Virtual Pet Fidget Clicker Keychain

I finally decided to try out the fidget clicker fad with a virtual pet clicker! I've seen a few versions out there (I know I'm not the first) but I still wanted to make one myself!

I have used Tinkercad's Sketch shape to make 6 different designs you can have in your virtual / digital / Tamagotchi-like fidget clicker screen including 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a pixel heart. They aren't all scaled the same as I tried to enlarge them to fit the screen no matter what they were.

The button on the clicker is done with 1 color change, but other than that, the pieces are printed separately and glued together so they are easy to print without a bunch of waste.

Instructable 402

Tests:

I only had to do one test which was nice and you can see that my button stuck way out of the base. That's something to keep in mind with your clicker if you design your own. You may want to make sure it can sink into the design enough.

Supplies:

1. 3D models, if you want my clicker, are found on Makerworld!
2. 3D Printer and Filament - I used a variety of pastel colors for these and my Bambu PS1.
3. Keyboard Switch Clicker - there are soooo many out there, but I got these. Most SHOULD work with my design.
4. Glue - this is for the small pieces to glue on, the clicker does not need to be glued in but can be.
5. Keychain - now I kept testing these with my daughter and I've come to the conclusion that none will work with her, but these are ones I've used for various projects that seem good otherwise
6. Ball Threads Keychain
7. Split Ring Keychain

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You'll need the cutouts to cut out of your design. The bottom is mostly a basic cube with a shelf to help the bottom clip into. The top has a circle and cross that sticks out that the top of the clicker with slide into.

The base starts out fairly simple with a sphere that I've elongated to be about the size I want (after my test I need to make it thicker to fit the clicker better).

I also cut off the top and bottom both for better printing results and to give me a work surface on top.

I measured up where the bottom clicker cutout would go.

I decided on the screen size (put that aside for now) and then enlarged it slightly for the cutout into the design. Also as shown in the test, you want to make sure the button is going to be down far enough into your design (if that's how your clicker is going to work).

I decided to do a jagged border as I've seen done on some others and some cutouts along the edges so it isn't so plain.

I grouped everything together and made sure I liked the overall look!

Next are the buttons. I started by designing them and adding them to the base so I could see how they looked. I used Tinkercad Sketch shape to make the small pixel heart and a simple cylinder for the buttons.

As mentioned, I needed cutouts because I didn't want to waste too much filament printing this. In order to get the cutouts, you need it to be a little bigger for the inserts to fit. I made the cutouts .1mm bigger all around (so it ends up being about .2mm total along the x and also on the y). Since I used Sketch, it was easy to get the cutout. I started with the basic shape, then duplicated it. In the Duplicate, I went in and made it into an outline that is .1mm thick and then just combined the basic silhoutte with the outline and you get your cutout!

Just line that up the best you can with the one on your design and cut it out. You can move the button back to the workplane using the Cruise tool as you'll need to print it separate. Make sure the inserts go fare enough into the base that they'll sit nice.

I just made the cylinder bigger by .2 since it's a basic shape that doesn't have angles going in and out.

You will print this base with the cutouts and the buttons separate. Make sure the buttons are flat on the Workplane when you export.

Now for the buttons.

As mentioned earlier, I decided on the shape and size first so I'd know how the cutout would fit, but it is a box with rounded edges. I cut off the bottom so it is flat on that side.

I have my cutout that I'm going to join with it and make sure the button is at least a couple layers thicker than the cutout.

I used Sketch to draw my designs and I decided my pixels would be 2mm by 2mm but I knew I could enlarge or shrink it once I was done. This was just to get the scale right as I created it.

To get the multi colored print, I made my design .2mm thick (since that is how thick the base layer will be in my print) and duplicated it, lined it up with the top of the button, and made it into a hole to cut out. I centered it and then aligned my colored one with the hole I just cut out.

I exported these either as an OBJ so they separate the colors or export the cutout shape and the button to do the different colors in the Slicer.

Now you have your separate prints. Make sure they are going to fit together right. remember the button will start by sticking up further and then when you click it, it will sinnk down into the print so make sure that cutout goes down deep enough into the print.

Here is just a look at how I printed it.

As I mentioned, they print separate to save on color changes, but I also did them all on the same plate while doing Print Sequence by Object so that I don't have to go through the whole startup process on the printer for each print. Instead it will do the startup process, then print each part at a time, so here it starts with the buttons on the bottom right, then it does the hearts, then it does the button in the top right, and finishes with the base. Using Print Sequence by Object saves on filament and time.

I don't know if it makes a super big difference but I like to make sure the plate prints front of plate to back of plate and I also start with the smaller pieces and then end on the big piece.

I used glue on my textured plate to make sure the small parts won't dislodge while printing and didn't have any issues.

Time to assemble!

I started by gluing in the buttons. They fit pretty snug but I definitely say you should glue them in.

Adding the clicker does not require glue.

The button is VERY snug so carefully but firmly push it straight onto the clicker. It can help to put the base in first and then carefully put on the button.

Have fun fidgeting and clicking with it!

Add a keychain if you'd like! Be aware that if you are going to fidget with it, you want to use a sturdy one. The ball chain will probably work best.

A large split ring combined with a small split ring should also do it.