Introduction: Open Source 3D Printing Xadow Modules Smart Watch
The epoch of smart wearables has come, along with the emerging of various wearable devices, especially smart watches. However, I’d like to show my maker spirit by building a smart watch, aka Xadow Watch. As to the functions of this Xadow Watch, I have been thinking for a long time before reaching this decision: do not confine the function; make it easier to change the functions to meet different requirements. Without restraints, there will be infinite possibilities. Thus here comes Xadow Watch!
To make a wearable demo of small form factor and with rich functions, the first idea occurred to me is Xadow. No more explanations here (What is Xadow?). Then I need to consider the sizes of Xadow and wristband. The combination of 4 modules and a battery is great. Actually I’d like to add more modules, but my wrist isn’t that big:) Let’s make it simple with the following functions: display time, show the time according to gestures and hourly chime.
Let’s see what modules to choose. The controller Xadow – Main Board is a must. To display time, we need Xadow – OLED. As to control with gesture, Xadow – 3-Axies Accelerometer is a good choice. And to chime, we’d better use Xadow – Vibration Motor (the vibration won’t annoy your neighbors :)
As a conclusion, Xadow Watch has the following functions:
- Display of time
- Set time via buttons
- Simple gesture to wake up the system
- Hourly vibration as reminder
Step 1: Preparing Stuffs
At the very beginning, we’d better prepare the materials. Of course, all of these modules can be purchased directly from Seeedstudio.
As a watch, we want a cool shell, but there’s no ready-made, it’s lucky that we have a 3D printer, so why no print one.
What we need:
The module is a microcontroller board based on the controller ATmega32U4 with 32k flash. Board can be powered either from the USB connection or a Lithium battery(80mA output current). And the board can charge for the Lithium battery through the USB port. The USB port on the board can be also used for upload program.When you upload program to the Xadow Main Board as you do with other Arduino boards, please select "Seeeduino Xadow" from the Tools > Board menu. It is a indispensable part in the Xadow Kit.
The advantage of OLED is its power consumption. In addition to E-ink, The OLED maybe is the most energy efficient screen. The 128x64 OLED screen is very cool. This module is equipped with the most comprehensive software support, you can effortlessly draw the pattern on this screen what you want. When you look it like the all-metal Xadow clock , you know I did not lie to you.
This small vibrator motor can vibrate like your phone. When using it, You only need to power for the module and then send "Vibration" command. In fact, The "Vibration" command is setting control pins to high level, then it will work. I like this module because it can creat a short-term shock to prompt me whether one operation was successful, such as shaking my arm to switch my iPhone songs, which sound terrible, and it is not like the buzzer which sound terrible.
This is a high resolution digital accelerometer with large ±16g measurement range through IIC interface, suit for monitor the motion state. With this module, you can easily add monitoring movements function in your design, Such as arms, legs shaking. If you want to switch your iPhone songs through arm shake, then this module is just for you.
Step 2: Hardware Connection
The connection of hardware is simple. Firstly, we connect the four modules via FPC wire, you should know that every Xadow modules has direction, you need to keep the four modules int the same direction.
That means, head to tail and tail to head.
Step 3: Programming and Test
We start the work on software after we finish the hardware connection. Firstly we download the code here, then unpack it to anywhere, it’s not a library but a sketchbook. Click here to get more details about sketchbook.
We set the sketchbook path of Arduino, then click File -> Sketchbook -> Xadow_Smart_Watch_T5:
Then click Upload to finish programming.
We can set the time via the 2 buttons on Xadow – Main Board. Long press the left one can set Hour while the right on set Minutes.
To save energy, OLED will turn off after 10 seconds, you can shake the watch to awake it.
Step 4: Print the Shell
Firstly, we need to download the Shell file here.
- Enclosure model file(stl)
- Enclosure 3D printing file(3xg)
Download the Enclosure 3D printing file and import it to the SD card, then you can printing the Enclosure with the SD card.
Step 5: Installation
You might be thinking this smart watch is not that smart. I agree! But this is just the starting point; you’ll surely have better ideas and can come up with a much smarter watch or some other wearable projects! Let’s come & make, don’t waste your time just thinking!
Participated in the
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