I just designed an MP3 player cradle for my iaudio M3. I am having the piece built on an SLA machine this week. It's going to fit right into the old coin slot, which is next to the power/comfort tranny switch.



Got the prototype done finally. I am going to modify the design just a little bit to decrease the angle so that the player doesn't rub on the dash. Dirty... I know

 

Hmm, will the mp3 player drop-in or just slight plugging over? cuz iirc its not that deep cuz of the wiring and such..

 

Actually the only wires there are for the computer and they can be easily pushed aside, I have tried it. In addition the minimum depth is about 3 inches with carpet. I designed the part so that it would clip in at an angle of about 25 degrees so that there is more room. If I still need more space there is the carpet which can be trimmed freeing up another third of an inch. If I still need more room I can shave off the corners of the part because there is some extra material.

However, If it turns out that the part doesn't fit I will just make a new one and modify my design. That's the beauty of rapid prototyping.

My goal here was to make a part that would house the MP3 player, provide power, and an audio jack.

The extension jack in the picture below will be glued in below the mp3 player in the bottom of the housing. I will use a USB car power adapter to power the MP3 player. Currently I cannot power the player and an audio wire comes out of the dash (I don't like having the wire like this). So the USB cable and audio cables will all be hidden. And I will not have to reach down to the MP3 player to change songs and whatnot, ie. the MP3 player has a remote.

USB Power

 

thats crazy they have some stuff already built though dont they

 

check out the pictures above

 

Hey,

Great Job on the custom prototyping, etc.! Looks like a great set up to have, which leads me to some questions. Will you be able to market and manufacture these cradles for other MP3 Player owners in the future? If so, what would be the price? Also, would you be able to make similar cradles for other MP3 players, like the iPod or iPod Nano? Thanks.

-Mark

 

NIce work, thought you gave up on that project

 

nope. just didn't have with school. Plus my hook up was on vacation when I sent him the design.

I'm probably not going to be able to manufacture these because it was made on a special machine that is very expensive to run. But if anyone has an injection molding machine and knows how to machine a mold of the part then maybe. But that is not likely.

Or if you have proE and an SLA machine or similar then I can send you the desing and you can build it yourself. These things are very expensive though.

 

So are you only making one?

 

Awsome I did that with my Ipod Docking station! same place too! Looks Clean

 

I am going to build another with some minor changes.
If I could I would love to make a bunch of them to sell, but what I have already done could get my freind in trouble at work.

So yes I am only making one.