Add Portability to the Xbox with 3D Printed Game Mount for Personal Monitor

Sometimes it’s time to take matters into your own hands, and you can do that in more ways than one with the 3D printed controller game mount design just released from the Ruiz Brothers, on Adafruit.

This baby allows you to lie in bed wide awake eagerly gaming while your partner catches zzzz’s, or offers a great way to relax on the couch or elsewhere, holding the whole system in the palm of your hand—with a product you made yourself—no longer beholden to staring at the big screen.

Undoubtedly, we all know a rabid gamer who would totally dig this gizmo, surely to find it a necessary addition to the gaming lifestyle. While it’s not the first of its kind, being able to 3D print the simple design for Xbox gaming is unique.

Also offering an HDMI 720p monitor that works perfectly with this 3D printed marvel, Adafruit is responsible for sharing this 3D printed mount that will work with your Xbox 360 game controller, but can also be adapted for other gaming systems.

You’ll be thrilled to find out that you can not only have the thrill of owning this convenient gaming mount, but it doesn’t require many parts or tools, as follows:

Parts:

• Adafruit HDMI 7″ display
• 2.1mm DC extension cord
• 6′ long, slim HDMI cable
• 3D printed mount
• Game controller
• #4 3/4 long Philips screws

Tools:

• 3D printer
• Calipers
• Drill/screwdrivers
• T5 security Torx or whatever other tools you may need to disassemble the controller.

Use Tinkercad for customization

For customizing the model to fit your game controller, Adafruit posted information on Tinkercad. This allows for adjustment of the clip height, as well as adjusting the thickness of the extrude and screw holes.

The files are on Thingiverse for free download, and for best quality upon 3D printing, the Adafruit group does not recommend using rafts. One challenge you will need to take on is making sure that each piece is on a level platform, even if you have to ‘live level’ the pieces by adjusting the build plate thumb screws while 3D printing is in process.

The mounting clip, using PLA @230 with no rafts or supports and 2.0 Layer Height/90/150mm/s should take about 15 minutes at the 3D printer; the mounting base will probably take about 30 minutes.

Assembly is the coolest part here, as this ingenious device is so streamlined—and easy to put together in just a few steps:

1. Replace the two top screws near the control triggers to accommodate the thickness of the clips, with two 4 3/4 screws being sufficient for assembling the clips and base.
2. Drill the screws into the clips and then the base.
3. Easily slide the game controller into the game mount, and tighten the screws.
4. Use a six inch HDMI cable, preferably slim, for plugging into the appropriate ports, with a 9V or 12VDC battery. (Keep in mind that if you need audio, headphones will need to be connected into the A/V port, along with the option of using a wirelesss headset.)

Is this a design you are interested in 3D printing? Would this game mount be something to helpful to you? Tell us your thoughts in the 3D Printed Game Controller forum thread over at 3DPB.com. Check out the how-to video below.