Lifeclocc Chocolate Bar Assembly

Instructions are in alpha

It's gonna look like crap, and will have no pictures

Preparation

Prerequisites

You should know how to solder. This project is perfectly doable with just a soldering iron and solder, but knowing how to use solder flux and a desoldering wick will definitely make your life easier.

Required Tools

Soldering Kit
The Parts in the Parts List
This instruction manual

Recommended Tools

Tweezers
For picking up small parts and assembling them
Needle Nose Pliers
For bending the pins out of the way
Wire Cutters (or nail clipper)
For cutting the legs after soldering
Soldering Arm
For holding the parts in place while soldering
Soldering Fan (or a well ventilated room)
For keeping fumes out of your face

Parts List

Part	Count	PCB Label	Image
Printed Circuit Board (PCB)	2 (left and right)	-
Keyboard parts that I have not filled in	a bunch	-

Best Practices

Always check the direction of the componets before soldering it. It's not too hard to desolder things though.

For soldering any component, it’s best to solder only one pin first and then check if it’s aligned. If it’s not aligned, you will be able to melt the solder and reposition the component.

Assembly

Step 0 - Test Arduino

Make sure the arduino is programmable. If you don't know how to do this, follow the QMK guide. (Which is not yet done)

Step 1 - Install the diodes

Diodes are directional. One side has a black bar. Make sure the side with the black bar goes into the square hole. Place all the diodes on the bottom side of the PCB (this is the side with the printing for the diodes).

After you are done, use a wire cutter and cut off the excess from the top. This board is badly designed so if you don't cut the excess, the key switches won't fit.

Insert picture of a diode close up, and another one with it soldered in, and another one where the top is cut flat.

Step 2 - Install the switches

This board is meant to work with PCB mounted switches. This means there is no keyboard plate and only the PCB and the bottom plate. You will need a 5 pin MX compatible switch for this.

Put the switches in the board. Solder them.

Insert picture of 3 pin vs 5 pin switch

Step 3 - Install the reset switch and TRRS port

Solder the switch and TRRS ports in. They should be on the top of the PCBs. The switch is for resetting and reprogramming the board. The port is to connect the board to the other side.

Step 4 - Install the arduino

Make sure you program the arduino first and make sure it works before soldering it on.

Match the arduino pins with the ones on the board. The header pins will hold in place because of the offset pin holes, then you can fit the arduino and solder it on.

Step 5 (optional) Install caps led

I don't use caps lock, but if you do, you can place any LED you want in the CAPS_LED section on the left side of the board.

Step 6 (optional) Install pull down resistors

This is only necessary if you are using the I2C protocol to communicate between boards. If you have no idea what that meant, ignore these resistors.

You need 10k resistors.

LIFECLO.CC

Assembly Instructions