A STEM Project: A Microbit Battery Holder With Accessibility For Edge Connectors

A Microbit Battery Holder With Accessibility For Edge Connectors

On the Microbit website, they feature a cardboard battery holder for the Microbit.  https://microbit.org/get-started/user-guide/battery-pack-holder/ While it is a great design to hold the battery pack.  I had issues with the bottom edge connectors. I added two alligator clips to the ground and 3v ports. When I stood the battery holder upright up, standing on the bottom edge of the battery holder, the Microbit tilted to the left side. 

My goal was to create a Microbit battery holder that would stand up at a right angle to the table for easy front viewing without the issue of accessing the bottom edge connectors. In my design, I used the original Microbit battery holder design and I modified it. I extended the sides of the battery holder and added a triangular corner to each side.  I made triangles at the bottom corners because triangles are the sturdiest structure.  It is a shape that can not be distorted by stress because the load is distributed evenly across all three sides of the triangle. The result is a corner that will not collapse under the weight of the Microbit. If you exert pressure at the top of this holder, the side will bend but not the triangular corners.

Here is the PDF.  I used 65 lb. white cardstock for the design. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dVW9cfQGcTgw26SEIZmxVGo5B7smgE3V/view?usp=sharing

Here is the .Studio file for a Silhouette cutting machine.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWKS5u9hjZYRCsnOHUFoTAuVKsjI0ggI/view?usp=sharing

Here is the SVG for all other electronic cutting machines. I included a one inch square for reference.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1phOd5FWtx40bCM3rrlrkaVcnshEaqIEy/view?usp=sharing

Crease all of the dotted lines with a valley fold. Apply glue to the two bottom tabs as shown above.

Fold the two bottom tabs with the glue inward to create a triangular pyramid on each side.

Insert the battery wire through the hole on the side.

Insert the tab into the center hole. 

Wrap the square hole around the Microbit button.  Repeat for the other button.

Apply glue to the bottom of the triangles.

Adhere the bottom piece to the holder.

The edge connectors can be accessed from the front.

Or the back of the holder while standing upright.