It sucks to have to abandon a project, but it wasn't for nothing.

I had zero experience designing anything mechanical before this and definitely learned a whole lot jumping head first into this...

The original problem still stands awaiting a new solution... but I've got some ideas! ;3

You see, on most cable reels there is a slipring mechanism which lets a cable on the static part, connect to a cable on the moving part.

...I have no way of acquiring one that can do this with a USB cord without custom manufacturing/orders... so unfortunately it was over.

I was DEDICATED to this for a straight week, buying parts, springs etc. to make it happen, 3D printer running all the time and just when I got the mechanism right... I realized that this was not going to be possible....

I went through at least like 9 iterations, different gear designs, planetary gears, plastic springs then moved to metal springs. Finally, I settled on a design utilizing a small drill press spring at a 2:1 from the spring's gear to a planetary gear that turns 4.5:1 for a total 9:1 ratio (perfect)

So an idea popped into my head that I could probably design something that goes in the same hole, with 3 or 4 retractable cables carrying full 65 or 100w charging.

...Plus I've been bored so I needed a new Obsess– I mean project :3

I was struck with some inspiration at college the other day, where they have all these new tables with holes containing usb ports that just... SUCK.

only 10w output so they're completely useless for laptop charging, the best use case scenario for this kind of thing.

You're really pretty and awesome to be around :3