Articulated, telescoping tablet mounting arm

I got tired of holding my tablet in bed while watching movies and TH-cam videos at night and in the morning. After looking at what was available, everything looked flimsy, expensive, or just crappy. I decided to try to make my own. I wanted something that was very adjustable and very stable. I ordered some tubing from Amazon and after some head scratching this is what I came up with. It is very solid and works exactly how I hoped. I machined all the parts except the tubing, the camera ball swivel mount(very cheap) and a couple of bolts. It was fun to design and build and keeps my arm from getting tired and cold!

[@theonlybuzz1969]

Liked this video Allen, really good content and great finish to the stand / arm I have bought two now and they just don’t cut it (or support the std iPad), so when I get into work I’ll have a hunt around for the relevant materials and have a Go whenever I get chance. Thanks for showing us the video and look forward to seeing some more of your work....Phil

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi, that's a great design, could be adapted and applied to anything that needs to be mounted and adjustable, great contribution to the knowledge of the TH-cam community.
Many thanks for taking the time to share.

[@apowellz]

Thanks I am just passing along some the knowledge I have gained from others in the unique school of TH-cam. Some of the best instructors demonstrate their skills and present them a very understandable way. TH-cam, a lot of reading, and much practice.

[@Smashachu]

Nice, now if only I had a milling machine and lathe.

[@Thunderbelch]

As always, awesome work and cool music!

[@apowellz]

+Thunderbelch Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you could enjoy the work and the music. I try to use interesting music to liven up my videos, but it is not always appreciated even though it can easily be muted.

[@BeckyAndersen]

All of that so your arm doesn't get tired or cold? hahah! Love it! Great job! Looks pretty badass.

[@Pest789]

Kick ass! I'm gonna use this design for the tablet mount for my Yuriy's Toys android DRO project for sure!

[@RimstarOrg]

Nice work. Cool tablet clamp. Did you design it all on computer first?

[@apowellz]

Not really. I did a dimensional layout drawing for the aluminum clamp base. The rest is just measure a fit as you go along. Thanks for the comment.

[@staccio80]

Good job!

[@apowellz]

Thanks.

[@nyjay75]

What type of solder did you use? Great design BTW.

[@apowellz]

Thanks for the comment. This was fun to design and build and best of all it works exactly as planned. I use it everyday.
Sorry - the solder was just some solid core solder I've had kicking around in a drawer for several years. The packaging is long gone and I don't recall where I got it. I used a paste type flux.

[@markfryer9880]

@ 3:37 Allen was that a block of aluminium you cast yourself?

[@apowellz]

+Mark Fryer No, that is off a scrap bar I got at a salvage yard, I have cast similar blocks in aluminum and brass.

[@hedroncollider]

sweet!!