Busy Board

cults3d

Activity boards feature a sturdy base that serves as the foundation for an assortment of gadgets and gizmos designed specifically to help young children develop their fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving prowess. Numerous activity boards can be found on websites across the internet under various names such as Activity Boards, Busy Boards, and Sensory boards, all varying in size and complexity. My own Busy Board incorporates several features like bells, lights, and torches, but its primary focus lies in utilizing 3D printed items to facilitate the development of motor and sensory skills in a fun and engaging manner. This board boasts nine 3D printed gizmos, with four fully designed and described components accompanied by STL files. I created this Busy Board specifically for my great-grandson's benefit, and through his testing and feedback, several enhancements have been implemented to refine its functionality. The possibilities for items that could be incorporated into the design are endless, with many existing on Thingiverse. I'm confident that you'll easily find suitable components to fill in the gaps left by me, such as marble runs, clickers, and fidget spinners. The included items are as follows: 1. A revolving teddy bear featuring a handle that turns a 3D model of a teddy bear perched atop a pair of bevel gears. The bear is easily removable and replaceable. I utilized the model found on Thingiverse at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:20938, courtesy of 'cerberus333'. 2. A pop-up head component, with the most complex variant featuring a spring-loaded head that pops up upon pressing a button. 3. A key with ratchet mechanism, where turning the key results in an audible click from the internal ratchet. 4. A coin box and stacker system, comprising coins with three distinct shapes cut through their centers to facilitate stacking when removed from the container with its screw-on lid. Additionally, there's a box featuring a button on top that triggers a sound or tune, similar to the one found at https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253999530459?ul_noapp=true. A hand-crank music box housed within a printed case, much like this example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/351238814929?chn=ps, is also included. A bicycle bell, torch with projector, and tap-on/tap-off LED light are some of the other items incorporated into this Busy Board. I utilized a bamboo breadboard as the base, although alternative materials can be used, and secured the components using double-sided sticky foam pads. Screw or glue alternatives are also viable options. I hope that this design sparks inspiration for creating your own activity board for your children or grandchildren.