How to build your own iPad case.

I know we have all seen and drooled over the new iPads and a few of us have shelled out the big bucks to get one.

If you are like me you want to protect your investment and make it look nice. If it can fit your personality and you make it your self, well that's a plus.




 

Step 1: Things you will need for this project..

1. iPad (or other such thing) 1a. If you are not doing a iPad a good ruler and other measuring tools.

2. Wood/Bamboo for the protective ring.

3. Hand tools (Drill, Drill bits, Saw, Files, Rasps, Dremmel tool X-acto knife, and glue.) Or you can do what I did and use a home built Cnc (a computer controlled wood router). Use what you got. 3a. If you are using a Cnc you can download the code however it is set for Mach 3 software and might need some adjusting if you don't use this program.

4 Old coat from Good Will (something that you like the fabric). You are going to destroy it so a few holes or elbow patches are ok.

5 Did I say Glue.. Get spray Super 77 and Elmer's. Double sided tape is nice to have as well..

Comments

[sushi44]

It's BEAUTIFUL !!!!!! Nice job!!

[gregory46580]

very creative idea,how did you come up with it?

[Blackdog Barker]

It came from a need to protect my iPad but I was out of work and didn't have the money for the store bought one, but that was just the start.

My nickname is "Black Dog" Like most nicknames it is kind of a insult..
So I decided to embrace it and take it on as my image..
Blackdog was a pirate that gave Long John Silver the black spot so the Pirate theme was also a natural choice.

I have found out that if you want a really good idea you need to combine 2 or three into one, coming at it from several different thought angles.

-e

[patriots8888]

Now to make an iPad....;-)

[Cheezpaper]

Haha my case looks like a book. I can use my iPad in class.

[Ward_Nox]

i'd have made it say "Don't panic" but that's just me

[Blackdog Barker]

That is only if I add a button that when pushed it says Panic... Always travel with a towel, and the answer is 42.

[JavaNut13]

And your personal supercomputer is called Deep Thought? Didn't look at all steps but end result looks fantastic! nice one.

[Blackdog Barker]

It is nice to cross paths with a fellow traveler. :)

[timothymh]

Ditto, even if the thread died several months ago. ;)

We apologise for the inconvenience.

[saucyrossy]

HAHA - I finally found a case with "Don't Panic" on the cover - very excited about getting one.
http://www.mycaseconcepts.com

[acidbass]

i think the ipad is overrated but i would buy one just to make this

[Blackdog Barker]

I need a friend with a kindle or a iPhone, so I can make other cases... I must encourage you to make a case because it is so choice. (paraphrased from Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

[acidbass]

hmmmmm (i noticed my fave movie)

[Blackdog Barker]

What?? You too?? No?? So Cool!!!

[acidbass]

i love that movie

[GeekyAdam]

When I first saw this, I thought the design on the front was Fruit Fu**er from Penny-Arcade.com.

[Blackdog Barker]

Maybe next time... I will have to watch it because my mother reads this...

[cwix09]

with what did you cut out the logo in your leather? your CNC?

[Blackdog Barker]

I cut the logo out of the plywood sub base and then press the leather into the void left behind.. It stays there because of spray glue...

[NCBob]

Great instructable, for your CNC code what did you use to generate it? Did you just code it by hand or did you use a program. I was planning on making one as well, I've got a Bluumax CNC with some modifications and I use Vectrix Cut2D to generate my GCode. I'm going to get Cut3D but can't quite afford it yet :) I love the walnut mixed in with the bamboo, looks very sharp!

[Blackdog Barker]

I used a Vectrix product, Aspire yes the expensive one.. I must say I am most impressed with the software.. You get what you pay for.. I know g code but I am not so good that I can type out thousands of lines. The first iPad case was solid bamboo.. The second case I stepped it up a bit and made it out of walnut and cherry.. Glad you liked the article and I would like to see your project when done..

[NCBob]

Yes, I agree, the vectrix software is the best I've found. Mine is probably going to be totally out of bamboo, with some small rube pieces in the four corners to help hold it in. For the outer shell i was going to use a journal and take out the pages, but now that I've seen yours I like the idea of binding it myself because then I can have it stand up, and of course I can do a cool logo on the front as well. I might even make this project be my first instructable, and i might include the CNC steps since this is where I got started with my CNC. Thanks again for an excellent instructable!!!!!

[Blackdog Barker]

I though about little rubber stoppers but, I have found great success with using art foam (it is 1/16th thick and comes in 8.5x11 sheets in different colors) with double sided taped on the back of the foam. I cut thin strips and place them along the rim inside the frame.. It holds great and you can add just as much as you need for a press fit. If you can find someone putting in bamboo flooring you can use the scraps for your project.. That is what I did with my first experiment. I have found solid wood flooring the thickness you need for the rim... You can still use the covers from the journal if they fit. Your logo could be cut from thick paper glued under the leather... I have found .02 to .03 is working better than .0625 that I cut into the cover.

[bliu7496]

this looks awesome but it seems a little hard to make

[milesduggan]

Wow beautiful work!

[Lithium Rain]

Absolutely gorgeous. Don't suppose you'd post files of your logo...? :)

[Blackdog Barker]

Post my logo hahahaha you are so funny!!! I must admit you crack me up.. he....

[Lithium Rain]

Surely posting it under a restricted license results only in free advertising? :)

[Blackdog Barker]

Oh you weren't kidding, awkward..

[Lithium Rain]

Just thought it was purty...guess I'll have to replicate it myself if I want it on anything of mine. :p

[gamnoparts]

Nice. I just watched a video a cpl days ago from dodocase walking you through how they make their case. Maybe it will help someone not quite sure of the process. This is just the cover, but there are probably more that I'm too lazy to look up. ;) FWIW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1N42OnhQIQ I definitely like the contour of your cover.

[Blackdog Barker]

Yes I saw that too.. I would have bought one if I had seen it before I made my first one.. After I made the first one and found out how easy it was I had to make another then, well I had to post...

[beyondimagination]

I love it! Makes me want to buy an Ipad, just to make one.

[Blackdog Barker]

If you make a case I would love to see the photos!

[beyondimagination]

Ill see if i can make one for my phone

[carlfreeland]

You got really stellar results (and on WALNUT!) using your CNC mill. What CNC mill did you build? Are the instructions for it posted here on instructables?

[Blackdog Barker]

Almost any Cnc on this site will do just fine.. I got my Cnc from a kit and I feel if I posted how I built it, it would be a bit like cheating... The trick with Walnut is to have a sharp tool and take passes 20% of your bit dia..

[piperjon]

Absolutely beautiful! That's some mighty fine work there, yo. I can see my Kindle resting comfortably in something like this, if I had the tools. Perhaps some fine day, eh? - Pj

[Blackdog Barker]

It is not hard to find someone with tools.. If you have someone make a ring the cover is the fun part.. You can even cut the ring out with a copping saw...