Circuit Playground Project Box

Meet the Circuit Playground Project Box! Struggling to find a sturdy, protective display case that could be used with the Circuit Playground in my Elementary coding class led me to the development of this Circuit Playground Project Box. The purpose of the box is to protect the Circuit while allowing the kids full access to the terminals and sensors. My hope is that this will allow students to explore the capability of the Circuit Playground while also displaying their projects in a stylish, compact display box.

Examples of Projects Include: Nerf target (explained below), Alarms, piano, and much more!!.

My Requirements for this Project Box:

Battery Holder

Have access to:

• USB slot
• Use of alligator clips
• Ground and the 3.3v from the Circuit

Ability to use capacitive touch without using alligator clips for menus

Ability to mount the box

Ability to modify the terminals on side of box if needed for various projects

Projects Using Project Box:

1. Circuit Playground Nerf Target

To make one of your own, you will need the following items. I included links where you can find the parts online.

* Note: Most of the links are to bulk items, but I have posted the quantity you need if you can source them from your local hardware store.

Circuit Playground:

• Circuit Playground Bluefruit or Circuit Playground Express
• Small Alligator Clip Test Lead
• 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST

or

• Code.org Circuit Playground Individual Kit Pack
• 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST

Tools you will need:

• Wire Crimper Tool
• Wire Stripping Tool / Wire Cutter
• 2mm Ball-Hex (allen) Precision Screwdriver

Parts needed:

• Filament for 3D printing
• 3.5MM Mini Stereo Panel Mount Jack
• 22AWG Silicone Hook Up Wire
• Ring terminal insulated 22-16 AWG #4-#6 Stud (3mm-3.5mm clave) (x22)

Nuts, bolts and screws needed:

• #4 x 1/4 sheet metal screw (x20)
• M3x30mm Bolts (x10)
• M3x8mm Bolts (x4)
• M3 Nuts (x14)

All of the parts have been printed in PLA plastic using an Ender 3 Pro and Cura as my slicer.

I'm using CHEP slicer profile "CHEP4.12_0.20(Good)" with no support and an infill of 15%. You can find the profile here just make sure to change the support and infill.

CHEP is also a good resource if you getting started with 3D printing and have any questions about the Ender 3. Link to his YouTube Channel.

As you can see from the pictures, all of the holes are marked with the corresponding Circuit Playground pin.

All of the prints were printed in the same position as they would be put together. Look at picture to see the printing orientation. No support is needed when printing the parts.

First, place the Circuit Playground in the correct orientation in the box. Do not add it yet; this is just for point of reference to get to know how everything will be wired. I have labeled all of the holes with the corresponding Circuit Playground pins. If you look at the picture, you will see that I have duplicate pins for A2 to A5. This allows the students to be able to use those pins as a touch pad or for a physical switch if needed. This would be needed when building a Nerf Target game. The project will need a touch pad to start the game and a physical switch to track hits. We will be able to use pin A5 and A4 on the top of the box to reset and start the game. Then we can use the ground pin on the back of the box and pin A6 on the left of the box with alligator clips to use as a switch on the target. So, for example, pins A4 and A5 will have a Y-connector and the A6, A7 and 3.3V pins will be straight one to one connections. In the next step, I will give the measurements of the wires I cut for each pin.

Start prepping all the wires and adding the ring terminals that will be needed for the project box. You will need 22 AWG wire, wire cutters, ring terminals and terminal crimpers. The length of the wire needed is shown in the picture.

*Note: pin wires are yellow, ground wires are green and 3.3V wires are red.

The first wire added will be for the touch pads on top of the box. In this step, you will need four M3x8 bolts, four M3 nuts and the Y shaped crimped wires. These are the most difficult wires to put in the box just because of the position they are in. Screw the bolts in first as this will help hold the ring terminal in place while you place the M3 nuts in place. (See picture above.) The holes for the nuts should hold them in place as you tighten the bolt.

Next is to add the ground and 3.3V wires. In this step, we will need two M3x30 bolts and three M3 nuts. We will also need the green and red wire attached to the ring terminal. Remember, the green wire is for ground and red wire is for the 3.3V pin. See images above.

Now add the Circuit Playground to the box. You will only need two #4 screws to secure it in place for now. See picture for screw placement.

For this part, you will need four M3x8 bolts, four M3 nuts, and five #4 screws. Make sure you have the correct side with the labels A4 through A7. Next, find the side that has the hexagon shape for the nuts. Place an M3 nut in each hole. Keeping the nut side up, slide the panel into the groove of the box (still facing up so the nuts stay in place.) Once firmly in place you can turn the box around. In a picture above, I have labeled the order in which the wires should be attached.

Follow the same steps as in Step 8 for the Right Side Panel. Reference the pictures above for wire placement.

To add the bolt that will allow students to hang or mount the box, use the M3x30 screw and an M3 nut.

It's time to test the box before attaching the lid in the next step to make sure that everything is secure. Using Make Code, create the sketch and load it to the Circuit Playground. Watch the video above on how to test the touch inputs and pin inputs.

Click here for the Getting Started page for Circuit Playground.

Add the batteries to the battery pack. Position the lid in place and screw it in using the #4 screws. Finally, screw in the shield that protects the Circuit Playground using two #4 screws.

Now you're ready to explore some projects!

***Remember to turn off the Battery Pack when loading new sketches on the circuit.***

The new cover was inspired by a project that I'm working on. Trying to make the cover easer to configure by allowing students to use Tinkercad or 360 Fusion to design a custom faceplate.