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Sharing what I made - Free STL for 3D Printed Cup Holder Phone Insert 2010-2011
Thank you for your support with my new-to-me 2010 W212! Here's a small way I can give back.
I created this cup holder insert that holds my phone at a better angle than just laying it inside the cup holder itself. It works both vertical and horizontal. The car's cover can still be closed with this in place. I wasn't quite ambitious enough to replace the entire two-cup mechanism.
I can print a few extra and send them out at my shipping cost. My time cost is already sunk into the one I have. It takes a minute of my time to print (and letting it go on its own for four hours) Materials cost is negligible. I'm not yet going for looks so I'm not yet making an acetone vapor bath to clean it up and make it all shiny.
I printed this one in ABS plastic since a car's interior can get very hot in the summer. PETG might work as well. Avoid PLA, TPU, or others with a low glass transition temperature.
For those unfamiliar with 3-D printing, call your local library to ask if they have 3D printing available.
Download the .stl file to your computer or phone, and take/send it to that library. (Ask them how to submit it... Many libraries have on-line forms and you simply attach the file)
Much cheaper than RWagz shipping one to you. I've already ordered mine (at 11:20am, just 10-minutes after reading this thread).
Have you tested it? How does it hold up to bumps while driving? Will the phone pop out?
Are you looking a gift horse in the mouth?
Not sure how any device like this can hold every phone type, size and shape perfectly. The Fact that it allows the console lid to be closed with it in place is reason enough to try one.
For those unfamiliar with 3-D printing, call your local library to ask if they have 3D printing available.
Download the .stl file to your computer or phone, and take/send it to that library. (Ask them how to submit it... Many libraries have on-line forms and you simply attach the file)
Much cheaper than RWagz shipping one to you. I've already ordered mine (at 11:20am, just 10-minutes after reading this thread).
This is a great idea. Be sure they use either PETG or ABS. PLA is the most common filament and it will deform in the summer heat.
I have house numbers I printed with PETG and they look unaffected by being outside for over two years.
I would gladly buy one from you! My phone flops all around and Im not a big fan of the holders that attach to the vents.
Chris
I'll see what USPS first class postage costs. That's about the easiest way to get to those interested. I'm glad to do my part to help the community here.
I'll see what USPS first class postage costs. That's about the easiest way to get to those interested. I'm glad to do my part to help the community here.
For 10% in-fill, how much does one of these weigh (in grams)?
My guess is it will cost more to ship than it does to make the part. My local library charges only the cost of the filament (10¢ per gram).
Not sure how any device like this can hold every phone type, size and shape perfectly. The Fact that it allows the console lid to be closed with it in place is reason enough to try one.
Im asking about real world experience with the printed item. Not sure how you got where you got. Im not hating it in anyway, just wanted to see if the phone bounces and unhinges when driving.
Im asking about real world experience with the printed item. Not sure how you got where you got. Im not hating it in anyway, just wanted to see if the phone bounces and unhinges when driving.
I know you're not hating on it. My considerable experience with 3D printing tells me this item will cost next to nothing to produce at the local library... for comparison just a fraction of the cost of a multi-adjustable Weathertech Cup holder (and none of the waste). So, I would not expect it to be everything to everybody as a one-piece, non-adjustable item. That's why the friendly comment about inspecting gift horses.
So, just to experiment, I will have one made, just for the S&Giggles. Considering its nominal cost, if it does not perform as well as intended, I can either toss it and not lose a second of sleep, or give it to one of my kids to try in their car with a different sized phone.
RWagz has already answered you in post #8... With an i-Phone in a rubberized case, the rubber case grips the holder very well. Which also tells us that the grooves in the holder are wide enough to accommodate other phones in cases. We will see.
For 10% in-fill, how much does one of these weigh (in grams)?
My guess is it will cost more to ship than it does to make the part. My local library charges only the cost of the filament (10¢ per gram).
Slicer says it takes 50g. Be sure that they will print it in PETG or ABS. I would be worried about PLA in this application.
My offer to ship it is for those without means to get it printed. I have the general usual human aversion to work so I encourage DIY instead of me making the effort to print/ship it
Im asking about real world experience with the printed item. Not sure how you got where you got. Im not hating it in anyway, just wanted to see if the phone bounces and unhinges when driving.
RWagz has already answered you in post #8... With an i-Phone in a rubberized case, the rubber case grips the holder very well. Which also tells us that the grooves in the holder are wide enough to accommodate other phones in cases. We will see.
Here's the source - one can customize it to make the phone gap thinner or wider, or angle it more or less to match your height. https://www.tinkercad.com/things/jyfNTQ0Szie - create an account, copy it, and you'll see a "Hole" that you can adjust. It took me a few tries to get the angle just right.
If anybody is looking for a fun technical hobby, I find 3D printing to be enjoyable. A great beginner printer is the Prusa i3 MK3S+ - assembled is $1k and the kit is $750. I highly recommend the cheaper unassembled kit because it is fun to build and the build experience helps you fix it. The cheaper printers out there are not as well supported and are tougher for a beginner to pick up and use.
Great job! Which filament did they use? (Please say it is ABS or PETG)
three things to add:
They could have used a finer print resolution. See pic below. It doesn't take more filament - it just triples the print time.
The third slot lets the light in from the source at the center-rear. See picture above.
I requested ABS filament, so I assume it is. Yes, it could be finer resolution, but I decided to print it with basic settings for testing. If I find myself using it regularly, I may have it printed to a finer resolution.
Today I drove 26 highway miles with my phone in place (vertically). It didn't move at all.
Gotta share this here. From my BMW, Porsche, and now MB experience - German cup holders are awful! It must be our big fat american drinks. They're even called out in Better Call Saul. They have a long way to go if they want to catch up with the 19 cup holders in the Subaru Ascent.
A finer print resolution improves quality at the expense of a longer print time. Some filaments (like ABS) can be smoothed. Here are some cup holder adapters I made for my Porsche Cayenne.
I made a couple of sets for people and this is the first time I used acetone vapor to smooth the ABS. I think they look neat in both forms. The smoothed version looks like an injection molded part.
Very cool! I would print everything I can see if I only knew how to draw! I don't even know where to start with CAD. I didn't have much luck with FreeCad or OpenScad. I'm just not a self-starter in this arena I guess. Shame, because I love designing stuff and have had several things drawn up by other people for projects I've had in the past.
I requested ABS filament, so I assume it is. Yes, it could be finer resolution, but I decided to print it with basic settings for testing. If I find myself using it regularly, I may have it printed to a finer resolution.
Today I drove 26 highway miles with my phone in place (vertically). It didn't move at all.
nice, dude! Is that the flux capacitor button I see on your switch array? 😁
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