iPad in DA40

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Rich
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Rich »

dant wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 8:05 pm
Nice clean snug fit and solid hold regardless of orientation
I got mine and it feels REALLY tight on my ipad mini 6. Almost feels like the roller-clamp is bending the iPad. How tight is yours?
Went in nice and clean. Didn't feel excessively tight.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Rich »

The mount for my Pro 11 was pretty tight, but after modifying it to be more suitable for the Apple pencil, it acquired more flex.
iPad with Apple Pencil.jpg
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Rich »

Dan, I thought I’d double check the snugness of both mini-6 cradles I got (don’t judge me) and they both seem acceptably snug and not putting load on the iPad when mounted. There is a clear snapping in place when the roller comes over its edge. There is only one correct way to mount it, with the camera end being at the roller end. Outside of that, did they send you the right product? One subtle difference is that the edges of the mini6 are squared off, and the -6 cradle is also, whereas the previous generations had rounded edges.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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dant
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by dant »

Maybe mine is just slightly off in tolerances? It's definitely the right product. It fits in, it's just REALLY snug, to the point where it almost looks like a bend in the iPad:



Looking at the clip, it seems like the ipad is not quite resting straight on the clip, like it's .3 mm too short.
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Rich
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Re: iPad in DA40

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dant wrote: Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:44 am Maybe mine is just slightly off in tolerances? It's definitely the right product. It fits in, it's just REALLY snug, to the point where it almost looks like a bend in the iPad:

Looking at the clip, it seems like the ipad is not quite resting straight on the clip, like it's .3 mm too short.
It does look too short. Unless there's some bit of flashing in the little cups at the other end that could be easily cleared I'd complain to the RAM folks. I'll get an edge-on shot of mine for comparison and post here sometime today.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Rich »

Dan, Here's the way the clip end looks on mine. Similar to yours. I couldn't capture it well in a picture, but it doesn't fit flush against the flat edge of the iPad. Forces on the iPad at this end are limited to the edges of the frame.
Ipad Mini RAM Mount.jpg
It doesn't feel inordinately tight to me. So I took some measurements:
1. The flex arm is not quite 90 degrees to the plane of the back surface, as measured with it not mounted to anything. So its no-load angle is very close to the angle when the iPad is mounted.
2. As far as I could measure the distance between the extended plane of the back surface and the contact area of the roller is 6.5 mm, as is the thickness of my iPad mini-6.
3. With the iPad mounted I subjectively tested the force required to push the spring assembly away from the display plane. Placing my thumb on the arc portion and four other fingers on the surface of the iPad, I pushed upward with the thumb. It was pretty easy to move the "clamp" so that it touched no portion of the front surface. I judge there is very little force being exerted normal to the plane of the screen when mounted.
4. There is a gap between the roller and its mounting ears and the glass. So any force it's exerting is against the upper and lower edges of the metal frame. (Gap is very small - I used aluminum foil as a feeler gauge to check it).
5. When the iPad is mounted it appears the roller end of the cradle is relaxed to about 2 mm outward from its no-load position, after flexing something like 9 mm to get the roller up and over the edge of the iPad
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by dant »

Thanks for the feedback. I had also sent the pictures to RAM and they confirm that's what it's like. Shrug. Maybe I baby my electronics too much. :p
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Re: iPad in DA40

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dant wrote: Mon Apr 18, 2022 6:11 am Thanks for the feedback. I had also sent the pictures to RAM and they confirm that's what it's like. Shrug. Maybe I baby my electronics too much. :p
I should also mention that the cradle I've been using for some time for my Pro 11 is a noticeably more forceful fit and there have been no ill effects to the iPad.
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Mjwatlanta »

This is a never ending topic and I’m not sure I have the best solution, but so far my testing has proven it to be quite good. In my DA 40 I could not find a place to mount my 11 inch iPad. I did not want to buy a smaller iPad because I use the large one at work and some of my subscriptions will only go on three devices – my laptop, my phone, and my iPad. The thought of having a fourth device, another iPad, was not attractive.

I considered everything from mounting it on the stick, that seems ridiculous, to the side window but that seems to block my PFD. So, until I came up with this invention I basically just had the iPad resting between my left leg and the side of the cabin. I did try a thigh mount but it interfered with the use of the stick and was generally uncomfortable. So, I came up with the idea of using a gooseneck that is mounted on the control tunnel on the passenger floor. In the photographs included below, I have not yet mounted it to the tunnel in the final fashion. I want to make sure everything is just right before I do so. It will be mounted with industrial quality Velcro so that it can be removed. Right now it is held in place with a pair of clamps until I am sure. When I am sure, I will mount it with Velcro and then put the carpet back on top of it. The post of the gooseneck will simply protrude through a flap cut in the very thin carpet. If I ever decide to take it out, the flap will go back and no one will be the wiser.

To bend the metal I made a wooden buck in the exact same shape of the control tunnel hump and then bent some sheet metal around it. I then riveted a small pocket for the foot of the gooseneck clamp. The photographs below are merely illustrative of the various ways this thing can be positioned. It does block my view of the trim wheel, but the only time we really need to see that is on takeoff when we make sure that it is set for takeoff. That can easily be accomplished. Also, I can’t see the throttle perfectly, but, again, I don’t really need to look at it I just need to be able to touch it and this in no way interferes with that task

If anyone is interested in the parts list I’ll put that up in another post.
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Steve
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Re: iPad in DA40

Post by Steve »

Michael:

Looks interesting, but what about if you have a passenger in the copilot's seat?
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