A mini Bluetooth speaker would be great to take around, and after I saw these little Bluetooth audio amplifier module I thought I’d build one for myself. I’d already built a massive Bluetooth speaker, utilising an old 60W speaker from a hi-fi system, so I had a good understanding of what needed doing. Ideally, I’d like a small, compact Bluetooth speaker that has great volume and is easily rechargeable.

Step 1: Planning and Specification

I had most of the components for this project on hand, all I needed to buy was the Bluetooth module and an 18650 lipo battery and charger board. This came to about £6 all togeather, pretty good. As this is a hobby project, I wasn’t stuck to any schedule or deadline, but I wanted to finish this project quickly. Specification Small and compactLoudRechargeable via micro USBBluetooth connectivityPower Switch to save battery

Step 2: Design and Project Development - 3D Modeling

I started by ordering all the necessary components needed for this project, which came to about £6. The battery and charging board actually came from Poundland, they have portable chargers which make great project batteries. I then created a casing design, using tinkerCad, The new Beta version is actually really good, this design took em about an hour to create.

Step 3: Design and Project Development - Speaker Test

I quickly tested the Bluetooth module and speaker, making sure it worked. Which it did, rather well actually! I used a USB power meter, which read that the 5V output was holding and a max power draw of about 15mA. This means that in theory, the speaker can last up to 42 hours… Something is not right there! XD

Step 4: Design and Project Development - Printing

I then printed the design which was eventful, to say the least. The print was a nightmare to get started and them, when it did stick little bits of old plastic, stuck onto the print. This is because I needed to replace my hotend, after its long-term use.

Step 5: Design and Project Development - Assembly

After using the above print to confirm that all my measurements were correct, I added my logo to the casing design. I converted my logo to an STL file, using Img to STL, a free file converter I found on Thingiverse. I then cleaned up the STL file using the ‘Make it printable‘ online 3D model repair tool. Then, I imported this logo STL into tinkered, and make an indented logo on the top of my case!

Step 6: Design and Project Development - Final Product

As you can see, the speaker works really well. It’s really loud, especially for the size!

Improvements
One improvement I think I’ll make is the casing (again). The speaker is a little exposed to damage, so a simple mesh or cover to protect this a little more would be a good idea. Also, I’d print the casing in a darker colour, as the internal LEDs (The charging module and speaker module) conflict a little, which is a bit annoying.