Chesster Mechanical Components

CHESSTER's plywood board can be split into two parts: The top and bottom part of the board's box-like body, and the 8x8 cubicle grid that lies inside the body.
THE BOX	THE GRID

(1) CAD of the 89.5cm x 60cm top part of Chesster. It includes the 52cm x 52cm chessboard and space along the edges for putting captured chess pieces. This part and all other mechanical parts were crafted from plywood when we brought Chesster to life. (2) CAD of the box that makes up Chesster's bottom. Here is where electrical components and an 8x8 square grid structure are stored. The box measures 89.5cm x 60cm x 9cm.	(1) CAD of one of the divider panels that make up the underlying chessboard grid. 14 of these panels were laser-cut and assembled into a grid to make Chesster. (2) Originally, we had planned to 3D print each individual cubicle for the grid, and to assemble them together; we switched to laser cutting dividers when we realized that wouldn't be feasible. Here is the CAD for the cubicles. It includes 4 drilled holes in the top corners so that the LED light would shine through. The structure in the center represents the reed sensor and other electrical components. (3) CAD of one of the side views of the cubicle prototype. One can see the drilled holes on the surface more clearly. The surface would have been what made up the chessboard on Chesster's top part.

CHESSTER's plywood board can be split into two parts: The top and bottom part of the board's box-like body, and the 8x8 cubicle grid that lies inside the body.

THE BOX

THE GRID

(1) CAD of the 89.5cm x 60cm top part of Chesster. It includes the 52cm x 52cm chessboard and space along the edges for putting captured chess pieces. This part and all other mechanical parts were crafted from plywood when we brought Chesster to life.

(2) CAD of the box that makes up Chesster's bottom. Here is where electrical components and an 8x8 square grid structure are stored. The box measures 89.5cm x 60cm x 9cm.

(1) CAD of one of the divider panels that make up the underlying chessboard grid. 14 of these panels were laser-cut and assembled into a grid to make Chesster.

(2) Originally, we had planned to 3D print each individual cubicle for the grid, and to assemble them together; we switched to laser cutting dividers when we realized that wouldn't be feasible. Here is the CAD for the cubicles. It includes 4 drilled holes in the top corners so that the LED light would shine through. The structure in the center represents the reed sensor and other electrical components.

(3) CAD of one of the side views of the cubicle prototype. One can see the drilled holes on the surface more clearly. The surface would have been what made up the chessboard on Chesster's top part.

Brian sawing away!

Mysha sanding a freshly sawed off plank of plywood for the board.

Mysha and Warren gluing the walls to the board's bottom plank. They are working on the bottom part, the box, of the Chesster.

Mysha and Nithika reinforcing the walls of the box with nails.

A close up of the how the lasercut, plywood divider panels came together to make the grid. Beautiful prescision.

Sideview of the assembled box with the completed grid and some electrical components inside.

BRINGING CHESSTER TO LIFE: Mechanical