“Welcome,
I like playing chess game and up to now I played a lot on the Internet or with different Apps. But I was frustrated to pass all this time behind a screen.
I started to look into the electronic chess games, but I rapidly realize that the best choice was to do it by myself. I took time to learn about AI, game engine, chess pieces detection to finally design my own chess game.
So, this Instructable describes an automated chessboard with two game modes. The first one, Human vs Human, with a control of the chess pieces displacements. The second one, Human vs Computer, with an automatic chess pieces movement for the computer player. The computer player chess pieces have a phantom displacement thanks to a hidden moving mechanism.
The automated chess board is composed of an XY table with an electromagnet on the moving trolley. The chessboard is placed above the XY table and the chess pieces are equipped with magnets. When the electromagnet is below the chess piece a magnetic contact can be generated through the chessboard, so that the chess piece follows the trolley when it moves.
LCD screen and arcade buttons are added to interact with the players (select the game modes, timer control, inform about the events…)
Overall dimensions : 460mm x 460mm x 100mm
Chess pieces size : Staunton 3
Programming Language : Arduino C/C++
Powering : 12V / 2A
Supplies:
XY table :
2 x V slot 20x20 linear rail, Length = 345 mm
1 x V slot 20x20 linear rail, Length = 315 mm
1 x V slot 20x20 linear rail, Length = 350 mm
1 x V slot 20x20 linear rail, Length = 395 mm
10 x 90 degree Corner Bracket
Transmission :
2 x GT2 Pulley, 20 teeth, 5mm bore
8 x GT2 Toothless pulley
3.5m x GT2 Belt
Electronics :
1 x Arduino Nano
2 x Stepper Motor - Adafruit - Nema 17 size - 200 steps/rev, 12V 350mA
2 x Stepper Motor Driver Carrier - Pololu - A4988
1 x LCD Module - I2C Serial - 2.6“
2 x Arcade button - Bore hole 23.5 mm
1 x Electromagnet - Adafruit - 5Kg Holding Force - P25/20
1 x Freewheeling diode
1 x MOSFET - TIP 120
2 x Micro Limit switch roller
64 x Reed Switch - Dia 2 x 14.5 mm
1 x Resistor - 1K ohm
4 x MUX breakout - SparkFun - CD74HC4067
1 x Terminal Block - DC Jack
Female Headers
10 x Screw Terminal
3 x Prototyping Board - 50 x 100 mm
4 x HE10 Connectors
8 x Ribbon Cable - 8
Chess :
1 x Chess pieces set - Staunton 3
1 x Chessboard Sticker - Squares size : 37 x 37 mm
32 x Magnet, Dia 8 x 3 mm
Box :
1 x Foamboard - 462 x 462 x 5 mm
1 x Foamboard - 462 x 462 x 10 mm
2 x Foamboard - 462 x 80 x 10 mm
2 x Foamboard - 442 x 80 x 10 mm
Bolting :
8 x Mini V Wheel
4 x Aluminium Spacer - ID : 5mm - Height : 6mm
4 x Eccentric Spacer - M5
4 x Hex. Locking Nut - M5
4 x Thin Hex. Nut - M5
8 x Mini Precision Shim - OD : 8 mm - ID : 5 mm - Thickness : 1 mm
26 x T-Nuts - M5
14 x Hex. Socket Button Head Cap Screw - M5 x 8 mm
12 x Hex. Socket Button Head Cap Screw - M5 x 12 mm
2 x Hex. Socket Button Head Cap Screw - M5 x 35 mm
2 x Hex. Socket Button Head Cap Screw - M5 x 30 mm
2 x Hex. Socket Button Head Cap Screw - M5 x 25 mm
8 x Hex. Socket Button Head Cap Screw - M5 x 15 mm
4 x Slotted Head Screw - M2 x 15 mm
4 x Nut - M2
8 x Hex. Socket Head Cap Screw - M3 x 10 mm
1 x Hex. Socket Head Cap Screw - M4 x 15 mm
4 x Slotted Countersunk Head Screw - M5 x 20 mm
4 x Nut - M5
3D Model :
All the structural parts were designed for 3D printing.”