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Chessboard master

aaravs-s·Imperium·PCB/masterpcb/chessboard_masterpcb.kicad_pcb

Chessboard master PCB layout, top view — open source ESP32 board by aaravs-s
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About the Chessboard master PCB

Chessboard master is an open source ESP32 PCB design by aaravs-s, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 100 × 95.5 mm, with 13 components from 7 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1, from the ESP32 family. By type, the board carries 4 ICs, 4 connectors, 2 capacitors, 2 resistors and 1 transistor.

It belongs with the robotics & motion and sensors designs in this gallery.

From the project

A self moving chessboard controlled by electro-magnets

Imperium is a fully autonomous chessboard that detects and moves pieces using a precision electromagnetic gantry, per-square Hall-effect sensing, and CNC-style motion control. The system integrates custom mechanical design, multi-PCB electronics, and firmware-level motion planning to deliver seamless, repeatable gameplay without manual calibration.

Gantry Design - Type: T-Bot (CoreXY derivative) - Motors: 2× NEMA 17 - Linear motion: 2× MGN12 rails (450 mm) - Drive: GT2 belts & pulleys - End effector: Electromagnet (custom mount)

Chessboard master, from the project README
From the project README

Chessboard master bill of materials (BOM)

13 components, 7 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
2
~
U2, U3
1
~
U4
1
~
U5
1
RFP30N06LE
Q1
4
Conn_01x07_Socket
J1, J2, J3, J4
2
C_Small
C2, C3
2
R_Small
R1, R2

Chessboard master design files

The KiCad project lives in the aaravs-s/Imperium repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Chessboard master: common questions

What microcontroller does the Chessboard master use?

The Chessboard master is built around the ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1, from the ESP32 family.

How big is the Chessboard master PCB?

The Chessboard master measures 100 × 95.5 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the Chessboard master?

13 components, from 7 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Chessboard master design files?

From the aaravs-s/Imperium repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout and the schematic; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Chessboard master design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with aaravs-s. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Chessboard master without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug ESP32 firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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