Introduction: Lockable Gift Box

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A giftbox where you can type select the initials of who it is to and who it is from using a potentiometer dial.

Step 1: Hookup and Code

I connected everything according to the picture.

Materials needed:

  • Resistors
  • Solenoid
  • Button
  • Potentiometer Dial
  • LCD screen with SPI backpack
  • Arduino
  • Wires
  • Transistor
  • Diode
  • External Battery

In the code I followed a finite state machine setup where once an action occurs, like the button being pressed a certain amount of times, the code goes to another section and waits there until the correct sequence occurs.

Attachments

Step 2: 3D Printing

My base contained was two fold. The outer large container is for the gift to be place, and the smaller inner container is for the circuit to hide in. I 3D printed a special lid to house the screen and electronics along with adding a little bit of decoration. I attached the lid to the smaller inner container with hot glue, and burned holes so that the solenoid locking mechanism could slide and fit through.

Attachments

Step 3: Soldering to a PerfBoard

If you want your design to be more durable and less likely to have wires fall out, I recommend soldering to a perfboard. Make sure you double check before soldering the connections and plan out the locations of things as shorts and unconnected bits can and will happen, especially when you're in a time crunch.

Step 4: Working Sequence

My design was working before soldering to the perfboard. Above are pictures of the sequence of the lcd screen.

  1. Hit button to unlock and place item
  2. replace lid and use potentiometer and button to select the initials of who the gift is to.
  3. Do the same above but for the initials of who it is from.
  4. Select a pass code to tell the receiver, clear it from screen, and wait until correct passcode is entered.