MAYA ROMÁN

a DIY gaming console

The AltoidBoy is a personal project I began simply because it seemed fun! It is based off the Arduboy, a credit-card sized gaming device that can be bought commercially. However, because it is open-source and based on the Arduino Micro, the Arduboy has a community of people who have created homemade versions, and I decided I wanted to be one of those people, and fit my Arduboy in an Altoids tin.

research, initial testing

After reviewing online resources I ordered the electrical components I would need, and started by connecting everything together temporarily on a breadboard. To do so I had to translate a factory schematic of the official Arduboy into something I could reference.

My version of the circuit schematic.	Breadboard attempt one... somethings up with the OLED.
	Now the screen works!

PCB design and fabrication

After success with the breadboard version, I designed a PCB that fit into an Altoids tin that I could mill out myself. I used Autodesk Eagle to create the board layout and draw the traces. Then I milled out the two sided board on a Bantam Tools Desktop PCB Milling Machine. After milling the PCB, I soldered everything together, achieving functionality using the board I designed.

I also designed a small board to redirect the connections for the OLED screen, the faceplate that mounts the screen to the top of the Altoid tin, as well as a base to hold the battery underneath the tin.

My PCB wiring schematic made in Autodesk Eagle.	The PCB ready to be milled on the Bantam Tools software.
Now the screen has a case.	A view of the bottom.

final touches

I had trouble fitting the entire board with the battery into the Altoids tin due to the size of components on the board. I ended up cutting out the bottom of the tin, and mounting the tin into a 3D printed base that holds the the battery. I also laser cut a cover to protect the circuit board out of acrylic. The project is functional, but one day I might come back to it so it actually fits into an unaltered Altoids tin.

The plan to finish up the assembly.	Here the screen's installed in the Altoids tin.
	The altoidBoy with the circuit cover, sitting in the 3D printed base.