7
THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD
Whatever configuration you are building, all Cortados start with a circuit board. Your work space
should be well-lit, well-ventilated, and disposable; that is, don’t work on the nice dining room table!
Work on a utility surface that you can burn, drill and scratch. A piece of ¼” tempered masonite, or a
chunk of MDF, makes an excellent cover if you don’t have a utility work bench.
Solder fumes are not healthy for you. The fumes consist of vaporized flux,
which can irritate your nose, lungs, and even your skin. You MUST work in a space where
the air drifts away from you as you work, so fumes do not rise straight onto your face.
Solder residue usually contains lead, which is poisonous if you ingest it. Do not
breathe the fumes, do not eat the supplies, wash your hands after you handle solder, and
sweep and wipe up your work space after EVERY USE.
Figure 3: Component Values and Locations
