ESP 01 Programming Cradle

thingiverse

The ESP 01 (ESP 8266 based) is an extremely useful tiny WiFi-enabled board that shines when you upload new firmware into it. It's not exactly solderless-breadboard friendly, though - to switch between normal and flash modes, you have to connect and disconnect wires manually. I designed a little box that takes care of this hassle for you. One side connects to 3.3V power, the other to your PC using a serial adapter, and in the middle, you plug in your ESP 01 board. The design is based on my previous ESP 01 Connector project. This custom enclosure features a switch to select normal or flash mode, a reset button, and a small bump on top that ensures your ESP module can't be plugged in upside down. Parts I used: A toggle switch (I chose "New original 10pcs 3-Pin SPDT ON-ON Toggle Switch 6A 125VAC" from AliExpress) A push button, measuring 6x6x3mm The switch fits snugly into the round hole on one side of the enclosure, while the push button rests in a small cradle on the other side - see the picture with wiring instructions for more details. Note: Keep in mind that you might need to connect the switch differently depending on your specific model. In flash mode, the wires should be connected; in run mode, they should be disconnected. Also, make sure to match the TX/RX labels on the ESP 01 with those on the box - RX on the box goes to TX on your serial adapter, and vice versa. I created this design using SketchUp and then cleaned it up with Microsoft 3D Builder before slicing it with Cura. Finally, I printed it out on a Robo3D R1+ 3D printer.