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Device Mounts

I've always been interested in coming up with new ways for device mounts. From folding cardboard years ago to now, I've gotten a bit better. Here are some of my designs for various devices, 3D Printed on my personal printer and designed in my free time using PTC Creo

 
Introduction
Phone Easel
PHONE EASEL

Spring 2019

I wanted to make a phone stand that was collapsible and aesthetically pleasing. I decided to make one in the shape of an artist’s easel with various self-interacting components to give as a gift to my mom, an artist. I designed the easel to collapse and lay flat on a surface or prop open at different angles using a simple ratcheting mechanism similar to that found in pool lounge chairs. To support devices during charging, I provided a slot through which a smartphone could charge while being held by the easel. Unfortunately, that feature does not work well with a case.

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I modeled this by using Creo’s skeleton assembly feature with various planes and sketches to ensure adequate clearance between parts. Within the skeleton moel, I sketched the curvature of the wishbone-like support and the V-shaped locking mechanism in such a way that they would collapse flat without interference. I also modeled the shape of the shelf and the cutout so that the shelf would lock when extended but have sufficient clearance when closed. Due to assembly and structural concerns, I made a second variation on the design that used dowel pins instead of 3D printed geometry for assembly 

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The pictures of my fully 3D-printed design were printed in woodfill-PLA.

Variable TABLET MOUNT
 

Spring 2019

Tablet Mount

I designed and printed a tablet mount to hold a large tablet such as a regular iPad in landscape mode or a smaller tablet such as an iPad mini in either landscape or portrait mode. This design uses a ratchet-like mechanism that when locks when holding an item. Like my easel design, this tablet mount collapses into a thin rectangle, allowing for easy storage as a solid, rectangular shape, similar to that of a standard cookbook. Additionally, by installing eight small magnets, the back does not accidentally open while being carried or transported.


I modeled this design by constructing a skeleton assembly with various sketches and planes to ensure that the geometry locks and collapses as desired. I made liberal use of Creo’s global interference tool to ensure that in any state, there would be no unintentional interference.


Pictured below are different orientations of the tablet holder. You can see in the interior view the eight small magnets that ensure the design stays collapsed and closed when being carried or stored. You can also see the way that the design cleanly collapses into a rectangle.

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