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Circuitmess MARV Build Manual

The wacky robot
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MARV, The Wacky Robot
Build Guide
Introduction
The beginning
Welcome to MARV's build guide!
By following this build guide, you'll learn how to assemble your wacky robot - Marv.
Marv is a beginner-friendly 12-piece kit that will help you learn about soldering and
the difference between a pushbutton and a switch.
Age group
This product is 9+.      
1 / 38

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Summary of Contents for Circuitmess MARV

  • Page 1 The beginning Welcome to MARV's build guide! By following this build guide, you'll learn how to assemble your wacky robot - Marv. Marv is a beginner-friendly 12-piece kit that will help you learn about soldering and the difference between a pushbutton and a switch.

  • Page 2: Assembly Time

    Make sure to have an adult helping you with the assembly process. It's okay to ask for help. Assembly time It should take you approximately 1 hour to fully assemble your MARV. Skills You don't need to have any specific skills before getting your hands dirty with this DIY project.
  • Page 3 1. Battery holder 2. Resistors 3. Circuit board 4. 5mm blue LEDs 5. 3V coin cell battery 6. Switch 7. Pushbuttons Electronics 101 Let's learn something about the components you've got! Don't worry, it won't last long, and we will try to make it fun. 1.
  • Page 4 What does it do?  Your circuit board has two functions: 1. It holds all the electronic components in place. 2. It provides electrical connections between the electronic components. Because of the circuit board, all electronic components can work together as a team.
  • Page 5 If material is conductive, it conducts electricity; electrical charge can flow through that material easily.  FR4 and copper are both sandwiched together in thin sheets, and that’s how you get a circuit board.  Where are PCBs used? They’re used everywhere!  In your phone, in your laptop, in your refrigerator, air conditioner.
  • Page 6 Resistors are the most basic electronic components found in almost every electronic device. They fall in the category of passive electronic components. Passive electronic components do not generate electrical power and do not need electrical power to work. They just modify the flow of electrical energy in their own unique way.  Resistors that you have gotten in your package have a cylindrical shape and two tiny metal legs.
  • Page 7 Can we compare it to something we see in everyday life? If we make an analogy to water flowing through pipes, the resistor is a thin pipe that reduces the water flow. Scientists and engineers have come up with different symbols for each and every electronic component. ...
  • Page 8 3. 3V coin cell battery A battery is a source of electric power consisting of electrochemical cells. Every battery stores chemicals. These chemicals cause chemical reactions and generate electrical energy. This battery is made out of a material called lithium. Do you see the tiny “3V”...

  • Page 9: Battery Holder

    It's made out of plastics and has two pins that you'll have to solder in order to keep it on Marv's body.  The battery holder will be used for holding the battery and giving life to your wacky robot.  ...
  • Page 10 5. Switch The switch you got in your kit is a power switch, and it helps you turn Marv on and off. You can easily do so with one simple push.   The power switch controls the flow of power to an electric device - in other words, it connects and disconnects an electrical circuit.  ...
  • Page 11 6. Pushbuttons A pushbutton switch is a small, sealed mechanism that completes an electric circuit when you press on it. When a pushbutton is pressed, a small metal spring inside makes contact with two wires, allowing electrical energy to flow. When you release your finger from the pushbutton, the spring retracts, the electrical contact is interrupted, and electrical energy won't flow through the switch.
  • Page 12 7. Blue LEDs These electronic components will make your MARV’s eyes light up.  LED stands for light-emitting diodes. LEDs convert electrical energy into visible light.
  • Page 13 Watch out - LEDs are polarized! Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are polarized.  This means that they only allow current to flow in one direction. Because of this, you need to pay attention to how you are going to place your LED in the electronic circuit.
  • Page 14 Resistors and LEDs make a great team! LEDs can be damaged if they receive too much energy.  Oh no! The coin cell battery supplied with your MARV is too much for the poor little LEDs”. But don't worry, we sent resistors to the rescue! ...
  • Page 15 Did you know?  LED lightbulbs are the most efficient type of lightbulbs. Unlike “regular” “old”  bulbs (we call these incandescent lightbulbs), which release 90% of their energy as heat, LEDs use energy far more efficiently with very little wasted heat. Meet the tools! Let’s assemble your wacky robot! First, we’ll need some tools!

  • Page 16: Soldering Iron

    Soldering iron For the assembly, any entry-level soldering iron will suffice. Although, if you plan to dive into the world of DIY projects, you should consider getting a more expensive one with more features. You’ll also need a soldering iron stand and a small reel of rosin-cored solder. Soldering sponge Make sure your soldering toolkit has a sponge that can be used for wiping your ...
  • Page 17 Assembly How do I solder? One of the things you'll do as a part of Marv's assembly process is soldering! Have you ever done that before? If your answer is no, we suggest you look at the following few links where you'll find useful tutorials and blogs about soldering. It will only take you 10 minutes to get into the zone and understand how it's done.
  • Page 18 Here is an awesome picture by Adafruit industries that can help you (thank you Adafruit!): These are the rules for soldering you should follow every time: Never inhale the dust and the fumes that can be produced by the soldering iron! ...
  • Page 19 there is still a possibility that it’s very hot and, therefore, can cause very uncomfortable pain if touched. Always keep the soldering iron facing away from your hands. If you’re finished soldering, unplug the soldering iron from the power source and leave it to cool off for at least five minutes before putting it back in your toolbox. ...
  • Page 20 Step 1 - plug it in Put the soldering iron on a soldering iron stand, and plug it into a power outlet. Step 2 - select the right temperature 20 / 38...
  • Page 21 Set the temperature to 350 degrees Celsius by turning the temperature regulation knob on your soldering iron. Make sure that the small black arrow points to the correct temperature, as in the photo. Your soldering iron is now ready to use, but give it a minute or two, so it can heat Step 3 - don't forget to turn it off when you're finished We’ll tell you when you’re done with soldering, and you'll unplug the iron from the...
  • Page 22 Let's make MARV! Part one - Resistors The first components you will need while assembling MARV are resistors. First, take off the paper packaging placed on both ends of resistors. 22 / 38...
  • Page 23 Now, you should gently bend them in the shape of the letter U, but be careful because they could break easily. Place them as shown in the picture below: 23 / 38...
  • Page 24 Now is the time to use your soldering iron and solder resistors on MARV's back. 24 / 38...
  • Page 25 After you solder all resistors, take one more look at the solder joints to ensure there are no cold joints. Watch out! Cutting off the resistors’ legs must be done with caution!  Take out your cutter pliers. You will use them for cutting off the excess legs of your resistors.
  • Page 26 Part two - The switch Now you’ll be soldering the switch. 26 / 38...
  • Page 27 Place the switch on the front side of MARV’s head. You'll need to use a bit of strength for this since it can be a bit hard for the switch to come into the circuit board. 27 / 38...
  • Page 28 Now is the time to solder the switch to the circuit board. Before you do so, please make sure that the switch is vertical to the circuit board. Please clean your soldering iron tip with the sponge before soldering the switch. Soldering these pins requires a bit more precision since they are very close together. ...
  • Page 29 The switch’s soldering joints should look like this after you have successfully soldered them: 29 / 38...
  • Page 30 Part three - The pushbutton Now, let’s solder the pushbutton! Make sure the pushbutton is placed vertically to the board before soldering.  After putting it on the circuit board, press the pushbutton a few times to check that everything is okay. 30 / 38...
  • Page 31 Turn MARV around, take the soldering iron, and solder away. Part four - The LEDs 31 / 38...
  • Page 32  Now, take the LEDs and place them in MARV’s eyes. We need to watch out for the polarity of the LEDs, or they won’t work. The shorter leg of the LED should face the switch like this:  32 / 38...
  • Page 33 Flip your MARV and solder away. After making sure there's no bridging between the solder joints, take your pliers and cut off the rest of the LEDs' legs that you don't need. 33 / 38...
  • Page 34 Watch out! The legs of the LEDs must face towards the table when you are cutting them. This way, they won’t fly away and hurt you! 34 / 38...
  • Page 35 Part five - The battery holder 35 / 38...
  • Page 36 Place the battery holder like this: Now, turn MARV around and solder the battery holder’s two pins. And we’re done with soldering! 36 / 38...
  • Page 37 Watch out; the battery needs to be put in on the right side. The tiny plus (+) sign on the battery must be facing upwards! Check the photo: You did it! MARV, the wacky robot, is assembled.  Let's turn it on! 37 / 38...
  • Page 38 MARV will demonstrate to you the difference between a pushbutton and a switch in a practical way.  If you press the pushbutton, MARV's eyes will light up for a moment and then turn off. If you push the switch, his eyes will remain shining until you push the switch back to the original position.