Eye Gaze Tablet Mounting Bracket - Make Your Own

Posted by Robert Stewart on the 3rd August, 2017

When we upgraded our eye gaze systems, we also required a mounting solution to accommodate them... that wouldn't break the bank. There are several commercial solutions out there but they're all very expensive. The solution required several key features.

It needed to be:

• cheap;
• robust and secure;
• easy to produce;
• able to hold a Microsoft Surface (with case.)

Here's how you can make your own

Parts

• Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Protective case (Available through Procurement Scotland Framework).
• 5mm x 180mm x 220mm black Acrylic sheet with rounded corners.
• 4 x (5mm x 15mm) Chicago screws.
• 2 x (M4 x 16mm) countersunk head slotted machine screws.
• REHAdapt bracket.

Tools required

• Electric drill with 4.5mm & 5mm drill bit.
• Screwdriver.
• Loctite 242 Threadlocker.

Process

1. Drill 4 x 5mm holes through the Acrylic sheet to allow the fitting of the Chicago screws.
2. Drill 2 x 4.5mm holes into the same sheet which will allow the REHAdapt bracket to be attached to the sheet with the machine screws.
3. Align the Acrylic sheet up with the tablet protective case to where it should sit and mark (with a pen) through the 4 holes onto the case.
4. Drill 4 x 5mm holes through the protective case to allow the fitting of the Chicago screws.
5. Place the Chicago screws through the sheet and case and tighten.
6. If you don't wish to remove the Acrylic sheet again then add some Loctite 242 Threadlocker to the screws to 'lock' them.
7. Screw on the REHAdapt bracket (this will be a tight fit).

WARNING: Do not get Loctite 242 Threadlocker onto the Acrylic sheet as  it causes 'stress cracking'.

NOTE: We've added 2 brackets to our system to accommodate 2 different types of eye gaze unit.

Cost

We managed to produce our bracket for around £40 but that's because we purchased the case via the 'Procurement Scotland Framework' (through XMA) for about £15.