PIWOOLET (Pi.WOOd.tabLET): Just an Other PI Tablet

Intro - why did I realize that?

The answer is so simple : just for fun :-)

A few of my main goals

• maintain access to the HDMI port;
• maintain access to the audio output;
• maintain access to the GPIO;
• maintain access to at least one USB port.

The BOM

• Raspberry Pi 3
• Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen Display
• 3 Panel Mount Mini Slide Switch
• HDMI Panel Mount Cable F/M
• External Battery Pack PowerZen G2 9600mAh
• Audio amplifer 2 X3 W
• 40p GPIO Ribbon Cable
• USB Type A Female Socket Connector
• Audio connector
• Optical fiber
• Some wood
• Salvage pieces

Time

Between the first try, and the end, it took me about 75 hours.

In the cleat (9mm*38mm*2m) :

• 2 pieces with the following dimensions : 18,85 mm * 38mm
• 2 pieces with the following dimensions : 10,6 mm * 38mm

In corner wand (9mm*38mm*2m) :

• 4 pieces of 38mm height.

Here are the tools I used :

• My favorite one is the Proxxon MF70 : this THE tool that allowed me to make the cuts with great precision !!
• My Dremel (as important as the Proxxon ^^);
• A multimeter, for some tests;
• Some limes;
• And the help of my son (8 years old) :-)

On the top side, I wanted to get this parts accessibles :

• three swithes;
• three push buttons;
• the GPIO.

I do not give the precise details of the quotes, since it is according to your needs.

Note thoses details:

• As you can see in pictures, I used some parts of wood to hold most parts ...
• Again some wood to create the three push buttons ...

This side was the most complicated ...

I had to create the following holes:

• for the HP (reused from an old laptop...);
• for the USB, audio connector (reused from an old PC ...);
• the charging port;
• the HDMI port.

Nothing complicated on this side :

• just some holes for the HP;
• one aperture for audio amplifier;
• 5 other holes to pass the optical fiber that I use to keep an eye on the battery level ...

Nothing complicated: glue and patience :-)

Time to drink a beer!

One of the most important think was the power ...

After googling for some example, I choose to use a power bank : this model has the advantage to be able to be used while charging :

• Its capacity is done for 9600mAh, wich is enought to get at least 2 hour of autonomy;
• I have removed the case, keeping battery and charge controller;
• 5 LED indicators reveal the battery level => small parts of optical fiber allow me to see the level in front of the tablet;
• A small piece of wood is used to hold the battery.

I choose to use the original Raspberry Pi 7" touch screen

Unlike the different tutorials, I placed Raspberry upside down to save space.

I used two metal plates to keep it in the wooden structure.

After all this work, it's time to put all these elements together

Again, patience and a bit of methodology, and everything falls into place!

For the back plate, I used a piece of plexyglass ...