Hello and welcome back to the regularly scheduled updates for Project Tako! Since the hardware is all in place and the software is 90% there, I’ve started tinkering with a possible case design to bring it all together.
I’ll be honest, I’m not super happy (yet) with the design I’ve came up with. Main reason being is that I’m terrible at creative design, but I guess projects like this one could be gateway to experiment and improve.
My very first attempt was mainly the about the “inside” frame, just trying to figure out the relationship between the various hardware pieces.
Very squared and with zero details, but it was a good start to figure out the next steps and also to start planning (or at least thinking about) cable routes and lengths to join all the components together. This gives me a great blueprint.
You can also see some notes I’ve made on this first design, mainly to note areas where the fit could be improved. The opening for the joystick wasn’t enough to let it operate without hitting on the edges. That “ghost” figure in the middle is where I wanted to place the Tako logo to make better use of the space.
Which takes us to the current revision of the case:
The main changes in the internal chassis are about reversing the position of the EPS board, and better connections for the display, plus the opening for the joystick is now enough not to impede the operation.
The Tako logo is nice, but the print quality came out all wrong. I need to change the orientation of the part and avoid extra supports that came out terrible.
I’ve also added some “details” on top, trying to overall go for a “space/Star Wars” themed communicator device. I’m already thinking about playing with different insert colors, to bring out some accents, and maybe even adding some LEDs (functional and not just decorative), although that may not be a great idea for the battery usage!
When you put it all together, it really gives me warm fuzzy feelings!! I wasn’t sure about the screws on top and if it was going to be better to hide them underneath, but I think I like them (currently they are treading directly into the plastic) in view, again very space-retro!!
I’m very happy with the direction overall and especially with the decision of using a joystick for navigation instead of buttons, it really gives it a more futuristic feeling (in my view).
I did ask ChatGPT for some design inspirations in order to make it less of a squared box, I got only slightly less squared results, so definitely more work need to be done!
Back to Shapr3d I go!
Happy tinkering!