# Adafruit IO Time Tracking Cube ## Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBJnkPywAMw ## Time Tracking Tasks  It's difficult to remember exactly what time you started work on a project, and when you stopped. Tasks like taking out the dog and brewing a fresh pot of coffee to keep you focused do not count towards your project's "total hours". ![adafruit_io_hero-cube-feathers-2.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/069/248/medium640/adafruit_io_hero-cube-feathers-2.jpg?1547257353) ## Automate Time-Sheets You can use Microsoft Excel to track your data using a time-sheet, but manually inputting times and tasks also becomes a task. We're going to build a _different_ way to track your - using a flippable cube.      _New task?_ Flip it over._Taking a break?_ Flip it over. _Finished with work for the day?_ Flip it it over! ![adafruit_io_color-flip.gif](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/069/318/medium640thumb/adafruit_io_color-flip.jpg?1547418595) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/069/316/medium800/adafruit_io_code-desk.jpg?1547417425) We'll be connecting the Time Tracking Cube to [Adafruit IO](http://io.adafruit.com/) to collect **metadata** about _when_ the cube was flipped and its orientation. ![adafruit_io_ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/068/664/medium640thumb/adafruit_io_ezgif.com-gif-maker.jpg?1546550654) We're also going to create a [Zapier](https://zapier.com) Zap to periodically collect data from this feed and send it to a timesheet we create on Google Sheets.  ![adafruit_io_TimeCube_Timesheet_-_Google_Sheets.png](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/068/670/medium640/adafruit_io_TimeCube_Timesheet_-_Google_Sheets.png?1546625291) ## Adafruit Feather Platform The Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 is an all in one WiFi dev board with built in USB and battery charging. The Adafruit Feather format is easy to use gives you tons of add-ons. The Prop-Maker Wing adds NeoPixel support and sound effects. ![adafruit_io_featherwing-snapon.gif](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/069/317/medium640thumb/adafruit_io_featherwing-snapon.jpg?1547418381) ## Parts ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/068/986/medium800/adafruit_io_parts.jpg?1547129530) You'll need the following parts to complete this guide. The ESP8266 is simple to set up and supported by the Adafruit IO Arduino library. Featured ### Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 - Loose Headers [Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 - Loose Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821) Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake, it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores. This is the  **Adafruit Feather HUZZAH ESP8266**  - our take on an... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2821/guides) ![Angled shot of black, rectangular WiFi development board.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/2821-07.jpg) The Prop-Maker FeatherWing has  **_lots_ ** of options for building either props, or desk-toys. We'll use one feature of the FeatherWing - the LIS3DH Accelerometer. This sensor is perfect for detecting when the cube is tilted in different orientations on the desk.  Featured ### Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing [Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3988) The Adafruit Feather series gives you lots of options for a small, portable, rechargeable microcontroller board. Perfect for fitting into your next prop build! This FeatherWing will unlock the prop-maker inside all of us, with tons of stuff packed in to make sabers & swords, props, toys,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3988) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3988/guides) ![Angled shot of a Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3988-00.jpg) We'll also use a small Piezo Buzzer to let us know if the cube was tilted, without checking Adafruit IO or the Serial Monitor. Featured ### Piezo Buzzer [Piezo Buzzer](https://www.adafruit.com/product/160) Piezo buzzers are used for making beeps, tones and alerts. This one is petite but loud! Drive it with 3-30V peak-to-peak square wave. To use, connect one pin to ground (either one) and the other pin to a square wave out from a timer or microcontroller. For the loudest tones, stay around 4 KHz,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/160) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/160/guides) ![Bread-board friendly Piezo Buzzer](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/160-01.jpg) ### NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers [NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1426) Make your own little LED strip arrangement with this stick of NeoPixel LEDs. We crammed 8 of the tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) smart RGB LEDs onto a PCB with mounting holes and a chainable design. Use only one microcontroller pin to control as many as you can chain together! Each LED is addressable as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1426) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1426/guides) ![NeoPixel Stick with 8 x 5050 RGB LED ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1426-05.jpg) ### Short Headers Kit for Feather - 12-pin + 16-pin Female Headers [Short Headers Kit for Feather - 12-pin + 16-pin Female Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2940) These two  **Short**   **Female Headers**  alone are, well, lonely. But pair them with any of our [Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/777) boards and you're in business! These headers are particularly cute and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2940) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2940/guides) ![Angled shot of two stacking headers.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/2940-01.jpg) ### Short Feather Male Headers - 12-pin and 16-pin Male Header Set [Short Feather Male Headers - 12-pin and 16-pin Male Header Set](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3002) These two  **Short**   **Male Headers**  alone are, well, lonely. But pair them with any of our [Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/777) boards and you're in business! In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3002) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3002/guides) ![Angled shot of a Short Feather Male Headers - 12-pin and 16-pin Male Header Set. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3002-00.jpg) ### STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Female Socket Cable - 200mm [STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Female Socket Cable - 200mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3894) This cable will let you turn a JST PH 3-pin cable port into 3 individual wires with high-quality 0.1" female header sockets on the end. We're carrying these to match up with our Hallowing, for extending and connecting sensors or LEDs - and the wires are even color coded! Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3894) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3894/guides) ![Angled shot of STEMMA JST PH 3-Pin to Female Header Cable - 200mm.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3894-03.jpg) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/069/315/medium800/adafruit_io_circuit-test.jpg?1547417404) ## Materials ## Tools To build your Time Tracking Cube, you'll need access to the following tools. Don't have something listed? Pick it up from the Adafruit shop. ### Part: M2.5 x 8mm metric machine screws quantity: 6 M2.5 x 8mm flat head metric screws [M2.5 x 8mm metric machine screws](https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/2-5-MM-x-45-Phillips-Flat-Head-Machine-Screw-p/1011-1002.htm) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/069/063/medium800thumb/adafruit_io_cube-flip-alt.jpg?1547226027) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/time-tracking-cube/3d-printing.md) ## Guide Products ### Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 - Loose Headers [Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 - Loose Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821) Feather is the new development board from Adafruit, and like its namesake, it is thin, light, and lets you fly! We designed Feather to be a new standard for portable microcontroller cores. This is the  **Adafruit Feather HUZZAH ESP8266**  - our take on an... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2821/guides) ### Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing [Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3988) The Adafruit Feather series gives you lots of options for a small, portable, rechargeable microcontroller board. Perfect for fitting into your next prop build! This FeatherWing will unlock the prop-maker inside all of us, with tons of stuff packed in to make sabers & swords, props, toys,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3988) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3988/guides) ### Piezo Buzzer [Piezo Buzzer](https://www.adafruit.com/product/160) Piezo buzzers are used for making beeps, tones and alerts. This one is petite but loud! Drive it with 3-30V peak-to-peak square wave. To use, connect one pin to ground (either one) and the other pin to a square wave out from a timer or microcontroller. For the loudest tones, stay around 4 KHz,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/160) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/160/guides) ### NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers [NeoPixel Stick - 8 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1426) Make your own little LED strip arrangement with this stick of NeoPixel LEDs. We crammed 8 of the tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) smart RGB LEDs onto a PCB with mounting holes and a chainable design. Use only one microcontroller pin to control as many as you can chain together! Each LED is addressable as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1426) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1426/guides) ### Short Headers Kit for Feather - 12-pin + 16-pin Female Headers [Short Headers Kit for Feather - 12-pin + 16-pin Female Headers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2940) These two  **Short**   **Female Headers**  alone are, well, lonely. But pair them with any of our [Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/777) boards and you're in business! These headers are particularly cute and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2940) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2940/guides) ### Short Feather Male Headers - 12-pin and 16-pin Male Header Set [Short Feather Male Headers - 12-pin and 16-pin Male Header Set](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3002) These two  **Short**   **Male Headers**  alone are, well, lonely. But pair them with any of our [Feather](https://www.adafruit.com/categories/777) boards and you're in business! In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3002) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3002/guides) ### STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Female Socket Cable - 200mm [STEMMA JST PH 2mm 3-Pin to Female Socket Cable - 200mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3894) This cable will let you turn a JST PH 3-pin cable port into 3 individual wires with high-quality 0.1" female header sockets on the end. We're carrying these to match up with our Hallowing, for extending and connecting sensors or LEDs - and the wires are even color coded! Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3894) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3894/guides) ### Ultimaker 2+ 3D Printer [Ultimaker 2+ 3D Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2673) The **Ultimaker 2+** is one of our favorite 3D printers on the market. It's a well-built open-source compact machine with an excellent UX. Every inch of the Ultimaker 2+ is designed to create the most effortless and reliable 3D printing experience ever!  No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2673) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2673/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit Feather HUZZAH ESP8266](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-huzzah-esp8266.md) - [Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-prop-maker-featherwing.md) - [LED Bullwhip with Motion & Sound Reactivity](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-bullwhip.md) - [Walkmp3rson: Personal MP3 'Tape' Player](https://learn.adafruit.com/walkmp3rson-personal-mp3-tape-player.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and Google Coral](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-on-google-coral-linux-blinka.md) - [Rack and Pinion Bot](https://learn.adafruit.com/rack-and-pinion-bot.md) - [Dotstar + CircuitPython Digital Sand](https://learn.adafruit.com/digital-sand-dotstar-circuitpython-edition.md) - [BLE Beacon NeoPixels](https://learn.adafruit.com/ble-beacon-neopixels.md) - [Hang out your washing reminder - Adafruit IO + Vibration switch](https://learn.adafruit.com/hang-out-your-washing-reminder-adafruit-io-vibration-switch.md) - [CYBERDECK Bonnet and HAT for Raspberry Pi 400](https://learn.adafruit.com/cyberdeck-bonnet-and-hat.md) - [Breakout Game on the Metro RP2350 and Fruit Jam](https://learn.adafruit.com/breakout-game-on-metro-rp2350-and-fruit-jam.md) - [Automatic Dice Roller](https://learn.adafruit.com/automatic-dice-roller.md) - [HalloWing Light Paintstick](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-light-paintstick.md) - [LED Acrylic Sign](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-acrylic-sign.md) - [Animatronic Cosplay Wings](https://learn.adafruit.com/animatronic-cosplay-wings.md) - [NeoTrellis Sound Board](https://learn.adafruit.com/neotrellis-soundboard.md) - [Humidity and Temperature Monitor with E-Ink Display](https://learn.adafruit.com/humidity-and-temperature-monitor-redux-e-ink-display.md)