We’re primarily an online shop, but once in a while, we’ll host an open studio event, in which we open our doors to the public. Our first event was exciting and hectic. We greeted old friends and met new customers, many of whom were placing orders that night. Our hands were full, and with our next event less than two weeks away, we decided that a better solution was in order.

We find that the easiest way to take orders is using the Square Register app on our iPad. However, holding the iPad all night with the fragile Square card reader sticking out of the headphone port is not ideal. We wanted a station where we could secure the iPad and protect the protruding card reader—both from bumps and possible sticky fingers. The station had to be easy to use, and have a simple aesthetic.

The Square Register Stand has been a huge help to us. We think it could be useful for other small businesses as well, which is why we’re offering it in our shop. Buy the Square Register Stand »

About Square

We’re huge fans of Square. If you’re a small business like us, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. Square is a company that makes wonderfully simple iPhone and iPad apps that lets you take payments anywhere. After installing the app, you can request the company to mail you a free credit card reader that plugs into the headphone port of your device.

They recently launched Square Register (see video), which is a more robust version of their point-of-purchase app, made specifically for the iPad. This is what we’re using at our next open studio event, and what we designed the Square Register Stand to work with.

Our Goals

1. Stability
One of the most important goals for us was stability. Having the iPad and Square reader securely mounted in place is essential for making credit card swiping easy. We also wanted to reduce the risk of dropping this expensive piece of equipment.

2. Simple Design
We believe that good design should be beautiful, simple – and sometimes, invisible. It needs to fit into a variety of different environments, from a local coffee shop, to a booth at a faire.

3. Security
Using an iPad as a point of sale station is useless if it isn’t secure. We wanted to be able to enclose the iPad in a strong case, and bolt it onto a counter if we need to.

4. Customization
Any fixture that is added to a store should echo the seller’s brand. We wanted to be able to provide the stand in different colors and materials, and allow a logo to be laser engraved on any flat surface.

5. Affordable
Some small businesses don’t have a lot of money starting out. Trust us, we know. We wanted to make something that looks professional and trustworthy, without breaking the bank.

And with those goals in mind, we sketched out a design, printed out the plans, and got started right away.

Making the Pieces

I start by ripping strips of Baltic Birch plywood on the table saw. These are the foundation for the frame around the iPad, along with the central post that elevates everything off of the stand.

Blade height and accurate cuts are critical with this project.

I simply used an already cut piece of wood to set the blade at the same height again.

By milling the wood strips in long pieces, I am able to produce many parts in a short amount of time.

Router

A variety of trim bits are needed to mill out the space for the Square reader.

Jigs made from 1/4″ laser cut acrylic ensure that cuts will be quick, accurate, and repeatable.

It’s always a good idea to remind yourself of cut direction when using a router–especially if the bit is this far extended!

The bit is set to roll against the jig and cut away the wood.

If you manage to remove a finger in this process, there is always a lot of sawdust around to pack the wound.

The glossy acrylic usually has a small static charge that dust clings to. I’ve found that lightly sanding things like these jigs reduces that charge.

The router leaves a little bit of fuzz around the cut that is easily removed with some sand paper.

Putting it Together

I made a second jig from acrylic to route the pocket to provide clearance for the back of the Square reader.

The reader protrudes a little beyond the back of the ipad during normal use. This pocket is precisely milled to support the back of the reader, which prevents unwanted twisting.

I’m dry fitting the joints to make sure everything fits before gluing.

Looks like it just might work!

The additional rail that surrounds the reader is precisely milled to match the credit card slot. This creates a nice guide track to swipe a card with minimal alignment.

Finished Result

I’m proud of how it came out. Even though this is a first prototype, we’re very happy with how well it is already working.

I removed most of the wood from the frame to allow the charging cable to connect.

A triple stack of the plywood is passed through the router to create a minimal, yet ultra sturdy support post. You can see here that we’re still experimenting with the final solution to key in and lock the end cap after inserting the iPad.

There is enough clearance to slip the iPad into the frame without stressing the wood or putting pressure on the iPad. Tight tolerances and precise measurements during production keep things from slipping around.

After inserting the iPad and Square reader, snap on the end cap to secure everything in place.

The end cap doubles as a guide to help with card swipes.

Swiping in both up and down directions is very easy.

See more photos »