Introduction: D4E1 - MaKey MaKey Doorbell Button for Rehabilitation Exercises

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About: Designer at D4E1 - Design student at Howest
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This button is part of the bigger project of motivational rehabilitation using MaKey MaKey.


It is a simple replacement doorbell button encased in a laser-cut box and connected with cables to a MaKey MaKey for use in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. For this project, the MaKey Makey is connected to a raspberry Pi which functions as the main control center. The casing is there for steady placement and protecting the connection but also to ensure the whole controller can be safely disinfected when necessary.

Supplies

  • The doorbell button used in this project is the "Honeywell home Classic Series D642" https://livewell.honeywellhome.com/en/classic/d642/
  • The cables are standard electric wires fitted with alligator clamps at the ends, preferable in two different colors (here red and black)
  • The casing is made of laser-cut ABS plastic with a thickness of 3 mm
  • The bolts and nuts are M3, length 10 mm - 12 needed for each controller
  • The straps used to keep the cables neat are reuseable fastening cable ties (using hook and loop principle)

Step 1: Laser-cutting the Box

Download the illustrator file found in the file list. Make sure all line-thicknesses and colors are set to the needs of the laser-cutter your are using. Start up the laser-cutter and cut the box out as many times as you want to make this doorbell controller. You can also adjust the files in whatever way you would prefer but the basic file fits the Honeywell home D642 button.

If you would like to make all the elements for the whole project, download the combination file found here.

Attachments

Step 2: Connecting the Wires

When the lasercut is done, you can place the button into the space cut out for it. When you have made sure it fits, keep it in place and connect the ends of the wires to the screws on the bottom of the button. Ideally you first solder the ends clean so you have one wire and not a bunch that can cause short-circuits or other problems.

Now the doorbell should be connected and secured in place. If you have separate alligator clamps, cut the wires to the desired length and solder the clamps onto the other end of the wires.

Step 3: Assembling the Box

Now that the wiring is working and finished it is time to assemble the box. The easiest way to do this is to start from the bottom (the biggest plate without a hole in it). You then work your way around adding the sides by putting the nuts into the slots made for them and then carefully screwing the bolt into place. Finally you put the top on. Once all bolts and nuts are fastened, the box is closed and ready for use.

Don't forget to guide the wires out through the hole made for them!

Step 4: Now Test It Out!

It should now be finished, test it out by connecting one of the cables to the ground of the MaKey MaKey and connecting to other to the keystroke you would like your button to represent.

Have fun making and never forget to be curious!

Check out the other parts of the project here.