Useless Box Fidget Toy
Introduction: Useless Box Fidget Toy
As I like fidgetting a lot, i recently stumbled upon a toy called a ''useless box''. It's box with a flick switch that when flicked, sends a little "finger" to re-flick the switch. However every example i found online happen to be very big and bulky. So i decided to make one that is as compact as possible, using extemely cheap materials.
Supplies
Parts:
* 3D printed parts:
+ Case.stl (x1)
+ Cover.stl (x1)
+ FlipCover.stl (x1)
+ Hook.stl (x2)
+ Clicker.stl (x1)
* Electronics:
* Toggle Switch (x1)
* SG90 Servo (x1)
* SG90 Small Servo Horn (x1)
* Arduino Nano
* AA Battery (4x)
+ Metalic part to bridge battery terminals (I used 20 gauge stainless hanging wire but a paperclip could also work)
* Jumpers/Wires to connect everything together(I used female jumpers as i could just unplug them anytime, but you can solder everything directly together)
* On/Off Toggle Switch
* Hardware:
* 6/32 Machine Screw Nuts
* 6/32 Machine Screw (around 10 cm long)
* 2 mm rod (74 cm long)
* Tools:
* Hot glue
* Tape
* Soldering iron
* Computer (programing)
* 3D Printer
* Other:
* Small elastic (I used my orthodontic elastics)
Step 1: 3D Print
3D print all the parts to whatever settings you want. I used PLA and did not use anything specific (30% infill, 0.16 layer height).
Step 2: Install Nuts
Press the 2 6/32 nuts in their slots in the main case. to press them in, you can drive them in their slots by screwing the machine screws in until the nuts are flushed with the case
Step 3: Install the Switch
Make sure that the off side of the switch is facing the back to the box (not the side where the finger is going to come from). This is to make sure that the code aligns with the state of the switch.
Step 4: Glue Hooks
Apply a dab of hot glue on the bottom of each hook then press them in their respective slots. 997
There are mini circles (1 on the case and 1 on the flip cover) that are indicators as to where you want to put the hooks.
Step 5: Glue Servo Horn in the Clicker
I used Hot Glue, but crazy glue might also work
Step 6: Install Servo
Glue the servo motor on to the bottom of the main cover, make sure to align it so that the center of the finger is centered to the flick switch.
Step 7: Install Servo Horn
Make sure that the horn is places within a range of motion of the servo so that the servo can toggle the switch then tuck itself back in the box. The angle will differ from everyone so it is going to be up to you to adjust that in the code.
Step 8: Install Arduino Nano
slip the back end of the arduino nano into the little slit then press the nano until its usb slot enters the little hole. It might be a little tight but it will eventually slip through.
Step 9: Build the Battery Pack
To power this project, you can use both the power supplied by the arduino nano when pluged by usb, or by using a 4x AA battery pack. If you don't want to power it using the AAs, you can skip this step!
* 1. Tape the 4 battery to form a 2 * 2 array (make sure that the terminal of each battery is beside 2 terminals of opposite sign (- + - +))
* 2. On one side of the pack, using any conductor, bridge the + and - terminals of 2 of the batteries together to form 2 3 volt batteries. Cover the part using electrical tape or another insulator
* Similarly to the previous step, bridge the + and - terminals of the 2 batteries that you created in the previous step. MAKE SURE that you do not short the + and - terminals of the same battery.
* Using electrical tape, tape down 2 wires to the final + and - that remain, those will be the terminals of you newly created battery pack.
Step 10: Install Flip Cover
Simply align the cover and the case, then hammer in the 2mm rod in the holes. 259