A Mason Jar Dice Roller

If you like to play board and/or dice-related games, you could throw dice by hand — as they've done for millennia — or you could do things a bit differently with this ESP8266-powered mason jar roller. The device, by creator “CarmelitoA” contains the dice inside of an upside-down mason jar, which are rolled with the help of a continuous rotation servo underneath.

The jar and electronics are held together via a 3D-printed base assembly, with the dice resting on a circular platform that's divided into quadrants with elevated ridges. When the servo rotates, this, in turn, rotates the dice. Everything is controlled by a NodeMCU ESP8266, though any WiFi-enabled Arduino-style board should work was well.

To start rolling, users log on to a browser-based app running on a phone or tablet, and are able to select between four motion options. There’s also a simple arcade button that can be used as an interface if a phone is inconvenient.

It’s a neat idea that allows users to see the dice in motion, while automating the process. Print and code files are available in CarmelitoA's write-up, though one could see this modified and enhanced in a variety of ways. Perhaps lighting could be added to the inside to enhance the random-rolling mood, or a BLDC could be implemented for high-speed tumbling action!