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Father and 12-Year-Old Son Build Tiny Computer in an Altoids Tin
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- DeepHorus
A father and his 12-year-old son built a tiny computer inside an Altoids tin over approximately two months. The project, dubbed the Altoids project, went through five iterations. None of the components used in the first iteration survived to the final version.
The idea began at MIT Swapfest, where the pair received a free assembled robot from a couple's booth. They also purchased a used ThinkPad laptop at a reasonable price. After disassembling the robot, they decided to reuse its 128x64 display for their own build.
Finding the display's pinout proved challenging. An AI attempt hallucinated a 20-pin layout for a display that only has 10 pins. A stranger on the Arduino forum eventually provided the correct schematic, allowing them to run the Space Trash game from the U8g2 library as version one.
Inspired by a YouTube video, they moved the project into an Altoids tin. They switched to an Arduino Nano, added LiPo batteries and a PowerBoost for power, and the son completed all CAD and 3D printing work. The lid initially failed to close, requiring careful rearrangement.
The build faced repeated setbacks. Desoldering damaged a display's copper pad, forcing a replacement order from Adafruit. A new soldering iron resolved uneven heating issues and enabled rapid progress. The son performed most of the soldering and learned debugging after connecting one wire incorrectly.
The final version fit inside a real Altoids tin, which is slightly taller than the original container. The lid closed with some struggle, and the pair hot-glued the display onto the lid. As a finishing touch, they added two actual Altoids in tiny 1x1-inch ziploc bags.
The project demonstrates how persistence and hands-on learning can transform recycled parts into a working device. It highlights the educational value of father-son collaboration in electronics and debugging. The pair's experience may inspire other DIY enthusiasts to attempt similar compact builds.
