My custom Zire 72 cradle

[toymaker]

I thought you guys might like to see my custom cradle I build this weekend. I finally was able to get my home studio in order after alot of complications. The first project I wanted to tackle was a cradle for my Zire 72. Here are some pictures of the main part basically finished, the only steps left are the paint job and the custom base. Please tell me what you think.

P.S. I currently have it attached to a "Helping Hands" base from Radio Shack until I can design my own. This base adjusts so I can use my camera as a webcam with the ClieVideo software. Also I designed the base to work with or without the hardcase.

[danopoly]

not bad. not bad at all! but would look better without that black thing on the bottem.
BTW, where did u get that icon changer application??

[toymaker]

Yeah, the current base is kind of Pugly, but that base is only temporary until I can custom design my own. I might just go with a small traditional immobile design but right now I wanted to play with the idea of adjusting the position and angle (ie:webcam function). The other design factor was to be able to leave my palm in the hardcase if I so wanted.

As for the icon manager, I use a freeware program by Vincent Liopard called SSSkinManager. I have SilverScreen Launcher that lets me play around with my SSSkinManager icons using the built-in icon manager, even though I prefer the ever reliable left-of-center LauncherX for my day to day use.

[Tam Hanna]

In austria we call this thing a "third hand". It is intended to help when soldering-great usage idea though, respect!

[toymaker]

By the way I brought it in to work and tested a co-worker's Tungsten E and it fit great.

[D.G.]

Can you give instructions on how you made it? I want one!

[robitaille88]

@toymaker: what's that by the camera? is it a camera lens cover, or a sticker, or what?

[toymaker]

Instructions on how I made my crade would be very complicated to explain, sorry but no. I can however give an overview.

1. I glued a cellphone power unit and mini-USB cable together and then covered them in Epoxy putty on a Styrene Back plate.

2. I cut more styrene and made a box around the puttied connectors. I also used styrene strips to stengthen the cradle.

3. I filled a styrene tube with more Expoy putty that became the post to mount to my temporary base, made from a Radio Shack 'Third Hand'.

When I get around to trying the webcam software I'll then decide whether it's worth the webcam feature to make a nicely designed swivel base or a simple desktop base.

As for the modifications to my hardcase here is a thread to what I did to it.
http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64184

Thanks for the interest. :D

[toymaker]

I included a picture of the finished cradle in this post:
http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?p=795726#post795726

[arangopar]

looks great! speccially the finished one. i´ll try to do it myself.

[+Kardboard+]

Wow! I could really use one of those!

[toymaker]

Well If you're interested I'm selling my customized accy's.

http://www.1src.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=748

http://www.1src.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=747&sort=1&cat=2&page=

I bought a Zodiac 2 and now I am selling my Zire and accessories seperately.

[techno nerd]

see the problem is that with the mini usb cord, is that i can suspend the zire in the air with the cable.

it is tuff to get it out of the zire, so you with one hand would have to hold down the cradle, and with the other pull out the zire, same thing with putting it in, if you could take away the metal shroud of the male mini usb connector and have just the black part with the 5 pins, that would slide in and out with ease.

[toymaker]

I cut away the metal retaining tab on the connector so that isn't a prob.