The Levy3D MK5 helmet has a more complex faceplate mechanism than most Iron Man builds. This ALISHA board is configured for it ? it includes a dedicated PCA9685 PWM servo driver board that gives you expanded servo control without the timing limitations of driving servos directly from the microcontroller.
Built for the MK5. Pre-programmed. Wire it up and it works.
ALISHA MKE MK5 is an ESP32-C3 control board paired with a PCA9685 PWM Servo Driver ? purpose-configured for the Levy3D MK5 Iron Man helmet. The PCA9685 handles servo control via I2C, freeing the ESP32-C3 for timing-critical tasks and expanding the available servo channels for the MK5's multi-servo faceplate articulation.
One board set handles:
Standard ALISHA boards drive servos directly from the ESP32-C3 GPIO pins ? which works well for simpler faceplate builds. The Levy3D MK5's faceplate mechanics require more servo channels and more precise simultaneous timing than direct GPIO control delivers cleanly.
The PCA9685 is a dedicated 16-channel PWM servo driver that offloads servo timing from the microcontroller entirely. The result: smoother, more precise multi-servo articulation that matches what the MK5 faceplate design calls for.
If you're building a Levy3D MK5, this is the board to get. The standard MKE is for simpler helmet builds.
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Tap | Opens / closes the faceplate |
| Double-tap | Cycles LED eye brightness (Off / Low / Medium / High) |
| Press & Hold | Activates alternate mode |
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| USB power bank (5V, 2.1A+) | Required ? do not use AA/AAA battery packs |
| USB-Mini cable (charging rated) | Not included |
| MG90S servos | Not included; quantity depends on your MK5 build configuration |
| LED eyes | Any 5V LED; not included |
| Momentary switch (NO type) | Not included |
Operating voltage: 5V?6V. Do not exceed 6V (MG90S servo maximum).
Power note: Do not plug a USB data cable directly into the ESP32-C3 Supermini module for power ? use the board's USB power input port.
| Option | What You Get |
|---|---|
| MKE MK5 | Board set ready to wire ? ESP32-C3 + PCA9685 |
| MKE MK5 + PENELOPE | Adds USB keep-alive ? prevents power bank auto-shutoff mid-convention |
Join the Frankly Built Discord ? the largest Iron Man cosplay community online. MK5 builds, wiring questions, servo configuration, and Crash Works 3D support all live there.