Fixing Breadboards for Wide Microcontrollers – Pico & ESP32 Edition

Update 30.01.2026: added 3mf files for Arduino nano. There is a version with colored red and black lines next to the power rails (Arduino nano board only).

Update 27.01.2026: breadboard for Arduino nano added.

Update 27.01.2026: breadboard for 900 mil ESP32 added. Renamed the STL files in order to avoid confusion, added .jpg files which correspond to the .stl files. Added model guide, which presents all available versions.

Update 25.01.2026: test_print.stl added. This is a quick print of the breadboard's main feature. If your printer can handle this, it can also print the full breadboard.

Update 22.01.2026: more variants included (photos to come), nozzle size included in readme.md

This project provides a custom 3D-printed breadboard body designed to accommodate modern, wide microcontroller development boards such as the Raspberry Pi Pico, ESP32 Dev Board, and Arduino nano. The metal spring contacts from a standard commercial breadboard are removed and reused inside the new housing, giving you a full-size 63×5 contact area and two power rails — just like the real thing.

✨ Why?

Many modern µC boards are too wide for typical solderless breadboards:

• With a Raspberry Pi Pico, only two holes per pin remain usable.
• With an ESP32 Dev Board, no holes remain at all — you need two breadboards side by side.

With this custom breadboard, the microcontroller sits in the middle, leaving four free holes per pin for jumper wires and components — ideal for prototyping.

📦 Features

• Full 63×5 breadboard layout
• Two vertical power rails (left & right)
• Contact springs recycled from an existing breadboard
• Six variants:
  • Pico version 1: 7×2.54 mm pin spacing (17.78 mm)
  • Pico version 2: pin spacing split: 24 rows with 17.78 mm spacing (corresponds to RP pico), 39 rows with 7.62 mm spacing (correponds to DIL ICs)
  • ESP32 version 1: 10×2.54 mm pin spacing (25.40 mm)
  • ESP32 version 2: pin spacing split: 2 columns with 25.40 mm spacing, 3 columns with 7.62 mm spacing
  • ESP32 version 3: pin spacing split: 2 columns with 25.40 mm spacing, 2 columns with 7.62 mm spacing
  • Arduino nano version 1: 6*2.54 mm pin spacing (15.24 mm)
• Optional screw-mounted bottom plate
• Fully 3D-printable design (Fusion 360 source included)

📁 Included Files

This repository contains:

• /ESP32dev/ – Source CAD file, STL model, 3MF file for ESP32 development board
• /RaspberryPiPico/ – Source CAD file, STL model, 3MF file for Raspberry Pi Pico
• /photos/ – Build & assembly photos (for documentation)
• readme.md - this file
• license.txt - license

🖨 Printing Notes

• Material: PLA works well (ABS/ASA for heat resistance)
• Layer height: 0.2 mm recommended
• nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm recommended
• Infill: 50%
• Supports: Not required for main board
• Optional: Pause print to insert M2 nuts for screw mounting

Alternatively, the bottom plate may be glued instead of screwed.

🛠 Assembly Overview

1. Remove bottom adhesive tape from a commercial breadboard
2. Extract the metal spring contacts (keep power rails separate)
3. Insert contacts into the 3D-printed body
4. Insert power rails on both sides
5. Mount or glue the bottom plate
6. Plug in Pico or ESP32 and start prototyping!

📷 Photos & Documentation

See the Instructables article for full build documentation and photos:
link coming soon

📝 Inspiration & Credits

The concept was inspired by the MAKE Advent Calendar project on Tinkercad:
MAKE ESP Breadboard This version expands the idea to a full-length 63-row breadboard with complete power rails.

📜 License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) see license.txt