iPad mini holder with extendable arm

thingiverse

This is a unique combination of an extendable and adjustable felxi-arm dismantled from Ikea's Tertial lamp and a printed holder specifically designed for Apple iPad mini, 5th generation (2019). Perfect for larger kitchens or any space where you need to position your tablet at a comfortable viewing angle based on your working spot. The arm can follow you and adjust the iPad's position as needed. The felxi-arm was taken from Ikea's Tertial lamp, known for its classic design available worldwide under the Tertial name. This design offers several advantages: - It is extremely affordable - Despite its low price, it works remarkably well - It comes in a variety of color options (although availability may vary by time or geography) - The original power cord can be replaced with a USB cable featuring a lightning connector, allowing the charging cable for your tablet to run discreetly through the arm - The shade and original power cable can still be used for their intended purpose if the lamp is hung in one spot (no waste) The holder itself consists of two printed parts: a bottom base that attaches to the arm and a top piece held in place by two springs. Currently designed to hold the 5th generation Apple iPad mini (2019), this holder will easily accommodate other types or makes as long as the tablet is not thicker than intended. The slot is intentionally designed to be snug, ensuring the jaws holding the tablet in place are subtle and do not obstruct its appearance. This is the first version of the holder, and it was not intended to be a universal tablet holder. I welcome design improvement suggestions and may post an updated version with a larger slot if there is sufficient interest (the current slot measures 6.6 mm deep, while the iPad mini is 6.1mm thick - a snug fit). In addition to the flexible arm, you will need two springs and several threaded screws. The springs come from a set available at a local hobby store and measure 30mm long by 7mm in diameter; any similar springs should suffice. The springs are fixed to the bottom part of the holder with its own stitch, while screws (2.5mm) are used to secure the springs to the top part - this is done to keep the springs away from the tablet body and prevent scratching. The screw heads are fully submerged to avoid touching the iPad. Original screws that secured the lamp's shade to the arm were found to be too short; longer ones were used instead. The contact plate where the arm is attached to the holder body has the same diameter as the original lamp's shade, ensuring a secure fit. However, this requires supports during print at three key points: the slot through which the top part slides into the bottom base, the jaw's lips, and the area around the support from the slot. Removing supports from the slot can be challenging but is achievable with minimal effort (this depends on your slicer and support style). Both printed parts were designed to be as flat as possible; however, these two areas require supports to maintain functionality. The holder functions perfectly as designed. I plan to complement this design by replacing the arm's foot, which holds it in place on a wall or desktop. This will be used to create a shelf holding a speaker - JBL Flip 5 in my case (and again, this will be tailored to its specific shape).