DIY Droid mounting cradle
 

I was a little bored at work.. so I decided to make my own Droid mounting cradle for the car....

Step one: Design
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...sheetmetal.jpg
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...erovice/11.jpg
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...jerovice/1.jpg

Step two: fabrication

The holder will be sent out to a 3D printer to make it out of ABS plastic... and then ill use methyl chloride to strengthen it.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-09114808.jpg
there she is printing away.

The bracket is made from 0.062 5052 H32 Aluminum (what i found in the machine shop)
Solidworks... has a sheet metal function, that when you design it, it allows you to unfold the sheet metal to be printed.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...heetmetal1.jpg

so just lay this over the metal to cut
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15125016.jpg
The cut came out real straight considering the piece of crap band saw we have.

Next up insert PEM's.... for those who do not know.. pems are used on sheet metal where its too thing to tap... so it provides a great way to place a screw without needing a nut behind it.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15133150.jpg

next step bend the bracket
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15134209.jpg
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15134158.jpg

and put it all together
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15140504.jpg
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15140451.jpg
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/q...4-15140513.jpg

I began test fitting it into the car... but had to actually do some work, so ill continue tonight... and post updates later on.

Good idea! im interested to see how it turns out!

so you went from CAD to paper to vice + shears?