Summary of Simple Arduino Wing Shield
The author creates a custom Arduino shield using perf board to split input/output headers for prototyping with jumper wires, avoiding screw terminals. This design uses stackable headers to separate connections, allowing flexibility when shields lack headers or require clearance. The project utilizes leftover perf board pieces cut into four distinct sections to prevent header interference and ensure proper spacing between banks.
Parts used in Simple Arduino Wing Shield:
- Stackable Arduino header sets (6, 8, 10, and 3 pin)
- Perf board pieces from a 3" x 5" Radio Shack board
- Jumper wires
I buy a lot of these stackable Arduino header sets because they are handy for a lot of things. I make some breakout boards with them, I use them to add some clearance between a taller shield and the next shield that I am stacking on top, and sometimes they are necessary when a shield doesn’t come with headers or comes with only male headers. I recently found this set of stacking headers on Adafruit that includes the standard 6, 6, 8 and 8 pin headers as well as a 10 and a 3 pin header. Also, Sparkfun has recently started selling R3 stacking headers, which include a 10 pin header instead of one of the 6 pin headers like the old sets.
My most recent use for them was to create a “shield” like the Wingshield. I don’t really want the screw terminals, so instead I wanted something that I could still use regular jumper wires for quick prototyping. I figured I could cut up some perf board and make something that would allow me to split the input and output headers.
Step 1: Parts
I had some perf board pieces leftover from another project. These pieces came from a 3″ x 5″ board that I got from Radio Shack. Unfortunately, all of the holes are drilled in different spots so things don’t really line up correctly.
I trimmed 4 pieces of perf board that gave me a nice little handle on one side, but nothing on the opposite side so each header wouldn’t interfere with the next one. I had to make them 4 separate pieces because the space between each bank of headers is less than the width of one pin on a standard perf board. I thought of taking a standard Arduino Protoshield and cutting the outer edges off with a Dremel, and while it would have been easier, it would have been a waste of a good Protoshield. This way, I was able to spread the additional female headers out 2 pins, where the protoshield would have had the new headers right next to the old ones.
- Why did the author choose to use perf board instead of cutting a Protoshield?
The author chose perf board to spread additional female headers out by two pins, whereas a Protoshield would have placed new headers directly next to the old ones. - What is the main purpose of this custom shield design?
The purpose is to create a shield-like structure that allows the use of regular jumper wires for quick prototyping without screw terminals. - How many separate pieces of perf board were required for the project?
Four separate pieces were needed because the space between each bank of headers is less than the width of one pin on a standard perf board. - What specific feature does the Adafruit stacking header set include?
The Adafruit set includes standard 6, 6, 8, and 8 pin headers as well as a 10 and a 3 pin header. - How do Sparkfun R3 stacking headers differ from older sets?
Sparkfun R3 stacking headers include a 10 pin header instead of one of the 6 pin headers found in older sets. - What problem arises from using the specific Radio Shack perf board mentioned?
All the holes are drilled in different spots so things do not line up correctly. - What tool was considered but rejected for cutting the outer edges off a Protoshield?
A Dremel was considered for cutting the outer edges off a standard Arduino Protoshield but was rejected as a waste of a good shield. - How does the design handle interference between headers?
The author trimmed the perf board pieces to provide a handle on one side and nothing on the opposite side so each header would not interfere with the next one.
