Power Panel Print Test

Date: 2019-10-04 21:07:23

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Checking the size and color

Board is progressing very nicely. I have to post some catch up blogs, as the e-board is now operational. There are some software issues to work out, but the e-board has all the reed switches and interface boards mounted. I can play single and multi player games. I gotta say, it is exceeding my expectations. Amazing being about to just slide the pieces without having to press down on the squares or take your eyes away from the board to see the computer indicate its move. It is like the magic of when I got my first chess computer.

Panel with buttons

Power panel with switch and barrel connector. I had to cut a notch in the side for the wires, so that won't be there for on the final version.

Checking the size and color

Panel from behind

But back to the power panel. I needed to figure out how big the holes needed to be, since they would not be 100% match to the model. And sure enough, on my first print they were 0.6mm smaller then what the model was, while the size of the panel was 0.02mm shorter then the model. There is always a little guess work, so it's not unusual to have to make a couple test prints when things need to fit. After adjusting the hole sizes about 1mm larger then when I wanted, the second print was bang on.

I'm trying a translucent yellow instead of the florescent orange I had been using. I forgot that I had a hole roll of PLA in that color. I'm not sure if I will like the translucent as having light bleeding out from the board might not be a good thing. But I really do like the color, and it matches nicely with the color I will be putting on the top of the board.

Powering the Board

I finally wired up a barrel jack for power, rather then using a USB connector. It's way easier then a micro-usb connector to plug-in, easier then a USB-C even. Besides, I would need some additional research to use USB-C, as you need pull-up resistors and need to figure out what pins to connect. I would have had to buy additional parts too. Since I was impatient, I went with something I already had. And really, the ease of plugging in a barrel connector is a no brainer.

Powering the Raspberry PI

I tried, but it seems you can't power the display and RPi by connecting to the 5V and Ground pins. It is just too much power. That means I had to use the USB connector and just splice the cable so I can plug in a barrel connector. Not a big deal, but worth noting.



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