smabo smabo
Guide

🧩 Base Parts

Customize and 3D-print the base parts to fit your smartphone, then assemble smabo's body.

Roadmap#

This page is the guide for the 'Base Parts' node on the roadmap below.

This guide assumes you have completed the smabo-app setup.

Overview#

This page explains how to create the base parts.


Specifically, you will:

  • Modify the 3D model to fit your smartphone

    Adjusting inner extrude

  • Print base parts with a 3D printer

    Printed base

Required Parts#

The following parts are required to implement this feature.

Part Product URL Notes
Smartphone - Your own smartphone

Downloading the smabo-hardware Repository#

First, download the smabo-hardware repository, which contains:

  • STL and STEP files for 3D parts used in smabo

https://github.com/smabo-smartphone-robot/smabo-hardware

The smabo-hardware repository contains all parts. Download it to a convenient location — you'll use it throughout the build.

Adjusting Smartphone Mounting Parts#

smabo can hold your smartphone, but phone sizes vary from person to person. This section explains how to adjust the mounting parts to fit your phone.

Measuring Your Smartphone#

First, measure your smartphone's:

  • Long side
  • Short side
  • Thickness (measure the thickest point if the camera protrudes)

Measure in millimeters. If you use a case, measure with the case on.

Caliper

You can check the manufacturer's spec sheet, use a ruler, or — recommended — use a caliper.
A caliper is a precision measuring tool that gives more accurate readings than a ruler. It is commonly used in robot building. If you don't have one, consider purchasing one.

Adjusting Part Dimensions#

Next, follow these steps to resize each part to match your phone.

CAD software

Any CAD software works. Fusion 360 steps are shown as an example in the notes below.

Left/Right Mounting Parts

Import "smabo-hardware/step/smart_phone/smartphone_long_width_75_height_11.step" and adjust so the distance from part tip to inner face equals:

  • (phone long side / 2) + 1 mm

Fusion 360 step-by-step

Click "Upload" in the left panel.
Fusion upload

Click "Select Files".
Fusion select files

Select "smartphone_long_width_75_height_11.step".
Fusion select long step

After the import completes, open smartphone_long_width_75_height_11.

Select the outer face and click "Extrude".
Long outer extrude

Set the length to (phone long side / 2) + 3 + 1.
Long outer length

Select the inner face and click "Extrude".
Long inner extrude

Set the length to (phone long side / 2) + 1.
Long inner length


Also adjust the distance from the top to the bottom face of the clamp section to:

  • phone thickness + 1 mm

Fusion 360 step-by-step

Select the top face and click "Extrude".
Long top extrude

Set the length to phone thickness + 1 + 3.
Long top length

Select the bottom face and click "Extrude".
Long bottom extrude

Set the length to phone thickness + 1.
Long bottom length

Top/Bottom Mounting Parts

Import "smabo-hardware/step/smart_phone/smartphone_short_width_37_height_11.step" and adjust so the distance from part tip to inner face equals:

  • (phone short side / 2) + 1 mm

Fusion 360 step-by-step

Follow the same steps as for the Left/Right Mounting Parts, using the phone's short side as the reference dimension.


Also adjust the clamp height:

  • phone thickness + 1 mm

Fusion 360 step-by-step

Follow the same steps as for the Left/Right Mounting Parts.

Exporting the Parts#

Once you have finished resizing, export the parts as STL files.

Fusion 360 step-by-step

From the top menu, choose File → Export.
Fusion export menu

Set the following options and click "Export" to save the file:

  • Name: any name you like
  • Type: STL
  • Location: any folder you like

Fusion export settings

3D Printing Parts#

Print the newly added parts on your 3D printer.

Because slicer software varies by printer model, only key points are noted here rather than step-by-step slicer instructions.



Print the following parts oriented as shown in the images.

Printing tips

  • Orient convex protrusions sideways to prevent fractures at the base when attaching/detaching.
  • Always enable support material.

Common#

  • smabo-hardware/stl/base/base.stl
    base.stl

  • smabo-hardware/stl/base/cover_back_bread_board.stl
    cover_back_bread_board.stl

  • smabo-hardware/stl/smart_phone/cover_smartphone_base.stl
    cover_smartphone_base.stl

  • smabo-hardware/stl/smart_phone/smartphone_long_width_75_height_11.stl (adjusted from original size for your phone) × 2
    • Print 2 copies — same part used on the left and right.
      smartphone_long part

  • smabo-hardware/stl/smart_phone/smartphone_short_width_37_height_11.stl (adjusted from original size for your phone) × 2
    • Print 2 copies — same part used on the top and bottom.
      smartphone_short part

If smabo-brain Is Set Up on an SBC#

For Raspberry Pi (4 or 5)#

  • smabo-hardware/stl/raspi/raspi_stand.stl
    alt text

  • smabo-hardware/stl/raspi/raspi_stopper1.stl
    alt text

  • smabo-hardware/stl/raspi/raspi_stopper2.stl
    alt text

Assembly#

Assemble the required parts as shown in the video below.

Note: the video also includes parts printed in previous steps.

Common#

Assembly tip

If you plan to remove your phone frequently, you can leave only the bottom part installed and slide the phone in and out from the top. Note that if the robot is inverted the phone will fall out in this configuration.

If smabo-brain Is Set Up on an SBC#

For Raspberry Pi (4 or 5)#

Assembly tip

Fix the Raspberry Pi to raspi_stand using the parts shown below.

Attaching Your Smartphone#

Verify that your smartphone fits securely.

Finished Result#

The completed base looks like this:
Completed base

Next#

Next, follow the guide for: