Fidget / Sensory Board With Switches for People Addicted to Clicking

This board is a cross between a fidget and a simulation toy. Simulation toys come in many varieties and functions. They can be used by toddlers, adults with anxiety, people with dementia. They can be educational, can help learning or re-learning basic skills like tying shoes or simply used as a distraction to elevate the anxiety.

I have always had a peculiar obsession with toggle switches. I keep loose toggle switches throughout the house and use them whenever I need to occupy my hands or clear my mind while working on a project.

Since I misplace my toggle switches all the time, I decided to make a switch board to have them at hand at all times. I can't stress this enough -> This switch board has no other function other than to be clicked. It's both tactile and auditory.

The second board I made, the one with LEDs, provides a visual element and could be a fun project for kids to introduce them to basic circuits and 3D printing.

1. Simple fidget:

-3D printer

-switches

-glue gun or e6000 glue

-sanding paper, filler, paint, sealer - this is optional, if you want to make your 3d printed case smoother, if not, just print the case in high quality and use is as it is.

2. Led fidget- in addition you will need:

-small LEDs; it's up to you how many. You can connect a switch to one LED or connect a group of LEDs.

-wires

-soldering iron

-resistors

-battery clip connector https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/pp3-9v-battery...

-shrink tubes

-pvc tape

-2-4 small screws

-Optional: leftover resistors and loose wires to decorate the top of the board, they don't connect to anything, they are glued to stay in place

Start by collecting all switches, LEDs and battery. Measure each component and create a model of each one in Tinkercad. Most components come with a schematic that tells you how big the hole has to be to accommodate them, if you don't have the schematic, just use a ruler. Remember to add some leeway to the models (1-2mm larger holes), you want the holes for the switches to be a bit bigger. If they are loose you can always use hot glue to glue them in place, but if they are too small you will have to re-print the board.

Hollow the board as much as the switches allow.

Create a backing.

Do the same with the LED board, remember to make space for a battery.
Create a backing and add holes for small screws.

Print the board and clean it. If you want to process it more, you will have to sand it, use a filler, paint it and varnish it.

Place your switches in corresponding holes and glue them at the back. Cover the back with a panel and use glue to keep it in place. Finished.

Decide how to connect the LEDs, calculate and solder the resistors (mine were leftovers from an old project, so they were already soldered) and wires.

Use hot glue to keep all components in place. Connect LEDs to switches and the battery, solder everything that needs to be soldered. Cover the back of the board and secure it with screws.

Some of the LEDs were too harsh to be displayed fully, so I kept them beneath the surface and used a drop of hot glue to mimic a diffusor.

I wasn't satisfied with that look, so I placed a drop or coloured epoxy over each LED (mix a small amount of two-part epoxy glue and the tiniest amount of acrylic paint). It made the LEDs more subdued and added some colour to the board.