Light-Up Magnetic Tiles

Take a quilt-like collaborative Maker project to the next level with electricity!

Tutorial Links

• Project Guide

Materials for Board

• 24" x 36" magnetic whiteboard
• 3V DC power source
  • Option 1: 2 batteries in a holder, size AA, or C or D for more current
  • Option 2: 3V DC power supply, that can provide 2000mA current
• Copper tape with conductive adhesive, 1/4" wide
• Masking, washi, or electrical tape to mark columns
• Extra wire and wire-nuts (or solder, etc) to connect power to copper tape 

Materials for Tiles

• ​Lightweight material that does not tend to warp, such as chipboard, foam-core, or corrugated plastic
  
• Magnetic tape or strips, 1/2" wide with adhesive backing
• Copper tape with conductive adhesive, 1/4" wide, as used for mounting board 
  
• LED assortment - choose LEDs with colored plastic so they can be identified easily
• Craft materials such as origami paper, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, craft foam, googly eyes, markers

Tools

• Scissors and/or craft knives, straight edges and cutting mats for cutting tiles and decorations
• Hot glue gun and hot glue, glue stick, tacky glue, etc
• Push-pins
• Soldering Station:
  
  • ​soldering iron
    
  • brass sponge
    
  • fume extractor
    
  • needle-nose pliers, forceps, screwdriver, etc for pushing down leads while soldering
  • safety glasses!