Assembly Guide
The written Instructions below are complimentary to the video guide above. However, if you've already got some experience building keyboards like this you can probably skip the video & just use these written instructions.
1. Solder The Controller Sockets
Video: 01:30
Insert just one row of female pin headers into the keyboard shield. Making sure that the header is on the top side of the PCB. The top side of the PCB will have the text "NICE_NANO_1" written on it.
Solder just the top & bottom pins of your header and check that everything is straight.
If it is not straight then adjust accordingly, you can either reheat the solder and adjust or if the error is small gently straighten the connector without adding heat.
Once you've ensured everything is straight solder the remaining pins.
Repeat this process for the remaining pin header.
2. Insert The Controller Pins
Video: 04:33
Insert the controller pins from top to bottom for both female headers.
Ensure that they are seated all the way down in the female header.
This is easiest if you use a set of small pliers to grip the pins.
3. Solder The Controllers
Video: 05:58
Place the controllers on the controller pins you inserted in the previous step.
This should be done with all of the electronics facing upwards for the following controller types:
- nice!nano
- ProMicro NRF52840
- Mikoto 7.2
When doing this ensure that you have the "holes" furthest from the USB connector sitting on pins. The top two (left + right) holes should have no pins in them.
Solder the top right pin and the bottom left pin. Check your controller is sitting nicely and then solder the remaining pins.
4. Solder The Display Connector
Video: 07:56
Place the female (silver) side of the display connector into the shield PCB & solder one of the outer pins.
Ensure that the connector is sitting nice and straight. Make adjustments like you did with the controller sockets as necessary.
Once you've ensured everything is sitting nice and straight you can solder the remaining pins.
5. Solder The Display
Video: 09:50
Place the display on the male side of the connector you soldered in the previous step & ensure it is sitting centrally & straight.
Solder one of the outer most pins & ensure everything still sits nicely. Solder the remaining pins.
The pins you just soldered will stick up past the display a little bit so you will need to trim them down to sit lower than the display. A good set of micro shears or wire cutters will work well for this.
6. Solder The Roller Encoder
Video: 13:02
Insert the black plastic side of the roller encoder into the rectangular hole that is opposite the encoder pins. Push the encoder towards the pin holes ensuring not to press down when doing so.
Once the encoders plastic tabs have fully overlapped with the PCB ensure the pins all line up nicely with the corresponding PCB holes and press down. You can now solder all 6 pins.
7. Solder The Battery
Video: 26:30 (Follow how the video does it for the right side.... it's better)
Carefully remove the controller from its socket.
Slide the black battery wire between the female pin header & shield PCB. Insert the wire into the "-" hole.
From the underside of the shield PCB fold the tinned end of the black battery wire over making sure not to touch any other parts with it & then solder the wire into its hole.
When soldering the battery wire the goal is to fill the hole with solder without displacing the wire. This will create a secure electrical connection.
Repeat the above process for the red wire going to the "+" hole.
You can now place the battery in-between the controller's female pin headers and reseat the controller ensuring that it sits all the way down.
8. Repeat For The Other Side
Congratulations! You've made half a Rolio46!
You can now repeat this process for the opposite side.
9. Install Into Chassis
Video: 29:35
Generally I'd recommend flashing firmware before installing your chassis, this way any faulty solder joints can be more easily addressed, however, the video above shows the chassis installation before the flashing.
9. Flash the Firmware
Video: 40:11
You can obtain your firmware from here: Rolio46 Firmware
You will also find instructions how to do the flashing at the above link.