AIRPAD DOCK

An office accessory which allows you to attach an iPad to the side of your laptop. The AirPad Dock transforms an iPad into a second monitor, and improves work flows and efficiency!

SKILLS USED:

rapid prototyping, laser cutting, acrylic bending, DFMA

TIMELINE :

1 week, March 2024

COURSE:

24-672: DIY Design and Fabrication

CONSTRAINTS:

The office accessory must be made using acrylic and include clamps of some sort.

FINAL DESIGN

IDEATION

PROJECT TAKEAWAYS

Concept sketches of various designs which would connect either an iPad or iPhone to a computer

A sketch of what the .dxf would look like (left), and a quick sketch showing the clamping mechanism

This project was more practice with prototyping using laser cutting, acrylic, and acrylic bending. In a future iteration, it would be nice to refine the tolerancing on the acrylic clamps, as well as to incorporate two hinges so that the iPad is able to fold against the back of the laptop to be more portable, and to be able to fold in the iPad kickstand.

FABRICATION

Prototyping out of paper cutouts

I created a paper prototype and then transferred that design to a .dxf file and manufactured the office accessory by laser cutting and bending acrylic.