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BrickPico Assembly Instructions

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Timo Kokkonen edited this page Dec 22, 2023 · 2 revisions

This kit is rather easy to assemble, but some basic soldering skills are required (you may want to watch a video how to solder electronics and practice, before attempting to tackle this kit).

General Notes

Start with the 'lowest' (height) components and work your way to more taller ones.

Tools Needed

  • Temperature controlled soldering iron.
  • Solder (rosin core solder, thinner the better 0.5mm/0.20inch, etc...)

Optional stuff (for cleaning flux residue)

  • 90% isopropyl alcohol
  • soft brush (used toothbrush, etc.)

Assembling BrickPico

Before starting check that no parts are missing. assembly-parts

(BrickPico-8 parts shown, BrickPico-16 will has extra 3-pin and 16-pint headers and second jumper)

1. Install Pico / Pico W module (surface mounting)

If you decide to mount Raspberry Pi Pico permanently on the board, start by soldering it first. Otherwise, if you decide to mount female headers to mount Pico, then that can be done as last step.

Place Pico on the PCB. If not using Pico that has headers already soldered on, then keep it aligned by using couple (3-pin) headers to temporarily hold it in place: assembly-pico

NOTE! Start by soldering one corner pad only.

  1. Solder first corner (GP0), then check alignment (and re-adjust if necessarily by re-melting the solder and fixing the alignment).

  2. Next, solder second (GP16 - diagonally opposite) corner, and double check alignment.

  3. Then remove the pin headers and solder all the remaining pads.

2. Install Jumpers and Headers

Next we'll want to install pin headers (and socket).

  1. Place connectors (and the switch) on their places assembly-headers

  2. Use piece of foam (or card board) to flip the PCB while keeping the loose connectors in place. assembly-parts-flip

  3. NOTE! Solder only one leg of each connector.

  4. Re-align each connector one by one, by remelting the solder and pushing in its place.

  5. After aligning all connectors, double check that everything looks good (last chance to easily fix things)

  6. Finally, solder remaining connector legs. Note, it is recommended to solder only one leg at a time on each connector and then moving on to the next one. As this will reduce risk of melting any of the plastic parts, that can happen if heating the connector too long...

3. Install Power Connectors

Next install power connectors. These may be easiest to install one by one.

  1. Place connector on the PCB.
  2. Solder one leg only.
  3. Re-align part by remelting solder and pushing connector to its place (make sure its aligned correctly)
  4. Solder remaining legs.

assembly-final

4. Install headers for Pico

If you decided not to mount a Pico directly on the PCB, then it is possible to install two female headers allowing plugging in a Pico w/headers.

When soldering the female headers it is best to plugin headers to a Pico and then place them on the PCB to get them properly aligned.

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