BBC Microbit Neckbolts

pinshape

So, I love my new microbits, and not just because I get to say I have a BBC-branded computer that's truly a marvel of modern engineering. However, those pins and contacts are far from ideal in their design. Yes, banana plugs fit nicely, but unless you only insert them halfway, they tend to wiggle about precariously. Alligator clips are fine for testing purposes, but I don't appreciate how they bite into the PCB if you try to hook them through the holes, and if you simply apply them to the contacts, they can shift around and scratch things up, or even cause shorts across other contacts. I went searching for cases or alternative solutions apart from those breakout boards that Sparkfun and Monkmakes have produced, and stumbled upon this "neckbolt" cover. I must say, I really like it, but there are a few parts of the design that personally bug me. That's not to knock Vlastimil3; he clearly has more confidence in his printers than I do. I prefer to avoid overhangs that require support, and I was also a bit skeptical about using countersunk screws because if the heads are a little too big, they may overlap with other pins, which is exactly what I wanted to avoid. So, I've made two variations on it. Both involve an all-important backplate that protects the contacts on both sides, giving me more flexibility in terms of the type of bolts I can use along with any additional hardware like nuts and washers. Still, I need to be cautious about the surface I place it on, as metal will definitely create shorts. Maybe I'll make some protective caps depending on what type of bolts I settle on. One version forgoes the text labeling the ground and analog pins, but the other keeps it while adding the backplate. This allows me to print without supports while keeping the contacts covered. I didn't print an example of this one; my M3D printer is fine with simple shapes, but chokes on text when it comes to the rubbery filament I use.