microbit ZIP Halo Christmas Baubles

For day seven of our 12 Makes of Christmas we've turned a ZIP Halo for BBC microbit into a fetching Christmas Bauble that would make a great addition to your Christmas tree! As always we've included our DXF files as a download which you can either use as they are or as a basis for your own designs. You can also cut out the pieces by hand if you don't have access to a laser cutter. Let's get making!  

You Will Need:

• 1 x BBC microbit.
• 1 x ZIP Halo.
• 1 x LiPo Battery.
• Frosted Perspex Sheet or similar material.
• Our DXF cutting files, download here.
• Our coding examples, download here.

We've included three different HEX files, each with a different lighting effect. You can use any of the files we provided or use them as a basis for your own coded lighting effects. You could even add all lighting effects to a single program and have it cycle through the different effects in a sequence. To use the HEX files: Unzip the files to your computer. Plug your microbit into your computer, it should now show up as a removable drive called MICROBIT. You can now pick up any of the files and drop them directly on the microbit in file explorer. The light on the back of the microbit will flash as the program transfers, once the light has stopped flashing the program is ready to run.  

ZIP Halo Christmas Baubles:

Once fully assembled you should have something that looks like the above picture.  

Step 1:

Use the dxf files provided to cut out your bauble, or use the file as a template to create your own design.  

Step 2:

Place the front Perspex piece on top of the Zip Halo and insert two M3x25mm screws through the holes on either side.  

Step 3:

Place the second piece of Perspex on the rear of the bauble. This should slot over the micro:bit and JST connector.  

Step 4:

Plug in the battery and tuck the wires in. Place the final Perspex panel over the screws on the rear and use two M3 nuts to fix in place. Tie some thread or ribbon around the hole at the top of the bauble and hang it up on your tree!   This concludes the seventh of our 12 Makes of Christmas, we'll be back tomorrow with another festive making activity. You can check out the other Makes of Christmas, here.  

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