The Mini DoomScroller, a portable smartphone tripod (parametric)

Moved to GitHub

2024-01-10: All future updates will come through GitHub:
https://github.com/jon-le0234/DoomScroller

The work started growing too fast to manage two projects each on Thingiverse and Printables, so moved everything into one place.

Eventually updates will flow back to this repository but simply as a copy and paste of what is organized from GitHub.

Introduction

The DoomScroller was made for surviving lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mini DoomScroller travels the world with you.

Just in time for iOS 17’s StandBy feature.

No more metal fasteners! Print everything you need before your next big trip.

Instructions

Mounting Style

Clamp

Most users will need the files in the folders labelled “Accent Colour” and “Main Colour” except MagFace.3mf.

Note that the clamp frame is designed to be weak on one side to prevent breaking a smartphone when tightened too much.

Use DoomScroller Parametric Clamp v3.f3d to create your own Clamp frame and Clamp movable jaw files. Preferred method because it's more customizable and the mounting hole for the ball joint will be centred compared to the following Cut method. See Customizing Clamp > Parametric section below. 

Alternatively, for those that aren't comfortable working in a CAD program, use DoomScroller Cut Tool.3mf to customize the length needed to cut Clamp frame.3mf. Mounting hole will not be centred compared to Parametric method. See Customizing Clamp > Cut section below.

MagSafe

If you want to use the MagSafe charger, then print MagFace.3mf and remove the following:

1. clamp-frame-general.3mf
2. clamp-movable-jaw-general.3mf
3. clamp-nut.stl

Assembly

See photo gallery to follow along with assembly instructions.

1. Insert torso.3mf and neck.3mf so that hinges are flush on both sides.
2. Insert hip-bolt.3mf into the unthreaded side of the hinge, then screw into the M12 thread of neck.3mf to tighten hinge.
3. Place ball.3mf into the spherical section in neck.3mf.
4. Place ball-joint-nut.3mf over ball.3mf, and screw onto the M22 thread of neck.3mf to tighten.
5. Screw the selected mount into the M12 thread of ball.3mf.
6. If using magface.3mf, skip to step 9.
7. Insert clamp-movable-jaw.3mf over clamp-frame.3mf.
8. Screw clamp-nut.3mf onto the M15 thread of Clamp frame.3mf.
9. Place left-leg-threaded.3mf on the underside of the joint on torso.3mf. It will sit between torso.3mf and neck.3mf when folded.
10. Place right-leg.3mf on the opposite side of the torso joint.
11. (Optional) Use leg-bolt-washer.3mf on top of right-leg.3mf. This adds length for leg-bolt.3mf, and adds another option for mixing colours.
12. Insert leg-bolt.3mf through right-leg.3mf and screw into M12 thread of left-leg.3mf.
13. It is finished! 

Print Recommendations

Colours

You can choose whichever colour scheme you like! I’ve printed Mini DoomScrollers in monochrome, two-tone, and rainbow.

Found the two-tone to be received best by beta testers, so I’ve organized the files into folders “Main Colour” and “Accent Colour.”

Materials

PLA works great!

PETG is a little too flexible and bouncy.

Supports

I set the following PrusaSlicer settings for easier removal of supports (see screenshot in gallery):

1. Snug for “Style” is better than Organic for this model.
2. 90º for “Pattern angle” exposes the snug supports' folds.
3. 0.3 mm for both “Top contact Z distance” and “Bottom contact Z distance.
4. 2 layers for both “Top interface layers” and “Bottom interface layers.”

Customizing Clamp

Parametric

Using the DoomScroller Parametric Clamp.f3d, you can customize the clamp based on the size of your device. Fusion360 is free for personal use. 

How to change parameters (see screenshots):

1. Once installed, open the DoomScroller Parametric Clamp.f3d file.
2. Navigate to Solid > Modify > Change Parameters.
3. Change the parameter for deviceWidth.
4. Change the parameter for deviceDepth.
5. (optional) Change the parameter for deviceHeight. Merely for cosmetic purposes.
6. In the Browser menu, expand the Bodies item.
7. Right-click the Clamp frame item.
8. Click the Save as Mesh item.
9. In the Save as Mesh menu, click OK.
10. Save the file to your computer.
11. Right-click the Clamp frame item.
12. Repeat steps 8 to 10.
13. Print!

Cut

Clamp frame.3mf was made quite wide to accommodate multiple sizes of smartphones and cases. It can be cut down to reduce bulk, in keeping with the portability of the model.

As a rough rule, Clamp frame.3mf should be at least 18 mm wider than your phone.

For maximum customizability, use the slicer and DoomScroller Cut Tool.3mf to cut Clamp frame.stl down to your desired smartphone width. See photo gallery for instructions with PrusaSlicer.

1. Open DoomScroller Cut Tool.3mf.
2. PrusaSlicer will show a dialog message. Choose “Open as project.”
3. Change the size of the Shape-Box to match your phone’s dimensions. Click the lock to disable scaling.
4. Move both the Clamp movable jaw.stl and clamp-nut.stl files along the X-axis to match the width of the Shape-Box phone model.
5. Use the “Drop to Bed” feature and click on the bottom of the Clamp frame.stl file, or set it to a Z-height of 14 mm.
6. Use the “Cut” tool, rotate 90º about the Y-axis, and drag the cutting distance.

To Do

1. Multiple clamp sizes with centred mounting hole.
2. Fusion 360 parametric model. (done 2023-11-10)
3. Loosen keying for clamp frame threaded region and movable jaw. (done 2023-11-14)
4. Increase thread length for iPhone mini-class smartphone width. (done 2023-11-14)
5. Update filenames. (done 2023-11-15)

Update

2023-10-31: Added plate files for full project and two-tone, divided between main and accent colours. Includes supports and other slicer settings. Consider importing as models only since the speeds are lower. My MK3S has a problem with shifting layers caused by high speeds/accelerations/jerk, etc.

2023-11-10: Uploading a parametric Fusion360 model, DoomScroller Parametric Clamp.f3d, for customizing the clamp's frame and movable jaw for your smartphone. Should be easier to customize a clamp for your phone's unique dimensions, including cases/Pop Sockets/magnetic plates/camera bumps. I'll still produce a few combos, and this file will make it easier.
Also changing the name because HopeScroller doesn't really roll off the tongue the same way as DoomScroller. 

2023-11-14: Updated files to .3mf with new filenames. New general size of clamp that will still require the cut tool. New version of Fusion360 model that should be a bit better for making custom clamp frame and movable jaw.

2023-11-15: More fidgeting around with files and filenames. Replaced references to old names with current ones. Updated Clamp frame with a more general size and threads that weren't just cosmetic.

2023-12-02: Finally got around to making the GoPro version of the Neck for @HudsonBear_457653.

2023-12-20: Realized that Fusion360 will not allow me to model custom, out-of-spec threads, which a plugin in OnShape allows me to do, so I'm dropping the parametric feature in favour of a better approach, I hope.

Seems like there should be two types of clamps frames, general and semi-custom.

General makes more sense if the DoomScroller will be shared amongst multiple users, but you risk breaking the device if over-tightening when having too much thread. Three sizes should probably suffice for most purposes.

Semi-custom means there is a limited number of devices that can share a clamp, but there is a lower risk of breaking the device from over-tightening. Not sure how many I'll produce, but I'd like to group devices that are within about 2 mm to 3 mm of each other. Let's see what that does to my sanity.

In my observation, you only need about 1 mm of thread to get enough friction to hold the phone securely, whether PLA or PETG. Haven't tested more exotic materials like TPU, but I suspect it'd be similar. 

Thus, I've been lazy to do this analysis, but it's more print-friendly if I manually group up all of the popular device sizes and pre-make the clamp frames. (No, GenAI isn't accurate enough here. I'd spend more time working on a prompt than simply checking manufacturers' websites.) This semi-custom option makes it so the ball joint sits closer to the centre of gravity for the device, allowing for more predictable movement. Yes, it bothers me that much if the ball joint sits more than 5 mm from the horizontal centre of the screen.

So I've made a few sizes of clamp frames for classes of device sizes and cases, i.e., smartphones with no case, a slim one, and a thick one. Files are labelled with the width and depth in mm, e.g., w100 x d15 has a width of 100 mm and a depth of 15 mm. It'll take some time to get them all out, but shouldn't be much longer now.

2023-12-21: Remodelled the clamps again. Uploaded a bunch of different sizes for devices with a depth of 8 mm and 9 mm in various widths.