Suzuki Swift (2009) Console Phone Holder

thingiverse

In contrast to the phone holder I created for my previous car (search "Complicated, Ugly, and Over-engineered Phone Holder"), I wanted the one for my new car to be as simple, attractive, and under-designed as possible. I've replaced my car's standard stereo with a cheap, generic Chinese unit that offers great value for money for non-audiophiles like me. On my previous car, I'd fitted a similar unit with a built-in satnav but found the feature clunky and awkward to use, so I ended up using Waze on my phone instead (hence the horizontal phone holder I made for that car). This time I chose another Chinese unit without GPS. To get around this, I selected one with a USB screen mirror facility, allowing me to use Waze while viewing and operating it on my stereo unit's touch screen. With this setup, my phone can charge at the same time, eliminating the need to keep it at eye level. However, I do need to keep it in a horizontal position, which isn't pretty when simply chucking it into the centre console. If the phone slips during the journey, both devices reorient themselves to vertical at the most inconvenient times. So, I needed something that could be popped into the centre console with a ledge for my phone. I planned it to work like sliding doors on old bathroom cabinets: slide the phone into the top channel and then drop the bottom into the lower channel. My initial design worked perfectly, but then I realized I'm due for a phone upgrade, and new phones are larger! So, I moved the top channel upwards to accommodate future phones. Unfortunately, I don't know if this will be enough until I upgrade. Then, I hit a snag: The holder went too far into the console, preventing the cable slot from functioning properly. My first thought was to design an entirely new unit, but then I realized that all I needed was a spacer glued to the rear of the unit to adjust its depth. This spacer didn't have to be solid; it could simply be a frame with an open centre, saving plastic and print time. I had originally designed two flexible clips for the rear of the holder in case of a tight fit in the console, but they turned out to be unnecessary. However, the slots for them were still present in the finished design, which proved perfect for mating the two parts together – I still recommend using glue, though. The result is a nice straight friction-fit into the console's storage aperture, and it can be kept in the glove box when not in use. Alternatively, it could be left in place to conceal items in the centre console from prying eyes; it's a dark position that blends in nicely with the surrounding area – unless you print it in a garish colour, of course!