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Minor Versionm

by Joshua

Squishy Sound

Written By: Joshua (and one other contributor)
  • Comments: 0
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Difficulty

Easy

Steps

11

Time Required

00:15:00 - 00:30:00

Sections

1

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0

Introduction

Conductive Dough is extremely fun to use in place of a Potentiometer (variable resistor) in projects and you can use it to control all sorts of things. In this activity we'll be using dough to control the sound being produced by a Piezo Speaker hooked up to one of our Invention Boards.

If you have a Robotics Board you can also do this project, you'll just have to change a couple of pin numbers in the code.

Video Overview

Featured Document

  1. Grab a Resistor and screw it into the Screw Terminal Chip. We're using a 460 ohm resistor, however a resistor of near or similar value will work.

    • Grab a Resistor and screw it into the Screw Terminal Chip.

    • We're using a 460 ohm resistor, however a resistor of near or similar value will work.

    • If you don't have a Screw Terminal Chip around you can always just use Maker Tape to hold the Resistor down. We attached a small diagram of what that would look like at the end of this write up.

  2. The Invention Board won't lay flat onto our 8x16 base plate, so we'll need to make a platform for it. We're using several thin plates to create the platform. You NEED to have bricks below the pins that you're using, otherwise the tape won't make a connection. We're using both Grounds, Pins 14 and 16, and the VIN on the right side. You NEED to have bricks below the pins that you're using, otherwise the tape won't make a connection. We're using both Grounds, Pins 14 and 16, and the VIN on the right side.

    • The Invention Board won't lay flat onto our 8x16 base plate, so we'll need to make a platform for it. We're using several thin plates to create the platform.

    • You NEED to have bricks below the pins that you're using, otherwise the tape won't make a connection. We're using both Grounds, Pins 14 and 16, and the VIN on the right side.

  3. Run Maker Tape from Pin 16 to where you want your Piezo Speaker. Cut excess tape and press down with your fingernail or the Piezo Speaker. Run Maker Tape from the left side Ground Pin (white circle) to the Piezo Speaker. Press your Piezo Speaker into place.

    • Run Maker Tape from Pin 16 to where you want your Piezo Speaker. Cut excess tape and press down with your fingernail or the Piezo Speaker.

    • Run Maker Tape from the left side Ground Pin (white circle) to the Piezo Speaker.

    • Press your Piezo Speaker into place.

  4. Place your Screw Terminal near the top right corner for placement. Run a line of Maker Tape from Pin 14 to the white side of the Screw terminal.

    • Place your Screw Terminal near the top right corner for placement.

    • Run a line of Maker Tape from Pin 14 to the white side of the Screw terminal.

    • Cut excess tape and press to fit.

  5. Run a line of Maker Tape from the VIN pin to the blue side of the Screw Terminal. Cut excess tape and press to fit.

    • Run a line of Maker Tape from the VIN pin to the blue side of the Screw Terminal.

    • Cut excess tape and press to fit.

  6. Use a piece of Maker Tape and and go from the second hole on the Screw Terminal off the side of your building surface.

    • Use a piece of Maker Tape and and go from the second hole on the Screw Terminal off the side of your building surface.

    • Fold over the tape onto itself so it's conductive on both sides. You can also just run it to the bottom side of the base plate as well.

  7. Use a longer line of tape and go from the Ground pin off the side of the board. Start by threading a long piece of tape UNDER the pin 14 line of tape.

    • Use a longer line of tape and go from the Ground pin off the side of the board.

    • Start by threading a long piece of tape UNDER the pin 14 line of tape.

    • Connect one end to the Ground pin. Let the other end hang off the edge, and fold it over like you did before.

    • Use a pencil, screw driver, or paper clip to push down the tape so that the Ground line isn't touching the Pin 14 line.

  8. If you've never used your Invention Board before, review the Invention Board User Guide.

    • If you've never used your Invention Board before, review the Invention Board User Guide.

    • Plug your Invention Board into your computer and open up the Arduino Software.

    • Follow this link and choose either the ConstantTone or StepTone code. Copy and paste the code into a new project window in the Arduino Software.

    • Upload the Code.

  9. If you're using a Robotics board you'll need to change a couple of lines.

    • If you're using a Robotics board you'll need to change a couple of lines.

    • Change the Speaker Output Pin to 3.

    • Change the Input (Analog Input) to A5.

    • At the end of this write up is a diagram for how we suggest you hook up your Robotics Board, however the pins you use are entirely up to you.

  10. Leave your Invention Board plugged into your computer.

    • Leave your Invention Board plugged into your computer.

    • Use an Alligator Clip to connect your two Alligator Connection Points together.

    • No matter which code you're using, you should hear something come out of your speaker.

  11. Connect the second Alligator Clip.

    • Connect the second Alligator Clip.

    • Plug both Alligator Clips into the dough.

    • Stretch the dough, change shapes, and do all silly manner of things. The sounds coming out of the Piezo Speaker will change.

    • Add a second batch of dough to the mix and make a reaaaaaaalllllllllly lone line.

Finish Line

Attached Documents

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with 1 other contributor

Joshua

Member since: 11/16/2017

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130 Guides authored

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