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I want to build my own iPhone aluminum dock

Hi. I know this is not a problem but you could probably help me. Since few days, I want to build my own iPhone aluminum dock. The one Apple sells are in plastic and expensive for what it is.

My idea is to make a "basic" aluminum dock like this one Link. I would cut an aluminum piece, then cut a hole where I'll put the iPhone dock adaptor. I'd use an old cable that'd come through a hole behind it, to under the iPhone adaptor.

I want to use a plastic adaptor like this one : iPhone 4 dock adaptor, because I don't want my iPhone to be in contact with the aluminum, and I wouldn't have to cut the iPhone hole itself, I'm not that accurate.

I also think that I wouldn't be able to cut the aluminum for the cable's 30-pin connector to fit exactly in place, I'd rather cut a larger emplacement and then fix it with caulking.

I'm trying to design it with Autocad but I've never used it before. My problem is that I don't have an iPhone 4 adaptor in hands and I'd like to know the exact dimensions of it. I mean depth, length of the whole adaptor and length of the "borders" if you know what I mean.

I welcome every idea of other designs for an iPhone dock.

Thanks

EDIT : Here is more details of what I exactly want to do.

I want to design an make the dock picture in drawing 3 and 4. As I want to use an existing Apple dock adaptor (adaptor only not an existing dock, the thing we use to put different iPhone/iPod on a base station) iPhone 4 dock adaptor to fit perfectly my iPhone, I must design a hole in the aluminum to place it and to put my cable 30-pin connector in it.

The problem is that I need the dimensions of the dock adaptor (drawing 1 and 2) to be able to make the first hole at the exact dimension to fit the adaptor borders, and make a bigger hole for the rest of the adaptor.

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Ben you just want a cover for the plastic dock, or you want a dock machined out of aluminium? I can take the measurements of a dock but I am not sure if that is your intent or....

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Ho sorry if I wasn't clear enough. I want to make the hole thing from an aluminum piece, and old iPhone cable, and dock adaptor to fit the iPhone properly. What I need is the measurement of the little adaptor : iPhone 4 dock adaptor

My link wasn't right

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Got one of those and will get to measure it after work. Hope that will help you out.

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Thanks mate! I added drawing with the measurements I'd like to have and for you to understand better what I want. Is that ok like that ?

If you have millimeter paper and if you can draw the curve of the 4 sides, that'll be too good, because the rounding would be hard to measure.

Thanks again oldturkey

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Ben I have both of those pieces and should get the dimension to you as as soon as possible. Would be cool if you had access to a machine shop and a good mill....;-)

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Hey Ben, here are the measurements of the dock. In order to make an insert, use the dimension from the dock as the outside dimensions for the insert. Just create an overlap of 5mm on the top so you can push it into the opening on the dock. The slot, where the iPod sits in, is angled, this is was causes the iPod to lean backwards. Hope this helps, took a while to figure out the new CAD program. Autocad has always been a beast ;-)

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Fabulous! I haven't hoped that much! Thanks a lot oldturkey, I'll keep you informed when I'll have time to make it, and merry christmas

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You are welcome.....and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

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No worries. Here's what I did practicing 3D modeling, I did it without specific dimensions.

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I'll make the hole that contains the iPhone bottom larger because it doesn't bother, it depends on the adaptor, and so that I'll be able to glue the connector under it at the right position.

I have access to something quite similar to this, a bit larger :

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But what worries me is that I don't know how to make rounded corner for the external part..

Good luck at work!

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You can make the radius the way I had to do it a long time ago. Use a file:-) or a grinder. In case of the dock, it is for looks and not functionality only.

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Guys, when you migrated this to meta, all the photo disappeared, I uploaded mine again but the one oldturkey uploaded disappeared also, and I need these photos because they contain the dimensions...

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Hey Ben, I just seen that it was moved to meta...:-) anyhow I replaced the images.

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;). No time to make it at the moment, exams in few weeks. Thanks again

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Ben, Happy New Year and good luck on your exams

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Ben will be eternally grateful.