Hello!

For my Outpost hardware project, I decided to design and build a phone-cleaning station. The goal is to create a compact device that can clean and sanitize a phone using microfiber rollers, UV lights, and cleaning fluid.

Today, I worked on the mechanical design and sketched out the concept on a whiteboard. The phone sits vertically in the center of the device, while two threaded rods drive a microfiber roller up and down both sides of the phone. UV lights line the inner walls to help sanitize the surface, and a sliding door on the top provides access for adding cleaning fluid.

The most challenging part so far has been designing the microfiber roller mechanism. After considering several options, I chose to use threaded rods because they provide a reliable way to move the roller along the entire height of the phone and ensure consistent contact with the screen.

My next steps are to create a detailed diagram of the system, finish the CAD models for 3D printing, and finalize the parts list. I’m also trying to source as many components as possible from local stores to avoid shipping delays and keep development moving quickly.