Breadboard Base Project

Here is a 3D printed base for three MB-102 type breadboards.

I designed the base using Tinkercad.

Three MB-102 type 830 point breadboards (Aliexpress)

White 1.75mm PLA Filament (needs approx. 40m)

Red and Black 4mm Banana plug sockets (see photo) (Aliexpress)

Two lengths of Insulated Wire (Red & Blue or Black)

Fuse (I used a 0.5A Resettable type)

Miniature single pole SPDT 3A 250V AC toggle switch type MTS-102 (Aliexpress)

A strip of 40 dual row 2.54mm pin headers (Aliexpress)

A small piece of copper stripboard (“veroboard”)

Four small (8mm) silicone rubber stick-on round feet for the base. (often sold as cupboard door soft-close “Bumpons”) (ebay)

Four small 0.1uF ceramic Capacitors (50v working)

3mm Green LED with panel mount bezel

470R Resistor (for the LED)

Optional

D-Sun 3A Step Down Switching Voltage Regulator module type MP1584 (Adjusted to 5V output) (or get the fixed 5V output version.) (Aliexpress)

(This regulator can be omitted if you always use a 5V regulated power supply.)

Print the base, face down. It measures approx. 20 x 18cm and can take about 15 hours with 15% infill at 0.2mm resolution if using an Ender 3 or similar printer.

(no supports are needed)

Clean-up the holes with a fine round file.

Fit the two sockets. The type I used have a plastic ring provided for insulation when using a metal metal panel.

Remove the ring, push the socket in , then fit the wiring tag and tighten the nut. – see photo.

Fit the toggle switch. First place a spring washer on the shaft, then the splined washer with the tag, then another spring washer.

Push it in so the fixing tag locates into the hole in the case – as shown, then tighten the nut.

Fit the LED bezel as shown.

If using a D-Sun Voltage regulator module.

Solder wires to it as shown. (ensure correct polarity).

Place it into the tray and feed the wires through the holes.

Solder the fuse between the Red socket and top pin of the switch.

Connect the regulator input Blue (-) wire to the Black socket.

Connect the regulator input Red (+) wire to the switch middle pin.

Connect the regulator output wires to the strip-board and fit the 470R resistor, connected to the Red wire and an unused strip as shown.

Each piece of breadboard has power rails on both sides. These won’t be needed for the centre board.

With the type MB-102 breadboard, the power rails can be unplugged.

Fold them down as shown and then cut through the adhesive backing with a sharp knife to detach them.

Plug in the two outer boards so that all the red power rails are on the left.

Then remove all the adhesive backing papers and stick it onto the board so that centre of each power rail aligns with each of the 4 holes at the top of the base.

Cut 4 pieces of the 2 X 2 header pins and solder red and blue wires to each as shown.

Make sure each has long enough wires to route through the holes and reach the stripboard.

Solder the wires from the four connectors to the stripboard ensuring correct polarity.

Before connecting the LED, adjust the regulator output voltage to exactly 5V.

Then connect the LED cathode (shorter) wire to the Black socket and the LED anode wire via the resistor.

It should now be possible to check the breadboard switch and LED works.

The MB-102 breadboard has split power rails.

The next step is to make links using four lengths of 3 x 2 way headers, linking the 3 pins using the capacitors as shown.

After soldering the capacitor, cut the 2 centre pins flush with the underside (use safety glasses as the pins will be sharp and fly-out when cut!)

This will enable each link to be fitted at position 30 on the board.

Finally, Stick the four silicone rubber feet to the board corners and it is complete!