Electronics house Project

Protect Your Logic

You have successfully soldered and assembled your PICAXE circuit. However, a bare circuit board is fragile. Wires snap, connections short-circuit on metal tables, and batteries dangle loosely.

Your Mission: Design and model a custom 3D printed housing specifically for your PICAXE board.

Measure & Plan (Critical Step)

Before you open Fusion 360, you need to know exactly how big your circuit is. You cannot guess.

The Board: Measure the Length, Width, and Height of your PCB.
The Mounting Holes: Measure the distance between the screw holes on your board.
The Critical Ports: Where is the Download Socket (3.5mm jack)? Where do the battery wires enter?

⚠️ Design Warning: The PICAXE download cable has a thick plastic head. The hole in your case must be large enough (approx 8mm-10mm) for the cable to plug all the way in!

The Requirements

Your design must meet these specific technical specifications:

Structure:
- Must be two parts: A Main Body and a Lid.
- Parts must be Components in Fusion 360.
Protection:
- Wall thickness must be 2mm - 3mm (Shelled) for structural strength.
Functionality:
- The Download Port: A hole aligned perfectly with the 3.5mm jack for programming.
- Power Access: A slot or hole for the battery pack wires (or space inside if the battery fits).
- Standoffs: Internal cylinders (spacers) to lift the PCB off the floor of the case so solder joints don't touch the plastic.
Assembly:
- The lid must fit onto the body using a Tolerance gap (-0.2mm).
- Must have 1 "Spin" Feature (see below)

The "Spin" (Choose One)

You must choose one of the following styles to define the look of your case:

Option A: The Handheld (Ergonomic)
- Design the case to fit comfortably in the hand. Use Fillets and Chamfers to remove all sharp corners.
- Best for: Projects that have buttons or are used as controllers.
Option B: The Brand (Aesthetic)
- Focus on the look. Use the Emboss tool to add your name, "PICAXE", or the "Techquity" logo to the top surface of the lid.
- Best for: Projects that sit on a desk or display.
Option C: The Engineer (Mechanical)
- Instead of a simple press-fit lid, design a Sliding Lid mechanism that slides into grooves.
- Best for: Projects where you need to change batteries frequently.

Research Doc Task 4 (The Assessment)

This is the most important section. Document your design journey:

The Plan: Paste a photo of a quick hand-drawn sketch of your idea before you started on the computer.
The Process (3 Screenshots):
- Screenshot 1: Your base sketch with dimensions.
- Screenshot 2: Looking inside the box (show the standoffs and cable holes).
- Screenshot 3: The "Section Analysis" showing the lid fitting onto the box.
The Spin: Take a close-up screenshot of the specific "Spin" feature you chose (e.g., the embossed logo or the sliding rail).
Final Reflection (50-100 words):
- How does your design balance structural strength (protecting the electronics) with material minimisation (keeping it cheap and light)?

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