Switch-Adapted Toy​

Switch Adapted Toy

Overview

This project will have you “switch-adapt” an existing toy. This helps someone with a physical disability interact with a toy by using a switch. This project will include two parts, soldering the electrical components, then creating a housing to hold the parts and activate them.

Materials Needed

• Electronic components
  • Limit switches (Recommended)
  • Wires that connect to a jack component (Recommended)
• Soldering machine with solder
• Safety PPE
• Existing toy

Learning Objective Phases

1. 1. Understanding how soldering works and how to safely operate the tool.
   2. Identifying what components need to connect and be attached with solder.
   3. Soldering the correct wires to the electronic component.
   4. Testing the electrical components to make sure the soldering is correct and secure.
   5. Designing a housing that will hold the electronic components.
   6. Combining the housing of the switch with the electronic components to complete the switch.

Phase 1: Understanding Soldering for Accessible Switches

Students will be connecting wires to a switch to it can activate a device (toy, communication device, etc.).

• • A soldering iron will let you heat up a piece of solder to mold onto two wires to connect them. 
    • When the solder piece is hot by applying the hot tip onto the piece, it will turn into a liquid.
    • Once the solder piece is cooled, it forms a solid joint. 
  • When the two wires are connected, ensure they are secure so electricity flows through them.
    • You can do this by gently tugging each side of the wire to ensure they do not come apart.
  • When using the soldering tool, understand the safety of operating with a hot tool:
    • Tie back long hair
    • Keep fingers away from the hot tip
    • Always return the iron to its stand
    • Work in a ventilated area
    • Do not touch a recently soldered joint, let it cool

Phase 2: Gathering and Preparing Your Components

Students will gather materials that will be used while soldering the electronic components. They will ensure the space is prepped to solder the switches.

• • Gather materials needed to solder the switches.
    • Soldering iron
    • Solder (rosin-core recommended)
    • Wire that has a jack connection on one side, then a positive/ground connection on the other
    • Wire strippers
    • Clamps to hold wires
    • Safety PPE
  • Prep wires so that the soldering will bond securely to them.
    • Take the wire cutters and strip half an inch of exposed wire
    • Twist this exposed wire tight so ends do not fray
  • Create a setup that holds the wire at an angle that makes it easy to connect solder to.

Phase 3: Soldering the Wire to the Limit Switch

Students will solder the wire to the limit switch to complete the prep of the electrical components.

• • While following the schematic of your specific limit switch, connect the following wires to each other.
    • Black wire (ground) = COM (common)
    • Red wire (+) = NO (normally open)
  • Solder the two wires from the jack wire to the limit switch component.
    • Use the soldering tip to heat up the wire, hold the solder onto the wire
    • The solder will melt after a few seconds, forming a connection
    • Remove the soldering tip and coil of solder to let the connection cool and solidify
    • Repeat for the second wire connection

Phase 4: Testing Soldered Switch

Students will test their soldered to switch to ensure the wires are connected correctly.

• • Using the newly soldered components, take the jack end of the wire and plug it into a toy.
  • Press down on the limit switch and see if the toy turns on.
    • If the toy turns on: Great! Your soldered project works.
    • If the toy doesn’t turn on: The connection either isn’t secure or the wires aren’t in the correct order.

Phase 5: Designing Housing for the Switch

Students will now design an encasing for the switch parts to sit in.

• • There are a lot of open-source 3D printed switch housing’s already available if you want to use those:
    • Makers Making Change (Interact Switch)
    • Thingiverse (Easy Make Switch)
  • You can also design yourself! Think about what features you want your switch housing to have.
    • Size of the switch (what the person will interact with)
    • Mounting method (allows someone to mount the switch to something)
    • Color choice
    • Text or images on the switch
    • Taking measurements of your electronics and ensuring you leave space for them to fit!

Phase 6: Fabricating the Housing & Attaching Electronic Components

Students will fabricate the housing.

• • Fabricate the housing.
  • Attach the electronic components inside the housing.
    • Make sure the components are not exposed once the housing is secured together
  • Test your housing.
    • Try pressing on your housing to ensure it interacts with the electronics and activates the limit switch to interact with the toy.