Board Game Using 3D-modelling and Micro:bit

Board game controlled with Micro:bit. Parts of the Game Board are modelled with Onshape and produced with 3D-printer (Ultimaker).

• Game Board is variable and builded from 3D-printed slots
• Game is controlled with Micro:bit microcontroller
• Program to control leds of the Micro:bit -> Led lights are used instead of dices to show the steps gamer can take on the gameboard and achieved points
• Game board has double deck and reed relays under the deck (10 pcs randomly assembled)
• Magnet of the Game pawn closes the electric circle and runs the program
• for the points achieved from that slot on the game board and
• when leaving the slot, for dice number
• Points in the game are lottered with Micro:bit program
• Steps moved at the board will be lottered with dice

This game board is variable and I choose to built an Football theme game. Board outfit can easily be modified and slots assembled in various ways.

Game strategy shortly:

• Moving on the board by dice number
• When stepping on the slot with reed relay, closing the circuit will run a program to hit a goal

Materials

• Acrylic board and glue
• PLA for printing
• Micro:bit controller and power source (2xAA batteries)
• Micro:bit breakout board to connect multiple circuits for the controller
• Connector board and wires, tin for assembling the connections
• Magnetic Reed Relays 10 pcs
• Magnets for 'Pelinappula' game pawn (one for each player, for example 4)
• Printable stickers to make a board alive
• FIMO-dough for game pawns

Programs

• Onshape
• CircuitLAB
• LightBurner
• Cura
• Micro:bit Make Code

Tools

• 3D printer and/or laser for making the board parts
• pliers for cutting and peeling wires
• saw for cutting connector board if not applicable sized parts
• soldering iron
• good work light and air ventilation in the room

What kind of Game?

Wanted to make a game that can be varied to different Strategies and looks. Game board is built using different techniques (3D-modelling, 3D-printing, CAD-drawing, Laser-cutting and electronics and programming)

Game assembly is easily modified for beginners or advanced makers.

How to control the game, program and logic?

• Game is ontrolled with Micro:bit microcontroller
• Program to control leds of the Micro:bit -> Led lights are used instead of dices to show the steps gamer can take on the gameboard and achieved points
• Game board has double deck and reed relays under the deck (10 pcs randomly assembled)
• Magnet of the Game pawn closes the electric circle and runs the program
• for the points achieved from that slot on the game board and
• when leaving the slot, for dice number
• Points in the game are lottered with Micro:bit program
• Steps moved at the board will be also lottered with

Code variation:

• Dice number with button A
• Magnetic force and text

Tips for the teachers: At this part there is a good chance for variation: Possibilities to add for example arrows to show the direction to move on board or different texts randomly appear when hitting the reed relay. The game strategy can be extended to a quiz with led text screen that can show a questions.

Circuit diagram made with CircuitLAB-program:

• In the diagram you can see three identical circuits but depending the size of the gameboard amount can be changed (in my game there isfive circuits)
• circuits have a parallel connection of the reed relays so when one reed relay is activated it will close the circuit and the program will run text 'Goal' with Micro:bit leds

Game board shell modelled with Onshape and cut with Lightburner Laser

• Game board shell is cut from the 3mm thick acrylic sheet with laser cutter and assembled with acrylic glue
• dxf file format written out from the Onshape was modified to swg for the laser cutter with Lightburner program
• check your laser cutters settings for the right kind of acrylic sheet
• This game board also has separate slots are put on the top of the board shell and can be arranged in many ways, but you can choose to make your own design for the slots or use these 40mmx40mm slots, 25 pieces for this board, or you can cut the edges and simply do the shell only

Tips for teachers: The shell can be done in very simple way or can be a challenge to advanced students for modelling their own gameboard. Also powersupply of the Micro:bit can be integrated to the gameboard shell for more finished look.

If you choose to model your own game board or game borad slots, an easy 3D modelling can be made with Onshape that works online with your browser. Program needs you to sign up but it is a free software.

https://www.onshape.com/signup

Only a time and imagination is a limit when modelling the gameboard, but remember the restrictions of the 3D printer (size and thickness of the objects and time you need for the printing). Thickness should not be more than 5 mm and you should use a shell structure to keep material use and printing time with in the reasonable.

Use a Cura program for slicing the objects for the printer. At this point you can try the settings like filling-% and how it affects to printing time.

Test printing with one piece of slots is useful to make sure your model is working properly. After that you can speed up by multiplying 3D object model in Cura and printing several at the time (my 40mmx40mm slots fitted 3x3=9 at one time and took around 3 hours to print so 25 needed 3 times 9 slots, in total 3x3 hours.

You can choose to print different colored slots so you can have a different outfit for your board.

In step 3 Shell for the eletronic components is made from acrylic sheet and cut with laser

Game pawns are made of the Fimo-dough and can be moulded in your own design and your game theme. I made footballs for my theme. Magnets are inserted at the bottom af the game pawns. Fimo-dough needs 120 degrees celsius heat for 30 mins to dry out and be ready to paint like you want. Remember to let them cool down after oven.

Tips for the teacher: At this point students can think more for their game theme and reshape game strategy if they want

In step 3 circuit diagram is designed so now it needs to be assembled from the components.

• Cut the connector board in suitable pieces (I needed five slices that have at least two connection lines in each) You can use smaller part also but then you need to do more wiring and soldering.
• Design the places for the Reed relays (I chose to put two in each circuit) and solder them with pewer
• Connect the connector board to Breakout Board by soldering the wires
• Micro:bit and its powersupply will be connected to breakout board

Tips for teachers: I left my game board open from the bottom, so it can be easily viewed and explained, even partly break down in parts and reassembled

Now everything is ready for the assembling the outfit of the game board.

• Make the game board to fit your game strategy (ie. Football, Treasure like diamonds or coins, Flowers, what ever you choose youre picking by moving on the game board)
• You can use stickers, paint etc. to finish the board but you need to have a Start and Finish slots on the board
• Check if you want to adjust your code (you can have a program to randomly pick a number or to show different messages when reed relays are activated

Tips for the teacher: Game board can be assembled in different ways, make a paths with one color or shape of the slots or mark slots 'Don't enter' or 'Prison-> stay the next round here' style, so game variation is endless. And with reprogramming and renewing the gameboard its a new game.

Game Strategy

Decided to do a Football theme game. Idea is to move along the board and collect goals by trying to get a hit for a magnetic Reed Relay. When hitting the Reed Relay, Micro:bit shows a text Goal! A dice number is lottered by pressing an A button of the Micro:bit. Player can then move on the board freely and if player hits the reed relay, it's a goal for the player. And the slot will be removed from the board so that the game wont be an endless. So this slot is used and cant hit another goal from the same slot. Game ends when first player gets to the STAR-marked slot on the board. You can have a score board on the paper. There is 10 Reed relays hidden under the game board.

Before the game

The program for the Micro:bit should be loaded from the computer to the Micro:bit -> after that, lets play and hit some goals!