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Microcontroller and PCB
The microcontroller is the brain of the game. It’s programmed to light up the
buttons and create the game sequence. Bending the legs won’t hurt the chip – it
is designed to withstand the heat of the soldering iron as well as gentle bending.
Try to be gentle with the board, but a few scratches are not a big deal.
Soldering
The tip of the iron is normally 700 °F, hot enough to melt metal. It is normal for
the handle of the soldering iron to heat up a bit. Hold it like a pencil and move
your hand further away from the tip if the heat is uncomfortable. The solder
smokes because the rosin inside the solder is burning off - it’s not harmful.
Buzzer and Other Components
The buzzer makes the noise for the game – pretty simple! The capacitors help
“clean up” the power on the board. The resistor tells the microcontroller not to
reset once the power is turned on, so your game can continue uninterrupted.
The slide switches turn on and off the power and sound.
LEDs
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are like light bulbs, but much smaller and more
efficient.
Buttons, Bezels, and Standoffs
Squishy buttons are fun! The bezel helps hold the buttons in place. The standoffs
hold the board up off a surface, helping to protect the electronics. They also
hold the pad and bezel onto the board.
Learning More
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