalk
Very cool. Nicely done. How would shifting potentially interfere, for those of us with 3 pedals?
Here is a three-pedal compatible alternative. Ingredients: one wire coat hanger. Goes in cd slot, spring loads phone against screen.
that looks interesting - very creative design and makes good use of that space. :cheers:
Very creative, but the plastic one would never work with a stick shift
Not sure I agree, just don't use the black stand and lay the phone flat. Should work fine
I would be interested in a copy of the file...I would like to order one from Shapeways.
thanks
Jim
This is very cool Cysco. Well done.
Would you share your file, so that I can try to print one? thank you
