* Sort'a

I finally finished the breadboard kit, which was probably printed at least 2.5 times over with failed parts due to some problem or fitment issue.  I need to get better at this and am learning a few tricks which help, but (for me) designing FDM printed parts that need to fit together can be a bit trial and error'ish.  Allowances for parts that just need to fit should be simpler than parts that need to slide or move against each other, and the smallest difference can mean the difference between a button sticking or moving freely.  Of course sanding helps, but I would like to avoid that if possible.

This version though, is just about right (there is one minor change I made since but it should not cause any problems).  I am gonna print another one to test the STL files which I plan to post up on Thingiverse (or maybe Instructables), then it will be really finished.  Hopefully there will be some other folks that will make compatible modules for it since I would like to add some more, but can't think of anything right now.

You can find the breadboard kit and parts at the links below:

DSO112A Module for the Modular Breadboard Kit :
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638866

Component Tester Module (blue module show in the pics below)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Component-Tester-Module-for-the-Breadboard-Kit-V2/

Small Modules here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3416074

Mila is a kid that was born with a disease called Batten Disease for which there was no real treatment when she was diagnosed.  Her family (and her Mom) however are just as amazing as she is, and they did not let the lack of treatments stop them trying to do something to help her.  They launched a GoFundMe campaign and found amazing doctors and partners to develop a new treatment, which she is now receiving.  The treatment is tailored to her disease, but hopefully the information gained could provide a path to treat others.  Mila is still being treated so it's too early to know if it will bring her and her family the relief they need, but there area lot of people hoping it does.

There is a really interesting presentation and update on Mila here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqgu-ka3Z3A&feature=youtu.be

Every time I think I am done with this thing, something comes up.  The damn 2.1mm DC jacks I used are total crap and so tight I cannot get a standard male plug to make a good connection.  Practically need a hammer to get them to seat more than a couple mm.  Strangely these are probably the most common cheap DC jacks of this type.  Fortunately I have some others in my box-o-crap that will work but are a bit larger, so I will need to print a new top part for the large module with all the gizmos.  However I also was thinking that the assembly of the large module is way too hard, but due to the way the components are built it will be difficult to get everything to mount on one side of the shell.  So although I have a working model, it is really back to the drawing board to get the large module correct.  For now, behold the breadboard kit in all it's prototype glory...

You can find the final version of breadboard kit and parts at the links below:

DSO112A Module for the Modular Breadboard Kit :
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638866

Component Tester Module (blue module show in the pics below)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Component-Tester-Module-for-the-Breadboard-Kit-V2/

Small Modules here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3416074

Now I just need to print the potentiometer module and a couple more parts to make sure it all fits together.

I have been missing comments from the CNC page, just found them yesterday.  To avoid that going forward I manually moved all the stuff from the old CNC page to the new CNC page, which remarkably looks just like the old one.  The only difference is that the old page did not allow comments and the new page is a "blog" page, so weebly allow comments there.  Hope that helps.

The breadboard kit is coming along, got the base for the breadboards finalized and printed, and the modules are locking in place pretty well, and the screw holes are lining up.  So far I've only wasted a few meters of PLA on parts I cannot use due to design problems (which were then fixed).  That however is the beauty of 3D printing, if I was prototyping on my CNC mill, it would be exponentially more difficult and frustrating, even using plastic due to the setup time.  

Everything goes together pretty tight with the current design, but in a good way since there is just enough clearance built in to allow that.  I was concerned due to the number of parts that it would feel like a solid piece but that looks like it won't be a problem.  The parts actually inter connect a bit which helps with that.  The base which holds the breadboards includes some  round bumps which lock into the holes on the Stanley organizer.  That feature should help keep it all in place when it is being transported.  I still need to work out a few odds and ends but the design is around 95% done. 


You can find the final version of breadboard kit and parts at the links below:

DSO112A Module for the Modular Breadboard Kit :
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638866

Component Tester Module (blue module show in the pics below)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Component-Tester-Module-for-the-Breadboard-Kit-V2/

Small Modules here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3416074

Just a bit more progress on the modular breadboard.  It is about 90% complete design wise (maybe more depending on how things fit).  The first module is completed and works well, it is pictured above.  That module will house two 2 wire volt meters which can measure between 2.5v and 30v, and is reverse polarity protected.  I am picking up some more of these since they work well enough for what I need them for.  The other module for the pots is yet to be printed.  Will hopefully have something ready to upload to thingiverse in the next week or two (assuming I don't get bored with waiting for prints to pop out).


UPDATE:
You can find the final version of breadboard kit and parts at the links below:

DSO112A Module for the Modular Breadboard Kit :
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638866

Component Tester Module (blue module show in the pics below)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Component-Tester-Module-for-the-Breadboard-Kit-V2/

Small Modules here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3416074

Almost done with the breadboard kit, just need to print some parts to test the fit.  If it works out, it will have 4 interchangeable modules, though right now I only have 2 different types (a pair of potentiometers and a two screen volt meter).

UPDATE:
You can find the final version of breadboard kit and parts at the links below:

DSO112A Module for the Modular Breadboard Kit :
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638866

Component Tester Module (blue module show in the pics below)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Component-Tester-Module-for-the-Breadboard-Kit-V2/

Small Modules here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3416074

My DirectTV remote was acting up, some buttons were not working and it was generally being a pain.  I figured there must be some Cheeto dust or something in there and took it apart to see.  What I found was not Cheeto dust, but rather (silicon) oil... My first thought that it was applied by the manufacturer (possibly as an anti-stick or anti-corrosion measure), since it was only on the button pads and I don't recall dropping it a bucket of 10W-40.  A quick google search and I found an excellent explanation of this:

http://www.michaelshell.org/gadgetsandfixes/keypadsiliconeoil.html

So I guess these silicone button pads actually "sweat" silicon oil over time.  Apparently this is a thing with the button pads on remotes like this (planned obsolescence maybe?).  The fix is pretty simple, just clean the pads with dish soap and an old toothbrush (that is not going to be used again of course).  Getting the DirectTV remote apart can be a bit difficult though - fortunately somebody put a video up showing how:

This is something I have been working on...it's a breadboard kit with some extra goodies onboard.  The green things will be some pots with mini breadboards, and next to them are some LCD volt meters (they are not going to be super accurate, but good enuf to hopefully check if something is 3.3v or 5v).  The blue colored block will include two DC-DC buck converters and a component tester.  The whole mess should fit in a Stanley storage box similar to the others I used (which is the reason for the strange shape).  If it all works out, I will be able to fit two of these in one storage box, and I may make different modules or arrangements if I decide I need something specialized (I have been thinking of including a portable DSO on one of them).  This project seems like it is about 70% done, but will see.  There are a lot of parts that need to fit and that is always difficult.

This is not fully my work however, parts were re-mixed from others "things" on Thingiverse.  When completed it will be posted with all the attributions, but below are the ones I used to help with this project:

12864 Mega328 Component Tester
by tonycstech Nov 9, 2018
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3205944

DC/DC Converter box
by SweFinMek Apr 23, 2018
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2875815



UPDATE:
You can find the final version of breadboard kit and parts at the links below:

DSO112A Module for the Modular Breadboard Kit :
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3638866

Component Tester Module (blue module show in the pics below)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Component-Tester-Module-for-the-Breadboard-Kit-V2/

Small Modules here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3416074