Google Sphere Mini - A Retro Enclosure for your Google Home Speaker

Google Sphere Mini - A Stylish Upgrade for Your Google Nest Mini / Google Home Mini

Introducing the Google Sphere Mini, a chic and innovative enclosure designed to enhance the appearance of your Google assistant while improving its sound quality. This unique 3D-printed design transforms your Google Home Mini or Nest Mini into a stylish decor piece, perfect for any room.

Why I Designed This

My goal was to create a purely 3D-printed enclosure that required no screws, magnets, or glue. I intended to give my Google assistant a fresh look and make it a centerpiece rather than an unnoticed gadget. After measuring my Google Home/Nest Mini, I developed several prototypes and settled on this design. The 3D parts require approximately 200g of filament. Inspired by various amazing designs, this sphere enclosure is the perfect solution for those wanting to give their Google assistant a new lease on life. ✨

Parts Required

• Google Home / Nest Mini & charging cable
• 3D printed parts: 2x sphere halves, inner cover, cable cover, back leg, right leg, left leg
• Cutting/needle nose pliers
• Needle files/scraper
• Lubricant (optional, but recommended)
• Glue or tape (optional)

Preparing the 3D Parts

1. Print all parts in your preferred colors. For best results, use PETG filament with a 0.12mm layer height. A 0.2mm layer height can also work, but more work may be required on the threads. If the front half of the sphere is printed with the outer end facing the print bed, it should not require supports. Additional work on the inner thread may be required if the back half is printed with the inner end facing the print bed.
   
   Note: If you have a Google Home/Nest Mini with a micro USB connector (1st gen), your power cable will need more clearance on the inner side of the sphere. Use the front STL version labeled ‘microusb’. Alternatively, use another USB cable to use the default STL.
   
   
    
2. Remove the supports from the 3D parts using tweezers and pliers.
3. Clean the sphere’s threads with needle files, if necessary. This step ensures smooth assembly and should only take a few minutes.
4. Apply lube to the sphere’s threads to facilitate easier assembly and disassembly.

Assembling the Google Sphere Mini

1. Thread the charging cable of your Google Home assistant through the cable hole in the back half of the sphere.
   
   
    
2. Connect the cable to your Google Home assistant.
   
   
    
3. Place the assistant inside the front half of the sphere, ensuring the cable aligns with the hole in the inner thread.
   
   
    
4. Secure the assistant with the inner lid, ensuring not to over-tighten it.
   
   
    
5. Join the sphere halves by aligning the back leg’s hole with the left leg’s hole and twisting slightly more than a full revolution until the back leg’s hole is positioned between the right and left leg’s holes. If the halves do not close easily, you may need to refine the threads further. As you can see from the gif below, I can twist them without using too much force (just with two fingers!).
   
   
   
   
    
6. Attach the legs to the sphere. The shorter leg is the back leg. All legs have a designated position. You shouldn't be able to mix them up, as each leg will fit along the sphere :)
   
   
    
7. Insert the cable cover into the sphere’s cable hole. Push firmly to secure it; it should hold without damaging the cable.
   
   

Optional Enhancements

• Sanding and Painting: Sand down the 3D parts and paint them if desired. Be careful not to paint the threads or joints, as this may prevent the sphere from screwing together properly.
• Securing the Legs: Consider gluing the legs in place for a more secure fit. Alternatively, tape can tighten the joints without committing to a permanent solution.
  
  

Testing the Google Sphere Mini’s Happiness

Once assembled, ask your assistant, "Hey Google, how do you like your new home?" and enjoy its response! Happy printing!