Give an old eReader a tasty second life! This 3D-printed mount turns your retired gadget, loaded with digital cookbooks, into an under-cabinet recipe holder. Slide it out when you’re ready to whip up something delicious, then tuck it away when the cooking’s done. It saves counter space, keeps your recipes clean, and adds a dash of geeky charm to your kitchen.
(I promise this blurb is the only AI used in this model.)
Printed Parts
Track - will be attached to the underside of the cabinet with command strips or tape.
Rail - slides in the track. Has a hinge at one end to attach to the reader holder. Also has two slots to attach the back brace.
Back Brace - attaches to the rail such that it can keep the reader vertical when in use, or fold out of the way when stored.
Reader Holder - a custom fitted sleeve for the reader, attaches to the end of the rail on a hinge.
Hinge Pins (3 parts) - to connect the rail to the reader holder.
Brace Hooks (2 parts) - glued to the rail to hold the back brace and allow it to fold.
Additional Parts Needed
An eReader. The print profile is fitted to an old Kindle Paperwhite 2 (6th generation) but should work for similar era Kindles. The Customizer has been provided to make your own print profile for other sized readers.
Crazy glue - Will need 3 drops to assemble the hinges.
3M Command Strips or double-sided tape - To attach the track to the under side of the cabinet. I used 4x medium replacement strips.
Assembly Instructions
Check the fit of the reader in the holder piece. If necessary, use the Customizer to adjust the size of the holder and print it with the correct dimensions.
Test fit the brace hooks in the back brace and slot them into the rail. Once you are satisfied, add a single drop of glue to each slot and glue the hooks in place with the back brace attached. Be careful not to use too much glue that the back brace cannot fold freely.
The assembled back brace should look like this.
Test fit the rail hinge into the hinge piece on the back of the reader holder. Note that the side of the rail with the back brace should be facing downward.
Slot one of the three hinge pins and use an Allen key or small screwdriver to push it into one side of the hinge as far as it will go. Repeat with the other side of the hinge.
Slot the third hinge pin between the other two and push it into place to keep those from sliding back out. Add a single drop of glue to the middle pin only to keep it from falling out.
You should have the rail, back brace, and holder all connected like this, with the hinge points moving freely. (The assembly is upside down in this photo.)
Take the track piece and test fit it under the cabinet. It should be placed with one end approximately 25mm (1 inch) back from the front of the cabinet, although that is up to your discretion.
Attach 4 command strips to the flat side of the track, with one at each corner, oriented so the long direction of the strip is the long direction of the track. Carefully place the track under the cabinet in the location where you did the test fit.
After the command strips have had some time to set (an hour is suggested), put the reader back into the holder and slide the rail into the track.
To use the reader, slide the rail far enough out that the reader flips to vertical. Unfold the back brace and slot it into one of the grooves on the back of the holder.
When finished, release the back brace, fold the reader back, and slide the rail back until it holds itself horizontally again.
Customizing your print
Don't have the same old reader that I used? No problem! This model was designed to be modified using the parametric model maker. Click on the Customize button under the print profile to load the openSCAD code. The options that can be set are:
ReaderWidth = Outside width in mm, rounded up
ReaderHeight = Outside height in mm, rounded up
ReaderThick = Thickness of the reader in mm, rounded up to 0.5mm
ReaderSideMargin = Distance from the edge of the device to the side of the visible text. The holder will overlap this by 50%.
ReaderBottomMargin = Distance from the bottom of the device to the visible text. The holder will overlap this by 50% too.
ReaderBottomCutWidth = The holder will have a cut out on the bottom that is centered and this size wide. This is to ensure access to the power button and charging port.
MouseEars = If enabled, the model will include mouse ear brims on the corners of the track and rail, to prevent curling during printing. They can be omitted if you trust your printer.
TrackLength = The total length of the track, and the length of the rail minus the extra bit for the hinge. Must be shorter than the depth of the cabinet. 200mm fits well under a 300mm (12 inch) cabinet.
The newer reader that I used for general reading is a Kindle Paperwhite 5 (11th Generation). It's measurements are:
ReaderWidth=125;
ReaderHeight=173;
ReaderThick=8.5;
ReaderSideMargin=10;
ReaderBottomMargin=25;
ReaderBottomCutWidth=42;
Suggested Printer Settings
Infill = 20%, Cubic. Or Gyroid if you insist, just something to add a little extra strength to the rail.
Supports = Enabled, Tree (auto), On build plate only. Needed to support the hinge and cutout on the holder. The rest of it has no need for supports.
Brims = If you didn't use the MouseEars option in the customizer, paint some onto the corners of the track and rail if you have problems with curling.
As always, Clean Your Plate! Especially for the small hinge pins and brace hooks. A clean textured PEI plate should have no problems with those small parts getting loose.
Additional Notes
Perhaps this could work with a tablet of some sort, if it weren't too heavy. Even better, it could be sized horizontally to use to follow cooking videos instead of recipe text. I don't have a tablet to try it though. Let me know in the comments how it worked out if you try it.
cjbnc
