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Clean looking sensor node

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Enclosures / 3D Printing
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  • NeverDieN NeverDie

    @nca78
    What's the best way to remove the cover on this thing? Do I just go for it with a pry tool, or is there a special trick to it?

    I'm hopeful it will fit a CR2477 tabbed battery, but it would likely be a very close fit if it does. In case it doesn't, have you come across any options that are a bit thicker?

    Nca78N Offline
    Nca78N Offline
    Nca78
    Hardware Contributor
    wrote on last edited by
    #43

    @NeverDie said:

    @nca78
    What's the best way to remove the cover on this thing? Do I just go for it with a pry tool, or is there a special trick to it?

    I'm hopeful it will fit a CR2477 tabbed battery, but it would likely be a very close fit if it does. In case it doesn't, have you come across any options that are a bit thicker?

    Sorry no magic solution to open :)

    For the cell it should fit a 2477 but you need a thin PCB + thin holder.
    Box is 10.6mm high minus 1.2mm thickness for the cover and 0.8mm PCB it leaves you with 8.6mm. 2477 is 7.7mm so you have 1mm left, not much but I think just enough if you use basic holder that's just made of a folded metal sheet.
    But for such a basic sensor you would not need such a huge cell, CR2032 should last a very long time already, and 2450 could match your need of extra long lifetime and at the same time easily fit in the box. If your sketch is programmed correctly by the time a 2450 is dead the sensor will probably have become completely off because of aging ;)

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #44

      I received the Q8 wireless charging pad (above):
      http://www.ebay.com/itm/Q8-QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-2-USB-Port-Splitter-HUB-Charger-Pad-For-Phone-F5/301913729117?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39345%26meid%3Decb1959e8f164eb5ad0a17aeaa297f59%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252485416371

      However, it is even thinner than the OP's vented puck, and it's about double the square inches of foot print. So I don't see any real advantage to them.

      Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • NeverDieN Offline
        NeverDieN Offline
        NeverDie
        Hero Member
        wrote on last edited by
        #45

        For a thicker case, Amazon Dot looks like it might be very nice:
        alt text
        A bit pricey though!

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • NeverDieN NeverDie

          I received the Q8 wireless charging pad (above):
          http://www.ebay.com/itm/Q8-QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-2-USB-Port-Splitter-HUB-Charger-Pad-For-Phone-F5/301913729117?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39345%26meid%3Decb1959e8f164eb5ad0a17aeaa297f59%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252485416371

          However, it is even thinner than the OP's vented puck, and it's about double the square inches of foot print. So I don't see any real advantage to them.

          Nca78N Offline
          Nca78N Offline
          Nca78
          Hardware Contributor
          wrote on last edited by
          #46

          @NeverDie said:

          I received the Q8 wireless charging pad (above):
          http://www.ebay.com/itm/Q8-QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-2-USB-Port-Splitter-HUB-Charger-Pad-For-Phone-F5/301913729117?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39345%26meid%3Decb1959e8f164eb5ad0a17aeaa297f59%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252485416371

          However, it is even thinner than the OP's vented puck, and it's about double the square inches of foot print. So I don't see any real advantage to them.

          I have ordered one also (In fact two as aliexpress payment messed up and asked me to process payment again, but few days after I realized the "failed" payment was in fact processed and sellers were sending everything twice...).
          I'm planning to use one as gateway box with wemos d1 mini and smd pa/lna NRF24 side by side. Any chance it will fit this type of ESP board inside or it's too thin and I should go for ESP12 module instead ?

          NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Nca78N Nca78

            @NeverDie said:

            I received the Q8 wireless charging pad (above):
            http://www.ebay.com/itm/Q8-QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-2-USB-Port-Splitter-HUB-Charger-Pad-For-Phone-F5/301913729117?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39345%26meid%3Decb1959e8f164eb5ad0a17aeaa297f59%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252485416371

            However, it is even thinner than the OP's vented puck, and it's about double the square inches of foot print. So I don't see any real advantage to them.

            I have ordered one also (In fact two as aliexpress payment messed up and asked me to process payment again, but few days after I realized the "failed" payment was in fact processed and sellers were sending everything twice...).
            I'm planning to use one as gateway box with wemos d1 mini and smd pa/lna NRF24 side by side. Any chance it will fit this type of ESP board inside or it's too thin and I should go for ESP12 module instead ?

            NeverDieN Offline
            NeverDieN Offline
            NeverDie
            Hero Member
            wrote on last edited by
            #47

            @Nca78 said:

            @NeverDie said:

            I received the Q8 wireless charging pad (above):
            http://www.ebay.com/itm/Q8-QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-2-USB-Port-Splitter-HUB-Charger-Pad-For-Phone-F5/301913729117?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39345%26meid%3Decb1959e8f164eb5ad0a17aeaa297f59%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252485416371

            However, it is even thinner than the OP's vented puck, and it's about double the square inches of foot print. So I don't see any real advantage to them.

            I have ordered one also (In fact two as aliexpress payment messed up and asked me to process payment again, but few days after I realized the "failed" payment was in fact processed and sellers were sending everything twice...).
            I'm planning to use one as gateway box with wemos d1 mini and smd pa/lna NRF24 side by side. Any chance it will fit this type of ESP board inside or it's too thin and I should go for ESP12 module instead ?

            I just now measured the D1Mini, and it's about 6.7mm thick. If you removed the USB connector, it would be thinner.

            I haven't opened the QB wireless pad, so I don't know how much depth is available. However, the case itself is 8.5mm thick. In comparison, I measure the case thickness of your OP puck as 11.7mm.

            Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • NeverDieN NeverDie

              @Nca78 said:

              @NeverDie said:

              I received the Q8 wireless charging pad (above):
              http://www.ebay.com/itm/Q8-QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-2-USB-Port-Splitter-HUB-Charger-Pad-For-Phone-F5/301913729117?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39345%26meid%3Decb1959e8f164eb5ad0a17aeaa297f59%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D252485416371

              However, it is even thinner than the OP's vented puck, and it's about double the square inches of foot print. So I don't see any real advantage to them.

              I have ordered one also (In fact two as aliexpress payment messed up and asked me to process payment again, but few days after I realized the "failed" payment was in fact processed and sellers were sending everything twice...).
              I'm planning to use one as gateway box with wemos d1 mini and smd pa/lna NRF24 side by side. Any chance it will fit this type of ESP board inside or it's too thin and I should go for ESP12 module instead ?

              I just now measured the D1Mini, and it's about 6.7mm thick. If you removed the USB connector, it would be thinner.

              I haven't opened the QB wireless pad, so I don't know how much depth is available. However, the case itself is 8.5mm thick. In comparison, I measure the case thickness of your OP puck as 11.7mm.

              Nca78N Offline
              Nca78N Offline
              Nca78
              Hardware Contributor
              wrote on last edited by
              #48

              @NeverDie said:

              I haven't opened the QB wireless pad, so I don't know how much depth is available. However, the case itself is 8.5mm thick. In comparison, I measure the case thickness of your OP puck as 11.7mm.

              Thank you. Sounds like it won't fit :(
              For Amazon Dot yes it looks great, but 50$ is a bit too expensive for a case :D

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              0
              • NeverDieN Offline
                NeverDieN Offline
                NeverDie
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                #49

                I notice that Kalia made his own uniquely shaped enclosure that he 3D printed himself:
                alt text
                (for more detail see his posts under: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1566/mysensors-sensebender-micro-3dp-case/18)

                I'm not yet savvy about 3D printers, but from what I've been reading lately the line artifacts in the plastic may vary in how prominent they are depending on the quality of the software slicer that's used to produce the g-code that's sent to the 3D printer. Still, I'm not sure to what extent it's avoidable or just a reality of 3D prints. Would such line artifacts always be visible, regardless of which printer or software produced it?

                In any event, I like the way Kali molded the battery holder into the case itself. Very clever!

                mfalkviddM 1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • NeverDieN NeverDie

                  I notice that Kalia made his own uniquely shaped enclosure that he 3D printed himself:
                  alt text
                  (for more detail see his posts under: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1566/mysensors-sensebender-micro-3dp-case/18)

                  I'm not yet savvy about 3D printers, but from what I've been reading lately the line artifacts in the plastic may vary in how prominent they are depending on the quality of the software slicer that's used to produce the g-code that's sent to the 3D printer. Still, I'm not sure to what extent it's avoidable or just a reality of 3D prints. Would such line artifacts always be visible, regardless of which printer or software produced it?

                  In any event, I like the way Kali molded the battery holder into the case itself. Very clever!

                  mfalkviddM Offline
                  mfalkviddM Offline
                  mfalkvidd
                  Mod
                  wrote on last edited by mfalkvidd
                  #50

                  @NeverDie the lines will be more or less visible depending on layer height (which varies by 3d printer model) but can easily be made totally smooth. See this video

                  https://youtu.be/h2lm6FuaAWI

                  NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                  3
                  • mfalkviddM mfalkvidd

                    @NeverDie the lines will be more or less visible depending on layer height (which varies by 3d printer model) but can easily be made totally smooth. See this video

                    https://youtu.be/h2lm6FuaAWI

                    NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDie
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                    #51

                    @mfalkvidd said:

                    @NeverDie the lines will be more or less visible depending on layer height (which varies by 3d printer model) but can easily be made totally smooth. See this video

                    https://youtu.be/h2lm6FuaAWI

                    Funny that in the video the demonstrator uses a polypropylene chamber, as I'm pretty sure acetone will strongly react with it. Aside from that, though, it was a good video. Thanks for posting it!

                    He seems to imply this acetone vapor chamber approach only works on ABS printed models. Is that correct?

                    Also, what must the 3D printer's layer height be for the lines to no longer be visible (without resorting to acetone vapors)?

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                    0
                    • NeverDieN Offline
                      NeverDieN Offline
                      NeverDie
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #52

                      Looks as though my small TH mote will have no problem fitting inside the OP's enclosure:
                      0_1479357125114_TH_enclosure.jpg

                      I can also configure my medium TH mote to also fit. The enclosure is too thin to accomodate AAA batteries, but I should be receiving the button cell batteries from China very soon.

                      Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • NeverDieN NeverDie

                        Looks as though my small TH mote will have no problem fitting inside the OP's enclosure:
                        0_1479357125114_TH_enclosure.jpg

                        I can also configure my medium TH mote to also fit. The enclosure is too thin to accomodate AAA batteries, but I should be receiving the button cell batteries from China very soon.

                        Nca78N Offline
                        Nca78N Offline
                        Nca78
                        Hardware Contributor
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #53

                        @NeverDie said:

                        Looks as though my small TH mote will have no problem fitting inside the OP's enclosure:
                        0_1479357125114_TH_enclosure.jpg

                        I can also configure my medium TH mote to also fit. The enclosure is too thin to accomodate AAA batteries, but I should be receiving the button cell batteries from China very soon.

                        Don't forget a capacitor parrallel to the button cell battery if you want it to last more than a few days ;)

                        NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • Nca78N Nca78

                          @NeverDie said:

                          Looks as though my small TH mote will have no problem fitting inside the OP's enclosure:
                          0_1479357125114_TH_enclosure.jpg

                          I can also configure my medium TH mote to also fit. The enclosure is too thin to accomodate AAA batteries, but I should be receiving the button cell batteries from China very soon.

                          Don't forget a capacitor parrallel to the button cell battery if you want it to last more than a few days ;)

                          NeverDieN Offline
                          NeverDieN Offline
                          NeverDie
                          Hero Member
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #54

                          @Nca78 said:

                          Don't forget a capacitor parrallel to the button cell battery if you want it to last more than a few days ;)

                          That's good input, as I haven't yet tried running it on a button cell. Is a button cell alone just not able to keep up with the Tx load? I had wanted to avoid button cells altogether, but even an AAA battery has too wide a diameter to fit in this enclosure.

                          Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • NeverDieN Offline
                            NeverDieN Offline
                            NeverDie
                            Hero Member
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #55

                            It might be worthwhile to make a board specifically for this enclosure. It would necessarily have to have a somewhat similar size as the board that was in it, so that it could mount an LED near the LED window, and a micro USB at the USB window, all while fitting the groves of the enclosure.

                            BTW, how did you get that sticky black foam tape out of it? I tried scrapping it off, but I didn't manage to remove all of it.

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                            • NeverDieN NeverDie

                              @Nca78 said:

                              Don't forget a capacitor parrallel to the button cell battery if you want it to last more than a few days ;)

                              That's good input, as I haven't yet tried running it on a button cell. Is a button cell alone just not able to keep up with the Tx load? I had wanted to avoid button cells altogether, but even an AAA battery has too wide a diameter to fit in this enclosure.

                              Nca78N Offline
                              Nca78N Offline
                              Nca78
                              Hardware Contributor
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #56

                              @NeverDie said:

                              That's good input, as I haven't yet tried running it on a button cell. Is a button cell alone just not able to keep up with the Tx load? I had wanted to avoid button cells altogether, but even an AAA battery has too wide a diameter to fit in this enclosure.

                              No it can't keep up with it without a serious voltage drop, especially at startup and with RFM radio. A 100µF ceramic capacitor (and sleep between successive tx in your code) should be enough from what I read from scalz who made a few boards with button cell + RFM.

                              I just uploaded version 0.2 of my dedicated board to Seeed, it should be just the right size this time :) Led is in front of the led window but on USB side I don't have anything, it's just a vent.
                              For the black tape I don't remember having so much pain to remove it, maybe it's different between enclosures, I will tell you when I receive the next one.

                              NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • Nca78N Nca78

                                @NeverDie said:

                                That's good input, as I haven't yet tried running it on a button cell. Is a button cell alone just not able to keep up with the Tx load? I had wanted to avoid button cells altogether, but even an AAA battery has too wide a diameter to fit in this enclosure.

                                No it can't keep up with it without a serious voltage drop, especially at startup and with RFM radio. A 100µF ceramic capacitor (and sleep between successive tx in your code) should be enough from what I read from scalz who made a few boards with button cell + RFM.

                                I just uploaded version 0.2 of my dedicated board to Seeed, it should be just the right size this time :) Led is in front of the led window but on USB side I don't have anything, it's just a vent.
                                For the black tape I don't remember having so much pain to remove it, maybe it's different between enclosures, I will tell you when I receive the next one.

                                NeverDieN Offline
                                NeverDieN Offline
                                NeverDie
                                Hero Member
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #57

                                @Nca78

                                It would be nice to keep the usb port as an aid in reprogramming it, so that the case doesn't have to be opened or without having to do wireless OTA programming of it. Alas, it's probably feature creep.

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                                • NeverDieN Offline
                                  NeverDieN Offline
                                  NeverDie
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                  #58

                                  On my medium node, I found that if I used right-angle FTDI header pins and if I splayed the antenna and the Temp-humidity-pressure sensor out horizontally, then the overall thickness was low enough that I could fit it inside the OP's enclosure.
                                  0_1479423872432_medium_mote.jpg
                                  Also, I think that if, rather than clipping the LED's legs after soldering it close to the board, I instead left the LED legs long, then I could bend it over and have it pointed at the LED window on the OP's enclosure, to maximize its visibility outside the closed enclosure. So, on a future version, I'll try that.

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                                  • NeverDieN Offline
                                    NeverDieN Offline
                                    NeverDie
                                    Hero Member
                                    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                    #59

                                    After a long-wait, I received my so called "tabbed" CR2477 batteries today from China via AliExpress. According to the seller, they would look like this:
                                    0_1479426740936_CR2477_with_tabs.png
                                    and so that is what I was expecting. Instead, what the seller sent me was:
                                    0_1479426777163_CR2477_no_tabs.jpg
                                    which obviously has no tabs. :cry:

                                    Anyhow, the second photo shows the depth of the battery in relation to the OP's case. It looks to me as though with tabs it likely would have been too thick for the cover to snap back on the OP case.

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                                    • scalzS Offline
                                      scalzS Offline
                                      scalz
                                      Hardware Contributor
                                      wrote on last edited by scalz
                                      #60

                                      @NeverDie
                                      :open_mouth: not cool
                                      I hope your 2477 will work well ;)
                                      my little xp about coincells showed me that i can't trust ali coincells.. well i tried only few orders, but those wasted my time searching for bugs whereas batt were discharged and didn't check this in first place as i was using fresh ali coincells. I was thinking it couldn't be that! Then i checked their voltage in case...and was surprised!
                                      Changing for good and strong coincell was day&night.

                                      if it can help you to not run in dumb issue, for future :)

                                      NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • scalzS scalz

                                        @NeverDie
                                        :open_mouth: not cool
                                        I hope your 2477 will work well ;)
                                        my little xp about coincells showed me that i can't trust ali coincells.. well i tried only few orders, but those wasted my time searching for bugs whereas batt were discharged and didn't check this in first place as i was using fresh ali coincells. I was thinking it couldn't be that! Then i checked their voltage in case...and was surprised!
                                        Changing for good and strong coincell was day&night.

                                        if it can help you to not run in dumb issue, for future :)

                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                        #61

                                        @scalz said:

                                        @NeverDie
                                        :open_mouth: not cool
                                        I hope your 2477 will work well ;)
                                        my little xp about coincells showed me that i can't trust ali coincells.. well i tried only few orders, but those wasted my time searching for bugs whereas batt were discharged and didn't check this in first place as i was using fresh ali coincells. I was thinking it couldn't be that! Then i checked their voltage in case...and was surprised!
                                        Changing for good and strong coincell was day&night.

                                        if it can help you to not run in dumb issue, for future :)

                                        Urban Dictionary: "get shanghaied"
                                        www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get shanghaied
                                        Top Definition. get shanghaied. verb, ditransitive, passive (with to Be or to Get). to be swindled, cheated, lied to, robbed, stolen from, duped, conned, deceived.

                                        Not sure what I'll do with the "non-tabbed" batteries. Shipping costs between the US and China are asymmetric, and it would probably cost me more in time and money to ship them back with tracking to the seller than I would get in a refund. Oh well, I guess I'll be buying batteries from Digikey in the future. It will cost twice as much, but at least I'll get the real thing.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • scalzS Offline
                                          scalzS Offline
                                          scalz
                                          Hardware Contributor
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #62

                                          @NeverDie
                                          ahah, this one is funny :)

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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