Documentation

Add solder to

these pads

3A: Pre-tinning the

assembly pads

3B: This is how much

solder you should use

on each pad

4A: Using masking tape to

align the boards before soldering

Step 3 - Preparing the Main Solder Pads:

We’re going to pre-tin 8 pads on the PCBs so all we have to do is align them and reheat to make them

stick. Make sure you melt a generous amount of solder on these pads, like shown in figure 3B.

Solarbotics Herbie the Mousebot

Step 4 - Assembling the Main board, one Side board, and Battery Board:

This part can get tricky, so we suggest bringing out your secret weapon: Masking tape! Yes, this stuff

should be in every good roboticist’s toolbox (right next to the Oreo cookies). Unless you have a 3rd

arm growing out of your chest, use the tape to keep things aligned. Or if you can bribe somebody to

help (use the Oreos...).

Now, review this whole step before starting it. And look at the pictures

- they make everything clear.

You have to make sure you get the two following alignments right:

1) Align the long edge of the two big circuit boards so they sit

edge-to-edge, with no overlapping. This is easy to do while

they are taped together.

2) Align the little half-circles on the two big circuit boards

so they match and make up one full circle.

When the boards are aligned, remelt the solder on the

front pads first, then the rear pads. Add more solder if

needed. We do the front pads first to make absolutely sure

the nose is aligned to take the nose bead later. Double

check to see that the half-circles are still aligned. If they aren’t, fix it now - it’s that important!

For the moment, use the battery board to just line up the all the three sides of the Herbie body. But

remember to put the battery board in so the connectors face to the rear. (Continued next page)