My wife’s Honda Civic had a small pocket/cubby with a flip down door just below the stereo. On a recent road trip we found the door to be a good platform for an iPhone 6 running Waze, but it kept slipping off of the door. While a folded up napkin did an ok job of keeping it from slipping off, I thought “I can over engineer this!” so I did.

The idea was to make a 3D printed bracket that could be double-stick-taped to the door, allowing it to close as normal, but holding the phone when opened.

All of the prototypes from the first at the top to the final at the bottom. The red ones were poorly printed copies of the final.

First, second, and third prototypes.

Screenshot of the third and final design as seen in OnShape.

We both have Spigen bumper cases for our phones, so measurements were made for that. The design was completed using OnShape (this being my 2nd real thing modeled and 3D printed using the program).

Prototype 1 was much too big and clunky to allow the door to close, and the tolerances were a little tight for the phone even though it “fit.”

Two copies of the first prototype of phone holder.

First prototype in action. The phone fit, but was a bit tight.

Prototype 2 was much smaller (and eliminated the end stops just to see if it would fit), but this still proved too big; the height of the base was too tall, as was the height of the back support.

Second prototype of the phone holder. This print was OK at best, with a first layer that didn’t stick well to the bed.

Second prototype profile view. The base didn’t stick well to the bed during printing.

Prototype 2 being tested.

Prototype 3 reduced the thickness of the walls and floor greatly, and added the end stops back in. The design was no longer symmetrical (like the first prototype) so a quick reflect was used in OnShape to make the second bracket.

I tried printing the final pieces twice in ABS on a 3D printer that recently had a hotend nozzle clog… They didn’t turn out too well even after modifying the settings.

First mediocre print of the third and final design.

Left and right sides of the final phone holders. These printed better than the red ones as I switched to another printer.

Final phone holders. These printed better than the red ones as I switched to another printer.

The left side of the final phone holder.

The third design ended up working and fitting great. The door closes and the design is less clunky in general.

Double-stick foam tape was used to attach the brackets to the door.

The phone leans back slightly since the door doesn’t open ‘flat’ – this helps keep it leaning against the dash and should be secure. I don’t think a Civic has enough acceleration to have it fall down.

Double-stick foam tape was used to attach the brackets to the door.

Download a Zipped .STL of the final prototype here: Spigen_phone_holder_V3.stl

You may also find the file on the OnShape website here.