August 13, 2015
Description
I recently published the little project Nano Pin Protector which provides a shell for the widely used Arduino Nano and its many compatibles.
Now, did you know that instead of using a Nano (which has an 16MHz 8-bit micro-controller with 32KB of flash memory and only 2KB RAM) you could just as well use a Maple Mini module based on an Arm Cortex-M3 STM32 32-bit micro-controller that runs at 72MHz and provides 128KB flash and 20KB RAM memory?
LeafLabs has developed the open source Maple Mini module, which is about the same size as the Arduino Nano and available for about the same price as the Nano. In addition to the original LeafLabs version, there are also several compatible (and cheaper) versions on the market.
Recently, and thanks to Roger Clark, the Maple Mini (and other STM32 controllers) are now supported directly in the Arduino framework. This makes developing for the Maple Mini just as easy (well, almost...) as working with the regular Arduinos.
So, this project generates a similar shell for LeafLabs Maple Mini (or compatible) module which protects all pins from being exposed to accidental shorting with tools or other metallic objects on the work bench.
As a special addition, I found it very useful to have more than just one Gnd and Vcc (3.3V) pin on each side. This facilitates adding several peripherals which need their own ground and maybe 3.3V connection. Thus, in addition to the standard shell that just houses the bare 2x20 pin Maple Mini module, the project also includes versions with 4 or 6 additional pins at the top end. These can be used for adding a tiny 7x2 or 7x3 hole piece of prototype PCB in order to add additional ground and 3.3V pins at the top end of the module, and optionally even two additional LEDs that can be externally connected to any desired output pin.
Right angle pin headers mounted on the upper side of the Maple Mini PCB are used instead of the straight headers normally soldered on the lower side. Two 20-, 22-, or 23-pin single row pin header arrays are needed. This way, all connections to the Maple Mini are horizontal and are safely "hidden" between the upper and lower part of the shell.
The top of the shell has cutout(s) for the LED(s) and integrated RESET and BUT buttons which are printed in-situ and held in position by its waisted shape.
The so covered horizontal pin connector increase the surface of the Maple Mini shell, so that there is enough space on the top shell for a sticker which identifies each pin in a nicely readable size. The stickers contain the basic pin numbers, as well as the additional special uses of the pins. Also, pin capable of pulse width modulation (pw), analog input (ain) and tolerating 5V input (5vt) are indicated on the sticker.
Given that there are several variants of the Maple Mini design which differ just slightly in the placement of the LED and the buttons, their longitudinal position (measured in mm from the USB end of the PCB) is parametrized and can easily adapted as needed.
In addition to the fully parametrized SCAD file, there is also a corresponding PostScript file which generates the labels to stick on the top part of the shell.
The project also includes "read-to-print" STL (3D-objects) and PDF (sticker labels) files for two variants of the Maple Mini:
Update 2015-09-07: I have now uploaded new versions of the PDF pin label stickers which also contain the generic GPIO port/bit names in small letters at the very edge of the label. These files have "pb" appended to the file name.
License:
Creative Commons - Attribution - Share Alike
enif
