LEGO IPod Nano Docking Station

In this Instructable I will show you how to make a LEGO docking station for your iPod nano. It's clean, sleek, and best of all, it can fit anywhere because its color and shape are completely customizable.

What You'll Need:
Parts--
- Some extra lego blocks and plate (studded and non-studded)
- The plastic piece that came with your iPod used for docking
- an iPod nano (or any iPod, really)
- iPod USB cable
- Small zip tie
- Hot glue

Tools--
- Dremel
- Hot glue gun
- Your hands

This whole project relies on the little plastic thing that came with your iPod. It is normally used to help it dock it in an iHome or other speaker station for an iPod Classic. We'll be modifying it slightly for our cause. First you'll need to get a cutting tool (Dremel) and attach a grinding wheel. Open up the space on the bottom so the iPod side of the USB cable can slide through the space with a little friction. Don't make it too loose or it will be hard to make it stay. Next, hot glue it in the hole so your nano can attach and make an electronic connection. You can do this by keeping your iPod connected to the cable and pushing down to the plastic piece. After the glue dries (ACTUALLY DRY), take a small zip tie and make it hold down the buttons on the sides of the cable connector (this may only be necessary if you are using an older iPod cable). This is necessary so that you can pull your iPod in and out without much effort.

Now you will make the LEGO docking station. Start with a 6x10 studded plate and build up 4 layers of bricks according to the pictures below. We'll be leaving 2 holes in the back - one for the cable and the other for a part of the plastic piece that sticks out (it has a gray insert with a number imprinted on it). I made the whole station 2 studs thick for structural stability. Just follow the photos. The plastic piece is held down with 2 6x2 studded plates. It fits nearly perfectly - no warping here.

You have completed your LEGO docking station! Now you are free to alter the shape and color of it. One of the best features of this docking station is that you can use whiteboard markers on it to remind yourself of things, or send a message to anyone who sees it. Enjoy!