Scrabble Board

[Vital]

I, being a scrabble enthusiastic thought it would be neat to create an LED interactive scrabble board. So I was thinking of using acrylic to create the pieces and sand them so they have a frosted diffuse look. And basically hinding small click switches that activate an LED under, the bonus word score spaces. So when you press a tile into place it will light your tile up according to the space you put it on.

So what do you think?

[Omega]

It'd be pro, I think. Do it.

Oh, and I'd do it to one of those boards where it has the grid so pieces can't slide about.

[Vital]

Yeah. That's the board I was thinking.

So basically I would buy loads of tact switchs, and create a massive wiring fest underneath the board to connect LEDS to each one

[Collinstheclown]

The pieces might be too light to actually depress the switch. You should look into reed switches. Maybe even plexi pieces... That would be awesome.




-CollinstheClown

[Omega]

The pieces might be too light to actually depress the switch. You should look into reed switches. Maybe even plexi pieces... That would be awesome.




-CollinstheClown

he could always just tell people to push down on the letters when they place them. Put, essentially, a keyboard under a scrabble board to make it light up... that'd be cool.

[Vital]

I was thinking that people press the letters down. And I will look into reed switches

[Spacehonkey]

You could also do something like creating a open to the LED and have the two contacts to the LED on the top of the space on the board and than have the bottom of the letter lined with a strip of metal so when you place the piece down on the space it will complete the circuit and light up the LED. I think this would be easier overall than putting 225 switches on the board.

Not sure if this makes sense. If not I'll try to make something in SketchUp to help explain what I mean.

[Vital]

I think I understand what your saying but maybe a diagram will help.

[Pointy_Stick]

The way I understood what Spacehonkey said was something like this:
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm10/wild-beans/scrabble.jpg

[Vital]

I see instead of the the |__| type contact, I would just align a strip so it there aren't chances of missing it. I just hope this won't affect the light shining through it.

[Spacehonkey]

Right on the money, Pointy_Stick. +REP for whipping up a picture to help explain my idea.

[Vital]

Just a small idea update, I think I am going to create the case with wood. Most likely a a mohagony case with the strips being stained ply or something.

[Omega]

I see instead of the the |__| type contact, I would just align a strip so it there aren't chances of missing it. I just hope this won't affect the light shining through it.

you could always just make the contact so it's the entire underside of the piece sans the hole...

[Vital]

you could always just make the contact so it's the entire underside of the piece sans the hole...

Ah, but then how will the light shine through the plexi glass piece?

A line will suffice, and the piece doesn't lightup, then the person put the tile in the wrong direction, so it also serves a a guidance.

[Funk]

Are you going to get the letters laser etched?