Press the button and your Iron Man faceplate opens or closes, the LED eyes switch off or on, and a sound effect plays through your speaker. ALISHA MK X-D runs the servos, the LED eyes, and the sound from one Arduino Nano board.
The Arduino Nano ships pre-flashed, so you wire it, power it, and it runs without any code.
What ALISHA MK X-D Does
ALISHA (Arduino Nano LED & Integrated Servo Helmet Actuator) MK X-D is an Arduino Nano shield with an MP3 sound player and microSD card slot on the board. It drives:
- Up to 3 MG90S servos for the faceplate
- 2 PWM LED eye outputs (left and right, each with a 100? current limiting resistor)
- A speaker (8?, 3W maximum) or a powered speaker through the 3.5mm audio jack
- 2 NeoPixel ports plus gyroscope and expansion ports for advanced builds
Builders use it in Iron Man helmets and in Batman, Spider-Man, Gray Fox, and other helmets.
Button Controls
When you power on, the LED eyes blink, the servos move to their home position, and you hear the JARVIS helmet-close sound. Your first button press arms the board. After that:
| Gesture | Action |
|---|
| Tap | Opens the faceplate (eyes off, open sound) or closes it (eyes on, close sound) |
| Double-tap | Turns the LED eyes on or off |
| Press & Hold | Adjusts LED eye brightness |
MK X-D vs. MK X-J: Which Sound Board?
The two boards share the same ports and button controls. They differ in how you get sound onto them.
| MK X-D (this listing) | MK X-J |
|---|
| Sound source | MP3 files on a microSD card you provide | Sounds pre-loaded on the board |
| Extra parts | microSD card (8GB max) | None for sound beyond a speaker |
| Pick it if | You want to choose your own sound effects | You want sound working the day it arrives |
Loading Your Sound Files
- Format a microSD card (8GB or smaller) as FAT32.
- Download the Crash Works 3D MP3 files from github.com/crashworks3d/Iron_Man_Servo.
- Copy the files to the card in number order (0001.mp3, 0002.mp3, 0003.mp3).
- On a Mac, run dot_clean on the card to remove hidden files. Skip this and the sounds can play out of order.
- Insert the card in the board's microSD slot and connect your speaker.
We include step-by-step SD card formatting instructions for Mac and Windows with your order. When a sound plays, a blue LED above the SD card slot lights up. If you see the LED but hear nothing, check your speaker wiring. If the LED stays dark, reformat the card and copy the files again.
Ports Available
Standard build:
- USB Power In (mini-USB, power only, no data)
- Power In / Power Out / Aux Power
- 3 Servo outputs
- 2 LED eye outputs
- 1 Input switch
- Speaker and 3.5mm audio jack
- microSD card slot
Expansion:
- 2 NeoPixel
- Gyroscope
- 2 Digital expansion, Analog expansion
- Reset switch, Data (RX/TX)
What's in the Kit
- ALISHA MK X-D board (57mm × 57mm) with JST-XH female pin headers installed
- Arduino Nano (CH340G), pre-flashed with Crash Works 3D firmware
- 2× 3-pin servo cables (Black = GND / Red = + / Yellow = Signal; on MG90S servos, Orange = Signal)
- 1× 2-pin power in / power out cable (Red = + / Black = GND)
- 1× 2-pin switch cable (Green or Blue wire set, not polarity sensitive)
- 2× 2-pin LED cables (Red = + / Black = GND)
- 1× 2-pin speaker cable (Black & Green or Black & Blue wire set)
- 1× 2-pin power jumper cable
What Else You'll Need
| Item | Notes |
|---|
| USB power bank | 5V, 2A minimum; 2.4A or 3A recommended |
| Charging-rated mini-USB cable | The kind that charges a GPS or phone |
| MG90S servos (up to 3) | We recommend Tower Pro 180°. The kit includes 2 servo cables; a third servo needs its own lead. |
| LED eyes | Search "cosplay LED eyes" |
| Momentary switch | Normally Open (NO) type. A Normally Closed switch won't work. On a limit switch, wire the C and NO terminals. |
| Speaker | 8?, 3W maximum |
| microSD card | 8GB maximum, FAT32 |
Power Setup
- Plug your power bank into the board's mini-USB port or into the 2-pin Power In port.
- With PENELOPE, connect its Power Out to the board's Power In.
- If you run one power bank, leave the jumper between AUX Power and Power Out in place.
- To power a large number of NeoPixels or a heavier servo load, remove the jumper and plug a second power bank into AUX Power. That bank feeds the servo and NeoPixel ports.
- The Power Out port can run an external device with the included 2-pin cable. It puts out the same power your main bank supplies.
Bundle Options
| Option | What You Get |
|---|
| MK X-D Only | Board with pre-flashed Arduino Nano and cables |
| MK X-D + PENELOPE | Adds PENELOPE, which keeps your power bank from shutting itself off mid-wear |
Customizing the Firmware
You can change servo angle and range of motion, turn the LED blink sequence on or off, and set sound volume in the Arduino IDE.
- Source code: github.com/crashworks3d/Iron_Man_Servo
- Select Arduino Nano as the board type and connect a USB cable to the Nano's own USB port.
- Unplug the servos while you upload so they don't draw power from your computer.
Helmet Kits and Support
Our Thingiverse page (thingiverse.com/crashworks3d) has printable motorization kits and docs for the MK7, MK46, and MK85 helmets.
For wiring help, message us or ask in the #crashworks3d-questions channel on the Frankly Built Discord.
If you aren't sure the board fits your helmet, message us before you buy.
Important
- Operating voltage: 5V to 6V. Stay at or below 6V, the MG90S servo limit.
- Do not use AA or AAA battery packs. They can damage the board.
- Do not power the board through the Arduino Nano's USB port. That port is for programming only.
- Servos, LEDs, switch, speaker, microSD card, power bank, and USB cable not included.
- Returns accepted within 30 days.
- Shipping at cost. If the carrier charges less than the checkout estimate, we refund the difference.