An Intro to KiCad – Part 10: Solder Components to the PCB | DigiKey

Soldering Your Badge: A Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing for Soldering

• The journey concludes with the assembly of the badge using boards from OSH Park and components from DigiKey. Printing a bill of materials (BOM) serves as a reference during soldering.

• The BOM is printed without product page links, as they are unnecessary. Check the contents of your DigiKey parts bag, ensuring that the manufacturer's part number matches the BOM.

• Label each component bag according to its designated position on the board (e.g., C1 for ten microfarad capacitors). Verify all parts against the BOM.

Preparing the PCB

• If your board has tabs from being cut out of a panel, use good cutters to remove them and sand down edges in a well-ventilated area while wearing respiratory protection due to harmful dust.

• Set your soldering station temperature to 700°F and use lead-free solder with water-soluble flux core. Keep a flux pen handy for rework.

Soldering Components

Resistors

• Start by inserting shorter components like resistors (R1 and R3, 22k Ohm). Bend leads to secure them in place before soldering.

• Ensure correct placement by checking reference designators on the board. After placing all resistors, flip the board over and solder their leads properly.

IC Chips and Transistors

• For larger components like the 7555 chip, bend leads carefully for fitting. Position it correctly with respect to pin markers before soldering.

• Place transistors based on spacing between silk screen corners; ensure proper orientation before securing leads and soldering joints.

Additional Components

Switches and Battery Holder

• Insert switches without worrying about orientation; you can rest the board on them while soldering leads securely.

• Align battery holders according to silk outlines for correct polarity before flipping over to solder their short leads.

Capacitors and LEDs

• Identify capacitor terminals using silk screen markings; ensure correct placement by matching negative terminals with filled semi-circles in through holes before soldering connections.

• LEDs lack clear polarity markings but can be oriented by observing flat edges or longer pins indicating positive connections. Securely place LEDs accordingly before cutting excess leads after soldering.

Final Steps

Cleaning Up

• Clean off any residual water-soluble flux using rubbing alcohol and a stiff bristle brush to prevent conductivity issues. Dry thoroughly with lint-free wipes or compressed air.

Testing Your Work

Introduction to Custom Badges and KiCad

Creating Your Badge

• The speaker emphasizes the journey of designing a custom board from scratch, encouraging creativity in personalizing badges.

• Participants are invited to wear their badges at events or for fun, promoting engagement with the project.

• Additional resources are available on DigiKey's website, specifically under the EDA and design tools section.

Moving Towards Production

• For those considering production of their devices, the speaker directs them to maker.io on DigiKey for valuable materials and suggestions.

• This resource aims to assist users in taking next steps towards selling their products after initial design.

Conclusion and Community Engagement

• The speaker expresses hope that participants enjoyed the process and feel empowered to create their own designs using KiCad.

• Viewers are encouraged to share photos of their projects on social media with the hashtag #MakeWithDigiKey, fostering community interaction.