AutoMount

myminifactory

My partner recently acquired a new car with a touchscreen radio/navigation system, but it hasn't been updated in almost a decade. We needed to find an alternative navigation solution and also install a dashcam for added safety. Given these requirements, I decided to design a phone mount for the vehicle, as most people already use Google Maps on their phones. I created a simple two-part articulating arm that pivots on a windshield mount secured with three 43mm diameter suction cups. The arm links and pivots are held together by three knurled nuts. The Phone Latching Plate, which holds the phone in place, is designed to hold devices in "landscape" orientation using inbuilt 1.5mm thick tension springs. The spring reliefs and cutouts on the rear of the Phone Latching Plate allow for heat ventilation from the back of the mobile device during heavy power usage or charging. The rear cutouts also enable camera use, eliminating the need to purchase a separate dashcam. After testing this setup for several days, my partner and I are pleased with its performance. Future updates may include thicker arm links, indexing points on the arm links for easier positioning, a pivot allowing horizontal rotation of the Phone Latch Plate, and larger diameter knurled nuts for improved friction hold on the arm links. I designed this phone mount to work with my Moto G6, but I've also tested it with older phones. However, users should exercise caution when using PLA prints in cars due to potential softening and warping at high temperatures. It's recommended to print this design in PETG or use PLA only if the vehicle's AC is on and the ambient temperature inside doesn't exceed 50C (122F). For those interested in acquiring similar suction cups, a six-pack can be found at Walmart under part number https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ook-1-lb-Medium-Suction-Cups-6pk/46494680.