Pixel 3a desk dock

thingiverse

I wanted a custom-made phone dock that keeps my phone within easy reach and ensures it stays charged while I'm working at my desk. The dock fits snugly around a Google Pixel 3a with a Spigen Rugged Armor case, which measures 74.2 mm x 11.2 mm in the cradle. To meet my needs, I specified the following requirements: 1. All buttons and the entire screen remain accessible when docked. 2. The sound from the phone speakers isn't muffled. 3. It automatically plugs in whenever I set my phone into the dock. 4. There are no lateral stresses on the charge port or charge cable. To meet requirement 1, I simply shaped the case to fit perfectly. Meeting requirement 2 required designing tunnels with clever deflection angles that redirect sound from the bottom-firing phone speakers to front-facing openings. This design proved incredibly effective, actually increasing the volume of sound compared to having my phone sit on the desk. Requirement 3 demanded designing a cord gripper with barbs that securely holds the stock charge cable firmly in place and doesn't move within the cradle. I designed the cable gripper as a symmetrical half, so I could print two copies and invert them to grip the cable effectively. This assembly is then inserted into a tight chamber in the base, guaranteeing a snug hold and no movement during phone insertion or removal. Tight tolerances everywhere ensure that my phone always seats perfectly, meeting requirement 4. One-hand insertion is fantastic. The next version may include an eject button to push my phone up from the cable connection for easier one-hand removal.