Summary of Make Electronic Dice using Arduino
This article guides readers through building an electronic die using an ATmega328 microcontroller with an Arduino bootloader. The project simulates a traditional wooden die by utilizing a mercury switch to trigger the rolling effect, which is displayed via LEDs controlled by a custom sketch. The design allows for cosmetic customization and includes options for sound effects, though these were omitted in the author's version.
Parts used in Electronic Dice:
- ATmega328 microcontroller with Arduino bootloader
- Eleven Arduino-compatible board
- Mercury switch (enclosed in plastic)
- LEDs (specifically bright blue ones mentioned)
- ZIF-socket programming board
- Housing box
- Piezo buzzer (optional for sound effects)
- Breadboard
In this project we make electronic dice.
Updated 18/03/2013
In this article you can learn how to make an electronic die (die is the singular of dice), using an ATmega328 with Arduino bootloader and a few inexpensive components. The reason for doing this is to introduce another object that you can build, learn from and be proud of. It is a fairly simple procedure, and at the end you will have something that is useful for a long time to come. Again this article will be a design-narrative, so please read it in full before making a die yourself.
First of all, here is a photo of my finished product.
Naturally the cosmetic design is up to you, I have used this box, LEDs and switches as they were already in my stock of parts.
The die is quite a simple design – with a twist. Inside the unit is a mercury switch. This consists of a small glass tube with two wires at one end and a small amount of mercury. When the mercury rolls over the wires, they are shorted out. Just like a push button when it is pushed, for example:
We will make use of this switch to start the die “rolling” – to simulate the use of a non-electronic, under-engineered wooden die. For safety, I will be using a mercury switch that is enclosed with plastic:
Over the last few years several people have contacted me saying “don’t use mercury switches”. Fair enough, if you don’t want to either, use element-14 part number 540614.
First of all, the circuit is assembled on a breadboard using our Eleven Arduino-compatible board. There is no need to build the complete independent circuit yet, as we just want to test the aspects of the sketch, and try various LEDs out. I have some bright blue ones which match with the blue housing:
Project Code and other data:
There is a function in the sketch (below) called
showNumber(int z);
The sketch is quite simple – you can download it from here.
Once the behaviour of the die met my expectation, I used my ZIF-socket programming board to upload the sketch into a nice fresh ATmega328 with bootloader. One could also add a piezo buzzer for sound effects, as described in sketch. This will end up being a birthday present for a young niece, so I have omitted the sound effects.
For more detail: Make Electronic Dice using Arduino
-
What is the main purpose of this project?
The goal is to introduce a buildable object that teaches electronics skills while creating a useful long-term item. -
How does the die simulate a non-electronic wooden die?
It uses a mercury switch that shorts out wires when the mercury rolls over them, acting like a push button to start the roll. -
Is it safe to use a mercury switch in this project?
The author uses a mercury switch enclosed with plastic for safety, but suggests using part number 540614 from element-14 as an alternative. -
Which microcontroller is used for the circuit?
The project utilizes an ATmega328 with an Arduino bootloader. -
Can I add sound effects to the electronic die?
Yes, you can add a piezo buzzer for sound effects as described in the sketch. -
Where can I find the code for the project?
The sketch can be downloaded from the link provided in the article text. -
Do I need to build the complete independent circuit immediately?
No, the circuit is initially assembled on a breadboard to test the sketch aspects and various LEDs before final assembly. -
What function handles displaying numbers in the code?
The sketch contains a function called showNumber(int z) to handle the display logic.
