Brick Assembly

Рет қаралды 1,294,814

Күн бұрын

The making of a computer-in-a-brick.
I've chopped out sections that went on a bit, but tried to leave in enough of everything to show the whole process.
Edited together from a few different builds, so there's some continuity errors with the resin colour at the end.
Code for driving the screen in greyscale is here: github.com/AncientJames/uGrey
The screen is a 0.42" OLED, available from aliexpress or similar.
Yes it runs Doom. • Lego Doom

Пікірлер: 1 300

@StefanNoack Жыл бұрын

Over 20 years ago, my grandma said jokingly: "One day they'll make computers so small, you'd need to be careful to not vacuum them up while cleaning the house." Well grandma, the day has come.

@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST Жыл бұрын

What a visionary! 🤓

@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece Жыл бұрын

20 years ago we where there already. Smartcards have been containing computers for decades. They only got faster and more memory. SIM cards would be one well established example.

@thatonefoxxy Жыл бұрын

Wow. Your grandma can look into the future.

@thatonefoxxy Жыл бұрын

@@fgregerfeaxcwfeffece A SIM card technically isn't a PC, it's just something that stores data like a SD Card, you can't actually compute anything with it.

@JeremyMartinez Жыл бұрын

I’d like to see her portfolio 🎉

@Shea7TDM Жыл бұрын

Never in a million years did I think that at the beginning of the video this was going to actually be a computer inside a Lego brick.

@bigclivedotcom Жыл бұрын

That is completely ludicrous. Good job.

@McStebb Жыл бұрын

I'm a tooling engineer professionally and I absolutely LOVE your tiny little fixtures. They were all a total joy to see in use. Full points!

@Dylan-ee6qg Жыл бұрын

It would be hard to convince me that the final product is real without this video.

@paulpinecone2464 Жыл бұрын

It was hard to convince me that reality was real until Plato let me out of this cave.

@JacobLeeson-zk1ol Жыл бұрын

The one he made has lots of computer power because it was made with a raspberry pi. However screens this small that can display stuff like what he is using it for have existed for ages. Watches for example.

@oa1700 Жыл бұрын

@@JacobLeeson-zk1ol Not quite. It's an RP2040 microcontroller, it barely has any computing power, and certainly cannot run an operating system (or at least a proper one, maybe it can run an RTOS or a really really basic UNIX one). And the screen is just a really low resolution monochrome OLED (presumably SPI protocol) one, watches usually have way better ones (referring to smartwatches).

@nathanaelsmith3553 Жыл бұрын

🤯

@AbsurdAsparagus Жыл бұрын

this comment made me realize how we are gonna have to deal with AI. you have to show your work. like on a math test. just showing the answer doesnt mean you didnt cheat. you have to show your work.

@DominicWellington Жыл бұрын

Bonus points for using an actual Lego pry tool to get the brick out of the mould! Seriously though, amazing project; I am in awe.

@_Simon Жыл бұрын

And lego + shafts to keep the mold together!

@Zaximillian Жыл бұрын

I started laughing the moment I saw it.

@terisonk Жыл бұрын

I grew up playing with the silk screened equivalent, vividly imagining them as functional computers. Amazing work, well done! ❤️

@pwnmeisterage Жыл бұрын

Children today can grown up without needing to pretend the printed "computer" blocks are actually functional computers. I wonder if this will stimulate their imaginations ... or if it will limit their imaginations.

@freevbucks8019 Жыл бұрын

@@pwnmeisterage Both depending on how it's displayed

@ausboss20001 8 ай бұрын

@@pwnmeisterage its sure stimulating my imagination because i can imagine about a million things to make using this one brick

@stefanejegod8644 Жыл бұрын

This is genuinely impressive. I get putting a screen inside the brick and a cable to the base etc, but actually putting the microcontroller inside the brick as well?? AND.. make it compatible with the official Lego power modules is just a next level thing!

@user-qk2qm5ju8e 4 ай бұрын

THIS

@Rcdude10tc32 Жыл бұрын

These were my favorite bricks when I was a kid. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this to be possible. If you ever sell this, even as a kit, please let me know. I’m in awe of how cool this is.

@johnannan2506 Жыл бұрын

Could not agree more! Just amazing.

@omrihadar8823 Жыл бұрын

I would also love to see a kit of sorts

@wiebel7569 Жыл бұрын

This, for once, wouldn't do as a kit. The assembly itself is pure art.

@chris11d7 Жыл бұрын

Would buy, need a command center for my Saturn V

@civicbynature Жыл бұрын

If you ever sell just the boards PLZ let me know. This setup being so small with the little oled screen has all lot of other fun applications I would love to place with!!!

@AaronEiche Жыл бұрын

This is absolutely amazing! I love it, and I was shocked at the Brick reveal, as I hadn't though it was actually that small while you were building it. The engineering of both the PCB assembly as well as the mold is superb I'm very impressed! A general reminder to anyone watching this - Sanding FR4 (the fiberglass that PCBs are made of) releases extreme dangerous particulates into the air. They are really bad for your lungs. Exercise caution and use a respirator.

@4.0.4 Жыл бұрын

Ha... Good... To know...

@InakiArzalluz Жыл бұрын

@@4.0.4 **dies**

@KeithBond Жыл бұрын

Ex toolmaker and longtime software engineer here... Tip of the hat to you sir. Pure craft. The best thing I've watched in a long time.

@dmf.310 Жыл бұрын

This is incredibly impressive. The amount of different skills you have acquired to make something with this level of form and finish is inspiring. A+ content

@matthewvenn Жыл бұрын

Love your 3d printed jigs! Amazing work, congratulations!

@jasonlipavsky7371 Жыл бұрын

Just the time you took to make the jigs is impressive

@drewskidmore9392 Жыл бұрын

Came here to make the same comment. The jigs were amazing.

@Sabotage_Labs Жыл бұрын

Lol...me too but in today's era...I was kind of a afraid to say Jig. My father was a tool and die maker and I've built and worked with more than a few jigs when I was a younger man. Now, I 3D print them. Funny kind a... My father past a way a couple years ago at 90. He HATED CNC machines. Hated computere, especially ones that would make his decades of knowledge and expertise useless. I suspect he wouldn't appreciate my 3D printer either. Considering I can design and print a part in hours that he we spend weeks to build a mold to make. I would at least hope that he appreciated that I use technics and math I learned while helping out in his shop. He hated that I went into a career of computer....until he saw a paystub when I was like 26yrs old...lol. My hands weren't all chewed up and full of bandsids, I didn't freeze in the winter or melt in the summer and I didn't have grease and grime in places I couldn't see or reach...either.😜 Different times. Yet...I can lose an hour watching KZfaq videos of CNC machines doing just wild stuff.

@echo-hotel Жыл бұрын

Everyone is impressed with the screen. I’m here for the tiny jigs and now wondering why I haven’t been making them on my printer… 😅

@jack-mil9150 Жыл бұрын

I am a PCB layout engineer and would LOVE to see the ECAD design files for this. Will you open source the project? I have never seen a 3D assembly with edge connectors like that; super ingenious

@BloodAsp Жыл бұрын

My jaw dropped after I realized what you were making it into. BRAVO!

@bryangrossman Жыл бұрын

The number of different skills being brought to bear on this project is staggering. Not only that but some of them you wiuld need to be exceedingly good at. Trully astounding ...

@TheJacklwilliams Жыл бұрын

It’s akin to writing a hit song with a 15 piece band. Your knowledge and use of the mixed materials and tech behind this is absolutely unrefutable. Top that off with the design you bring into play here and I’m in awe. Thank you. It’s just this kind of thing that gets my creative juices flowing for the work that I am doing and, it’s combined with a front row tutorial on how to, do this thing. Priceless. Absolutely PRICELESS.

@MrJoegotbored Жыл бұрын

This is the coolest thing! I had no idea what you were making until the 11 minute mark and then I audibly gasped. So cool!! And thanks for not ruining the video with loud music overlays.

@chadbeardall3660 Жыл бұрын

Having played with so many legos as a kid, I got it when he started mounting the pcb on the mold. But yeah, audible gasp! Such an amazing project!

@jacobfield2214 Жыл бұрын

That is HELLA impressive. As soon as I saw the shape of the assembled PCBs I knew what you were trying to recreate, and I was not disappointed in the end result. Having it power off the old Lego 9v power brick is an impressive finishing touch.

@NabilBennaniKerrout Жыл бұрын

I love the use of 3d printed tooling and jigs you have pulled out, fantastic work, I can see a great deal of thought on each part of the process, kudos my friend!

@thommekm Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! It's totally interesting to see how such a brick is assembled and I'm also impressed how clean the moulded brick came out..

@luca5247 Жыл бұрын

That's just amazing engineering, it's mindblowing thinking that a single person went through hardware design to manufacturing (tools AND products), programming, curcuit design... The whole stack. Thank you for sharing, it's truly inspiring. Also... please... we need some update on the keyboard! :)

@RandomBSOD Жыл бұрын

the whole build is beyond impressive, but what really blows it all away are the tolerances on these 3d printed molds.... TOP NOTCH

@dadjake Жыл бұрын

The fitment of everything, the precise solder joints, the tools that are perfect for their job... This doesn't look like it's the first time you've built this, but holy shit, what a beauty.

@Karlemilstorm Жыл бұрын

I didn't know what I was watching but when you pulled out a freakin lego brick I was stunned, hahaha. Nice work.

@HeatherBarron Жыл бұрын

I am so completely impressed, not only with the build itself, but the tooling & jigs you developed to support the process the entire way. Thanks for the show!

@alexgian9313 Жыл бұрын

I'll second that. Impressive accuracy of design and build!

@parkerhemming9388 Жыл бұрын

The process you've created to make each brick is so amazing. I love the 3d printed guides for each step of the way. So cool!

@thekodanator Жыл бұрын

This is the coolest new (to me) project ive seen in the last several months!!! This is fantastic! I giggled when you pulled it out of the mould.

@HerrBlauzahn Жыл бұрын

This is the most amazing thing I've seen in a long time. Truly impressive.

@thiagoennes Жыл бұрын

I have no words for how amazing this is.

@curtis7428 Жыл бұрын

I love the design of your PCB the way you make the solder connections to both be physical connections and electrical connections is inspiring. and in all the little jigs you've made. and molds and everything great job!!!

@wadebrewer7212 Жыл бұрын

This is hands down the most amazing thing I've seen in a very long time.

@ItsDrMcQuack Жыл бұрын

The studs are capacitive!!! THAT'S what those little tabs are for. This is amazing

@AndrewTSq Жыл бұрын

this is so cool on every level. from the 3d printed jigs to a working lego piece wow.. i am so impressed.

@Geeksmithing Жыл бұрын

I appreciate all of your efforts into the work holding and fixturing! Congrats on your hardwork being viewed and appreciated by so many!

@mattmurphy7030 Жыл бұрын

This is one of the most incredible projects I've seen on KZfaq. The result is just so perfect. Great job!!

@MarkSmithIsJudy2k Жыл бұрын

This is just amazing. I love all the content you've produced around this project.

@LightGameFrameworks Жыл бұрын

Barely a minute in and watching you grind the circuit board against a nail file made me have flashbacks to the first time a teacher told me to write my notes inside of my book. Just a gut wrenching reaction.

@LightGameFrameworks Жыл бұрын

On finishing the video: My God, this is the future.

@TheLensis Жыл бұрын

Very cool! As a kid we always declared these exact bricks as our computers, little me would have sold an arm and a leg to have them actually do the blinky blink!

@rc-fannl7364 Жыл бұрын

The final result looks like magic

@KirtFitzpatrick Жыл бұрын

That's insane. And the idea to make the studs touch sensitive buttons is genius, but that fact that you actually got them to work is jaw dropping. Well done. More please. ;-)

@swolfington Жыл бұрын

I feel like being able to run doom on a lego brick is the only logical conclusion here. edit: oh man I should have looked at your other videos before posting, of course you've already done it. doom silliness aside, this is so awesome. beautiful work all around.

@ZoGi5555 Жыл бұрын

insane how minimalist but also fantastic this project is. much appreciation for this content!

@bas.botberg8238 Жыл бұрын

Amazing work! Great to see that you're able to master and combine the various skills to make such a nice mini-device.

@AppliedCryogenics Жыл бұрын

This sort of excellence brings me joy. Thanks for filming it!

@maffsie Жыл бұрын

This is such a neat build - extremely clever use of PCBs to reduce overall size. The end result is beautiful, thank you for sharing!

@boone7777777777 Жыл бұрын

That's probably the coolest electronic Lego accessory I've ever seen

@markfallu2389 Жыл бұрын

Every single thing about this is incredible - spectacular from conception to delivery and everything in between!

@benm4784 Жыл бұрын

I just saw the product on the engineering mastodon server! I truly did not comprehend what I was looking at, this is an incredible marvel of design and assembly

@CoolAsFreya Жыл бұрын

Your soldering skills are very impressive! Even with a big chunky iron you manage to get clean unbridged connections that look pretty clean!

@kamnxt Жыл бұрын

That's the magic of good flux!

@critical_always Жыл бұрын

This is just insane! I still can't believe what I just watched. All along I thought this thing was bigger. I am in awe.

@Phyzzius Жыл бұрын

It took me a while to realise what kind of brick you were talking about, but man this is amazing. If I could buy this (as kit or assembled), I totally would.

@michaelrichey8516 Жыл бұрын

The meticulous planning is very inspiring.

@joveaaron-real Жыл бұрын

I didn't know that you were talking about a Lego brick! Amazing work.

@brine80 Жыл бұрын

Wow! I loved lego's as a child, and now my own kids play with them. Watching this blew my mind, I actually had no idea what the end product was until it came out of the mold. And its size appeared much larger during assembly than it actually is, which threw me off even more. This is amazing! And not just because of the end product, but the fact that you made this from scratch using pcb's and home made parts that were needed while building. I would love to have had this as a kid, even now things like this could change the game of imagination for young builders.

@Kingofkeks Жыл бұрын

When i first saw this project I was already in awe. And that was before i knew you even added friggin' touch control to that thing!!!! I thought it was just displaying random screens! You, good person are a master!

@ItsDrMcQuack Жыл бұрын

This is astounding. The level of care and attention to detail throughout the entire process had my jaw dropping several times ! That was something I'd expect for factory production, not someone tinkering in their shed. And the result! Just incredible.

@mstrVLT Жыл бұрын

Amazing work, a child I imagined it, but now I see it

@peteragurkis3590 Жыл бұрын

Did not know where there was going until the very end. Wow. That is a really cool and extremely well put together brick. Clearly a lot of planning and effort went into this. Nice job.

@MichaelRuppe Жыл бұрын

Incredible project. Just incredible. What beautiful animations you've created too!

@teschi23 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your workflow making those bricks. Amazing. Also I wouldn't have thought that the large tip of the TS-80 would be the tool of choice to do the delicate soldering work here. :)

@andrewyoung4473 Жыл бұрын

He was letting surface tension do the work.

@mike0rr Жыл бұрын

I'm a bit lost as to how the power it connected to the final brick. I see an exposed USB for most of the video but at the end it looks like its able to interface with a battery block. You should do a video on that last bit. Very amazing work. The engineering behind the circuit board construction it amazing in itself.

@LeNerdz1 Жыл бұрын

Me too

@bradeng7 Жыл бұрын

USB used to load the program to the chip that makes the pretty screen. Once it’s flashed, only needs power to run the sketch on repeat - usb never required again.

@mike0rr Жыл бұрын

@@bradeng7 Yeah, I understand how a micro controller works... That's why I was asking about the power delivery to the brick, not how the screen and / or controller works. I was interested about interfacing the design to the Lego power block

@fredfred2363 Жыл бұрын

@ancient - all the bigclive followers are discussing your skills. Everyone's seriously impressed. To accrue all them skills, you must have been playing in engineering a long time... 👍🏻😀🇬🇧

@baganatube Жыл бұрын

I don't know which one is more impressive, the brick, or the custom printed fixtures that help you make it so perfectly! Instant subscribe!

@joemieszczur9735 Жыл бұрын

holy crap, youtube is two for two. someone fixed the algorithm for sure. i'm working on a project to build a dashboard for my moped. i want something more open source so anyone can tweak it for whatever features you want, similar to how the 3d printing controllers went. my first iteration is done, and i have been looking for interesting ways to house it. this video had it all lol. using interesting pcb's to resin, and 3d printed jigs. i would love to see the whole project.

@AlphaXDE Жыл бұрын

in combination with a print that maybe suggests a screen bevel or so it would look like the old screen prints from lego, just interactive :) The way it is now its like a free form display lego piece which obviously has more use cases. Awesome!

@Bruce.B Жыл бұрын

It is incredible. Also the way you solder so nicely astonishes me!

@jonathanfairchild Жыл бұрын

This was an absolute joy to watch. My God, this is so extremely impressive!

@FrodoWills Жыл бұрын

WOW! Are you planning on making these available for purchase??

@tristanhameleers7506 Жыл бұрын

I have absolutely nothing to say, well done, it looks amazing.

@UhloMuhlo Жыл бұрын

This is insane, absurd, and mind-boggling! I really love it! Congratulations, this is a great feat!

@corncobjohnsonreal Жыл бұрын

This is how every single Lego brick is made

@DougPaice Жыл бұрын

This is just amazing. How many iterations did you go through? If you aren't planning on selling the finished product, I'd happily pay for the files.

@DigitalOsmosis Жыл бұрын

This is incredible! Do you have any plans to release the design or sell these?

@ashernelson7654 Жыл бұрын

i had no idea what this was exactly until it was demolded and I have to say, I was NOT disappointed, this is SO COOL

@PatrickGodreault Жыл бұрын

That is the most EVOLVED Lego block, and size don't matter. Thank-you!

@YonatanAvhar Жыл бұрын

Very, very cool. How is the final brick powered? The USB port is obviously unplugged, so where is the power from?

@Roobotics Жыл бұрын

I just adore this tiny little project. I wonder if you could consider trying to sneak an IRDA link in there, then you could feed in and out data and even do weird stuff like link them together or flash from a IR bootloader.. It'd be slow I'm sure, but also give some interesting flexibility while keeping interface things simple otherwise, not as complicated as wireless RF, etc!

@captainglume Жыл бұрын

Wow! That is very very impressive. Well done. Back in 2000 we were doing lego shows and thought putting in iPaq's into drive in movie screens and LED landing lights was the pinacol. Woo that looked so good. ♥

@hershes Жыл бұрын

So many points throughout this video I had audibly gasped. From realizing that tiny panel was a display, to me being reminded I was watching a video called “*Brick* Assembly” with that reveal. Getting it to be interactive?? So awesome!

@levistrnad2965 Жыл бұрын

can you release the parts for this? I would really like to make this for my self its such a genius design.

@Gunbudder Жыл бұрын

HOW DO I BUY THIS. What is that tiny screen? that is by far the best quality screen i've ever seen of that size. i would pay way too much for a bunch of these things

@thomasrosebrough9062 Жыл бұрын

WHAT!! THATS AMAZING!!! I was already very impressed with this video and then I saw you pull it out of the mold AND ITS A LEGO SCREEN. Genius idea, well executed, and an amazing result. Wow and wow.

@nicksantos43 Жыл бұрын

You just brought my favorite brick as a kid to life!

@Muschelbu Жыл бұрын

Great work! Could you please share the Part Number of the tiny display and where to get it?

@u6bkep Жыл бұрын

Seconded. I have been looking for a display like that for a project.

@ancientjames Жыл бұрын

www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001676905300.html

@Gin-toki Жыл бұрын

This is really incredibly well made! Are you planning on selling some?

@Halal_Gaming Жыл бұрын

Glad to see you're back! Looking forward to more stuff from you.

@chadbeardall3660 Жыл бұрын

Once I figured out what he was making, I wondered how he was going to power it. Then he just hooked it up to that battery box and I had to go back to the beginning to figure out how it all worked. Such an amazing job done here and a really eligant solution!

@omrihadar8823 Жыл бұрын

Would you make the Gerber files and STLs available?

@zeevro Жыл бұрын

Are you selling/publishing source code for the hardware and/or software?

@Unleashed75 Жыл бұрын

So beautifully explained as to what it is and what it does for all new people coming into your channel

@RenSkywalker2187 Жыл бұрын

I clicked this with no idea what it was, no clue at all what you were making. This is amazing omg

@aborabee3 Жыл бұрын

Amazing work! I am very curious about the display you used and how you managed greyscale?

@feynthefallen Жыл бұрын

Suggestion for improvement: You don't really need the micro usb connector, instead use some contact pads designed to be contacted by spring-loaded pins. If you put them close enough to the surface, you can clean em up after potting. And then build yourself a custom lego brick with spring loaded contacts sticking out the top. Also, could you release the pcb and 3d construction files please? I'd very much like a closer look.

@asmotaku Жыл бұрын

Splendid work. Even the texture is present on the console's screen. 🥇🤩

@dadbear5316 Жыл бұрын

I just found your channel and I'm very glad about it, this gave me some great ideas. I've also never had 3d printed jigs or a flux marker before, looks like must-haves.

@Hi-hw8tl Жыл бұрын

Would you sell them or make instructions? How much does the production of one cost?

@tigercat3864 Жыл бұрын

The main chip, Raspi Pico, costs 1/2 dollar. Probably $10 for all the parts. Now all you need is mad CAD/EDA skills, PNP machine, reflow oven, 3D printer, excellent soldering skills, mold making skills, tool making skills, and a ton of time.

@petermuller608 Жыл бұрын

A shot of the finished product in the first 10s of the video would have been nice. I literally had no idea what you were building till the end

@SluGGerDE Жыл бұрын

the video wasn't intended for a wide audience, it was actually ment as a project documentation for a small group and just blew up

@hermanturnip3984 Жыл бұрын

I had no idea what I was watching but glad I stuck with it until the end. Fascinating!

@Benfoxmra95 Жыл бұрын

you win... i give up. the amount of tenacity it takes to complete this type of project is lost on the average human. very nice work. i almost gave up about 4 mins into the video but i had a feeling the result was worth seeing. please keep doing this type of stuff, the world needs more people who can focus on details.