Just got a Tab and wanted to tether it wirelessly to my cellphone so I could use it as a large screen GPS, media center, carputer . . .
I just didn't want to buy another suction cup mount for my windshield or spend the money for the sturdy (read: non ebay) mounts from RAM or ProClip.
I thought I might be able to fab something from aluminum bar stock and lots of sawing, grinding and screwing together cause I can't weld. Or even using sheet metal and some duck bill vise grips cause my sheet metal fab skills suck.
Then I was taking a look at some old paint roller trays and thought that the feet on them looked like what I needed and this project was born . . .
This could work for any lightweight tablet style computer. The coating on the mounts along with the stickiness of the case keeps it from sliding in corners and I bent up the front edge of the "tabs" to keep the device from flipping forward on hard acceleration. I also just put it in an Otterbox Defender case so even if it falls it won't be scratched. I have a similar case on my phone and have dropped it from 6ft to granite and asphalt without a single nick or damage to my phone.
(Keep in mind that it's not the prettiest thing in the world cause my skills and materials aren't at that level but it isn't a total blight to my dash when the tablet isn't mounted.)
Paint Tray similar to the one I scavenged for my Tab "Tabs"
"Tabs" after being removed by prying off with a screwdriver and then mildly reshaped with pliers and ground down with my bench grinder.
View of the "tabs" to be used for my Tab with a slip on Belkin Case
Slightly different angle of the "tabs"
I coated the "tabs" by dipping them in Plasti Dip thinned out with a little lacquer thinner. It was just enough to keep it from scratching the device without making them so thick that they popped the dash panel out.
I just loosened the dash panel to gain some space between it and the face of the radio. Then I just dropped the long tab of the "tabs" into the space and popped the panel back in place. Everything stays in place with friction and is a tool-less removal.
Coated "tabs" in place.
Front view of "tabs"
Galaxy Tab mounted in landscape mode. I have the headphone jack routed to my AUX in and the data cable connects to a 2A USB charger from Fry's.
Portrait mounting.
With the tabs moved slightly in I can also fit my Otterbox's screen cover on without removing the device. I did have to modify the bend of the tabs slightly to accomodate the much thicker and robust Otterbox case.
I just didn't want to buy another suction cup mount for my windshield or spend the money for the sturdy (read: non ebay) mounts from RAM or ProClip.
I thought I might be able to fab something from aluminum bar stock and lots of sawing, grinding and screwing together cause I can't weld. Or even using sheet metal and some duck bill vise grips cause my sheet metal fab skills suck.
Then I was taking a look at some old paint roller trays and thought that the feet on them looked like what I needed and this project was born . . .
This could work for any lightweight tablet style computer. The coating on the mounts along with the stickiness of the case keeps it from sliding in corners and I bent up the front edge of the "tabs" to keep the device from flipping forward on hard acceleration. I also just put it in an Otterbox Defender case so even if it falls it won't be scratched. I have a similar case on my phone and have dropped it from 6ft to granite and asphalt without a single nick or damage to my phone.
(Keep in mind that it's not the prettiest thing in the world cause my skills and materials aren't at that level but it isn't a total blight to my dash when the tablet isn't mounted.)
Paint Tray similar to the one I scavenged for my Tab "Tabs"
"Tabs" after being removed by prying off with a screwdriver and then mildly reshaped with pliers and ground down with my bench grinder.
View of the "tabs" to be used for my Tab with a slip on Belkin Case
Slightly different angle of the "tabs"
I coated the "tabs" by dipping them in Plasti Dip thinned out with a little lacquer thinner. It was just enough to keep it from scratching the device without making them so thick that they popped the dash panel out.
I just loosened the dash panel to gain some space between it and the face of the radio. Then I just dropped the long tab of the "tabs" into the space and popped the panel back in place. Everything stays in place with friction and is a tool-less removal.
Coated "tabs" in place.
Front view of "tabs"
Galaxy Tab mounted in landscape mode. I have the headphone jack routed to my AUX in and the data cable connects to a 2A USB charger from Fry's.
Portrait mounting.
With the tabs moved slightly in I can also fit my Otterbox's screen cover on without removing the device. I did have to modify the bend of the tabs slightly to accomodate the much thicker and robust Otterbox case.
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