SunFounder 2560 Case Enclosure Transparent Gloss Acrylic Computer Box Compatible with Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3 R3, Genuino Mega 2560 Rev3 (Mega 2560 Board not Included)

First thing I want to point out is that my order did NOT come with a 2560, other reviews and Q&A seem to indicate that it does.I have an ELEGOO 2560 R3 board which is NOT compatible with this case (at least the case I received). The problem is the two single row headers are expected to have a gap in each of them and there is a cross member in the slots in the case for that gap. I had to cut the cross members out, which was easy except that part of the top cracked while doing so. I can super-glue that crack and it will be fine.As for assembly, what a pain the butt! The parts are plexi-glass or similar and both sides of every part has a protective paper covering that you will want to peel off, at least for the top part of the case. Once get the paper started, it peels off fairly easily, but you'll be hating life while you are doing it. After that, it becomes a puzzle to assemble the pieces and keep them together while you insert the 2560 board and screw down the top. The only piece that stays together (with friction) is the end piece with the 2-row header - it has a slot that the board fits into.Once assembled, it is quite secure, no rattles at all. Note that I did NOT install the two button extension pieces. My board has just the RESET button and left that extension out on purpose so that resetting the board is a deliberate action with a small object instead of accidentally pressing it.One very good thing about this case is the tabs at each end to attach the case to another surface (screw holes). Overall, it is a good case, cheap (even though it appears that $10 is "expensive" for some people)

What you get: eight pieces of transparent plastic (Lucite? acrylic?), 8 small machine screws, 4 standoffs. Peel off the protective paper backing from each piece and dig in. Don't overlook the two very tiny pieces. One is a standoff and the other extends the Reset button.First minor hitch: I had to file down one of the alignment tabs on the back end piece: it wouldn't clear the Elegoo MEGA2560 PC board. Once that was done, everything fit together. I suggest you check each piece for fit before assembly.Also: I suggest you skip ahead and install the four standoffs and four screws to the top panel. You have to do that panel first to hold those two TINY pieces of plastic in place. Place the top panel top-down on a non-scratching surface and start in. The standoffs will help hold the sides while you finish up assembly with the bottom surface.The clearance cuts in the top panel fit very tightly around the peripheral headers. You may have to rock your Arduino board or clone VERY GENTLY from side to side to get them to fit flush. "Flush" is essential. Otherwise, the case will be distorted when you add the bottom and shields may not connect properly. After the board is fitted to the top, install the sides, noting that they have little "ears" that must fit against the top edge. Squeeze the front and back ends in place, affix the bottom side and -- eventually -- you should have a really nice looking case that holds the board securely with no play and no rattle. There is an instruction sheet with the obligatory number call-outs and arrows. But I definitely recommend starting with steps 9 & 10 on the top panel.The photo shows my SparkFun MIDI shield connected through the case to my Elegoo MEGA2560. Pin-out matched and the case doesn't interfere with access to the shield. Running Brendan Clarke's sequencer sketch as I write this.PRO: protects your Arduino MEGA2560 or clone from being shorted out by stray jumper wire ends: a big plus.Looks nice and "professional" when assembled.Shields connect with no problems, if you assemble correctly with headers flush with the case top.CON: not a big deal, but I did have to take a small metal file to one alignment tab on the bottom end. Everything else fit.The machine screws must by #6 or even #4. Can't count how many times I dropped them during assembly. But then, I'm no longer young.Holding the side and end pieces to the top while affixing the bottom takes both hands; you must be cautious not to let the board headers get out of alignment at this stage. Just take it slow and pay attention to all side and end pieces.

Since this seems to be designed to be an introductory product that is designed to be educational and a beginners first foray into the world of electrical engineering and hacking around it is both a good product and somewhat lacking.I would imagine that if you're the sort of person that wants to buy an Arduino or clone that you'd be the kind of person that doesn't mind trial and error and figuring things out. That's good because you'll need to a little bit with one of these (it's kind of the whole point). For instance, when I plugged my board in and tried to upload my first sketch I couldn't, but with only about 2 minutes on Google I found my problem and was good to go.So here's my review:1. The product works as advertised. It is a solid Arduino Mega 2560 clone that does what an Arduino Mega 2560 is supposed to do, and that's cool. It really is cool what it can do, and I find myself sitting around thinking of cool stuff to make it do.2. The kit has a nice supply of interesting input and outputs. Switches and LEDs and such. However, it's basic toy stuff and just designed to show you how these things work. After only a few days I've exhausted the possibilities and am ready to move on to cooler things that will cost me more money.3. The tutorial is sorely lacking. It's not really that bad, but there should be a lot more of "why." For instance, Lesson 13 is about the NE555 timer. It shows you how to wire the circuit, gives you the code, and shows you what the desired outcome should be. I dutifully copied it all and got the desired outcome. Yet, I have no idea still exactly what was happening. There's a resistor and 2 capacitors in the circuit - the tutorial doesn't explain why or what they are doing. The tutorial never really explains what the 555 timer chip is doing. It's a really really poor tutorial and you'll not learn a much at all about the 555 chip, electrical engineering, or the Arduino platform from it.The more basic tutorials were easy to figure out. In fact, I quickly took what was in them and then hacked them to make my own versions. to do my own things. Perhaps they made the tutorials bad so you'd leave the tutorial behind and get to hacking, since that's what it's all for anyway.The product came with a nice blue storage box, the box could have been slightly larger, but I can't really complain. It also came with a small board that you could mount your Mega to, but I don't think I will. Interestingly, it came with a resister band color code sticker. I already lost the tutorial book because I found the webpage tutorials to be more useful: [...]Oh, and don't try to take the propeller off of the motor, once it's on it won't come off without breaking, I broke mine on day one. Fortunately I don't care, but a kid might be sad.All in all I am very happy with this product, and I would have probably bought it again.