Arduino Offset Header Jig

cults3d

If you've ever crafted a custom Arduino shield using standard perfboard, you're aware that the two digital IO headers are spaced apart by an unconventional distance, making it impossible to line them up with your perfboard. I attempted to use needle nose pliers to bend the pins in sync but met with dismal failure, so I designed this project. It's a set of jigs for bending an 8 pin header precisely enough to ensure any perfboard mates seamlessly with your Arduino. To create your custom shield, first utilize the first jig to angle all eight pins at the same time. Then, use the second jig to straighten out the ends. Instantly, you'll have a perfectly aligned digital IO header. In my original design, the first jig worked flawlessly because the bending force was focused primarily on the header body. However, the second jig required improvement due to the tiny bit of material between pins breaking when attempting the second bend. This issue has been resolved in the latest release which incorporates metal inserts fabricated from a set of header pins. To fabricate the second jig, gently tap an 8 pin header into the eight holes as shown in the last image and clip off any excess with flush cutters.