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Laser-Cut iPhone 3G Dock

by jdanforth, published

Laser-Cut iPhone 3G Dock by jdanforth Feb 1, 2010

Description

I can't believe they want $49 for that thing! I was originally going to make a derivative work from Todbot's laser-cut dock (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:798) but as I was reviewing the files I noticed a couple of things:
1. I don't like the idea of nuts/bolts scratching my desk
2. I don't like how the bolt heads stick out the top. I would prefer that they're flush or below the surface.
3. It seemed too light and too small for the phone
4. It relies too much on the dock connector for strength which will fail long-term (I think)

So I made a completely new dock. There are some drawbacks to this design though. The assembly requires some acrylic cement or superglue to join the bottom two pieces to each other and, if you like, to the top five pieces.

This dock is made to use the SHORT iPhone 3G connector (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA591G/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0OQ&mco=MTM3NDk1NzI) that ships with the phone. The fit for the iPhone connector is VERY tight by design. I don't want it to wiggle around.

The dock is designed so that you can extricate your cable if necessary provided you don't glue parts together as in the optional step 8, below.

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Instructions

1. Cut out one of each part on your laser using "quarter inch" stock (use two passes especially on parts 0 and 1)
2. Assemble parts 2-6 in order (6 is the top)
3. Slot four 1" 1/4-20 hex bolts through the holes (the 7 pieces will absorb the thickness of the bolt's head)
4. Secure four matching nuts to the bolts and make sure the hex heads align with the hex holes in part 6 (this part should friction-fit in place)
5. Thread your sync cable with the SHORT connector through from the top
6. Chemically weld (Weld-On 3) or glue parts 0 and 1 to each other
7. Thread your sync cable through the cable pathway in parts 0/1
8 (Optional). Glue part 0/1 to part 2

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