Take me to the Steps

Frustrated by the fact that my almost-ten-year-old handspring visor and stowaway portable keyboard had better note-taking capabilities than my iPhone, I was pleased when Apple finally opened up Bluetooth keyboard accessibility on the iPhone. This build incorporates Plexiglas, Velcro, and some two-part epoxy to create a functional iPhone stand for the standard Apple Wireless Keyboard.

Project Steps

Here is what the iPhone/Bluetooth keyboard stand will look like when completed.

Supplies: Velcro and Plexiglas. Total: $6.

Determine the dimenstions for the Plexiglas stand.

When determining the height of the stand, be sure to add the circumference of the tubular part of the keyboard. I went with a total dimension of 7″ height x 5¼” width.

Use a heat gun or similar heating element to soften the Plexiglas. Bend Plexiglas around a solid cylindrical object that is approximately the same size as the tubular part of the keyboard. I used a socket wrench, but a wooden dowel should work as well.

Use the phone to set registration marks for width…

…and height for your phone ledge spacers.

Use plastic, wood or Plexiglas for the two ledge spacers, approx 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 1″ each. Adjust according to your registration mark placement, and use two-part epoxy to attach the spacers to the stand. Be sure to rough up the surfaces with sandpaper prior to cementing.

Apply Velcro to the cylindrical part of the keyboard and the curved part of the stand. Try hooks on the keyboard and loops on the stand. Reverse it if the fit doesn’t work well for you.

Wrap the Velcro completely around the cylindrical part of the keyboard and inside the curved part of the stand.

Attach the stand’s Velcro to the keyboard’s Velcro. The iPhone can now be aligned between the spacers for portrait orientation…

…or atop (or below) the spacers for landscape orientation.

Note: the stand is a little top-heavy with the iPhone on the top position. Be sure there is enough space for the iPhone under the spacers when making your measurements.

Remove the stand and attach it to the back of the keyboard using the Velcro. This provides a convenient way to carry the keyboard and phone together.

Conclusion

The resulting stand makes it considerably easier to type on your phone in meeting rooms, lecture halls, on your lap, etc. While building this, I realized it might be nice to add a handle to the top of the stand for easier carrying. This could be done by extending the length of the stand and cutting out an oval to create the handle. Additional Velcro could be added to attach the spacers to the back of the keyboard for easier carrying.

(Here is my original description of the project on my website: http://www.northsecure.com/iphone-stand/)