Circuitmess Clockstar User manual
Introduction
Welcome to CircuitMess Clockstar build guide!
By following this build guide, you'll learn how to assemble your new DIY smartwatch.
With Clockstar, you'll learn about AI and machine learning, edge computing, Bluetooth and
wireless communication, gyroscopes, accelerometers, motion detection, and much more.
Age group
Like it says on the box, Clockstar is designed for anyone who's at least 11 years old.
You should approach some of the assembly steps carefully, so make sure to have an adult
jump in if you need some help with soldering or tightening the bolts later in the process. It's
okay to ask for help.
Don't worry, though! We'll go through the assembly step by step and provide some useful
tips along the way. We'll give you a heads-up if there's something important to keep in mind
while assembling.
Assembly time
It should take you approximately 1 hour to fully assemble your Clockstar.
Of course, the assembly time depends on your previous knowledge and experience. If you
don't have any experience yet, don't worry! It just might take you a little longer to get into the
groove and overcome the challenges in the beginning.
Skills
You don't need to have any specific skills before getting your hands dirty with this DIY
project.
The main objective here is to have fun and learn something new.
So hold on tight, read all the instructions, and get ready to have fun! This is a great
opportunity and your first step in your big engineering career.
Learning with Clockstar
As previously mentioned, Clockstar will teach you a few useful things in the following few
hours.
Here's what you'll learn:
● How to solder and assemble your very own electronic device
● Wearable technology
● Bluetooth and wireless communication
● Gyroscopes, accelerometers, and motion detection
● Coding in C++ and in CircuitBlocks
● AI and machine learning
● Edge computing
● Watch interface design
What's in the box?
Let's meet all the components that
arrived in the box!
Open your CircuitPet box and check if you have all the components. Make sure to lay it all
on a clean surface where you'll inspect if everything is there according to the photo and the
list below.
Send us a photo of everything that came in the box, and we'll get back to you as soon as
possible to resolve the issue.
Here's the list of components:
1. Main circuit board
2. Acrylic casings
3. Watch strap
4. RGB LED diode
5. Resistors
6. Switch
7. Long metal screws (4)
8. Long spacers (4)
9. Small spacers (4)
10. Small metal screws (4)
11. USB C cable
12. Li-Po battery
Meet the tools
In this chapter, we'll explain what tools you'll need to assemble your Clockstar.
If you have your CircuitMess Tools pack in front of you, you should be all set!
In case you got the Clockstar kit without the Tools pack, this is a good time to borrow some
of the tools or purchase them.
The tools required are essential whenever you assemble, fix, or modify electronic devices
and are the tools of the trade for every maker/hardware hacker/modder/electrician.
1. Glasses
2. Cutter pliers
3. Small screwdriver
4. Replacement soldering tips
5. Lead-free solder
6. Soldering stand
7. Sponge
8. Soldering iron
Soldering iron
This is the most important tool in a maker’s arsenal.
For Clockstar's assembly, any entry-level soldering iron will suffice.
If you plan to dive into the world of DIY projects, you should consider getting a more
expensive one with more features. Many soldering irons with interchangeable tips can be
particularly useful when working with much smaller components.
In the next chapter, you'll find the instructions on how to properly solder and take care of
your soldering iron.
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 soldering
iron clean. Make sure that the sponge isn't dripping wet or bone dry - it should be damp.
Diagonal cutter pliers
We prefer this type shown in the picture (Plato, model 170), but any other type will do.
Standard cross screwdriver
You’ll need this cross (Phillips) screwdriver to assemble the casing.
A standard 2.0mm cross screwdriver should do the trick.
Learn to solder
The first thing that you'll do as a part of the Clockstar 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. Here are the links:
●Adafruit’s video tutorial featuring Collin Cunningham - A tutorial featuring Collin
Cunningham, a super charismatic electronics guru.
●Adafruit’s standard soldering tutorial - A great and thorough video tutorial. An
absolute must-read, even if you know how to solder. Make sure to check the
“common soldering mistakes” section at the end.
●Sparkfun’s video soldering tutorial - Another well-made how-to-solder video
tutorial.
●Sparkfun’s standard soldering tutorial - A detailed tutorial made by Sparkfun.
There are several rules of soldering that everybody, regardless of their skill level, should
follow at all times.
● Never inhale the dust and the fumes that can be produced by the soldering
iron! These can be hazardous, so please don't inhale them.
● Never touch the tip of the soldering iron! Even if the soldering iron is turned off
or completely disconnected from the power source, there is still a possibility that
it’s very hot and, therefore, can cause very uncomfortable pain if touched.
Always keep it facing away from your hands. If you’re finished with the
soldering iron, unplug it from the power source and leave
it to cool off for at least five minutes before putting it back in the box.
● Clean the soldering iron! The sponge is your best friend while soldering. Make
sure to use it often and clean your soldering iron if you wish to have an easy
and simple soldering experience. Carefully hold one part of the sponge with
one hand and wipe the tip of the soldering iron on the other part of the sponge
to remove the extra solder. Repeat the process until the tip of the iron is nice
and clean from the old solder.
● Check your solder joints twice (at least)! Most of the malfunctions in the world of
electronics are due to bad solder joints, so regardless if this is your first or
100th soldering project, always make sure to inspect your joints multiple times
before proceeding to the next step.
● Keep the soldering iron on the stand when you’re not using it.
● Know how much solder is needed! Make sure to put just enough solder, not too
much, and not too little, since both can cause the device to malfunction.
● Don’t leave any residual solder on the board! The solder should only be on the
parts where the pins connect to the board. Everything else should be clean.
Little pieces of solder all over the board are a big no-no!
Now go over these rules a couple of times so you don't forget them!
Here are the pictures that can help you recognize good and bad solder joints:
If you follow these rules, your soldering experience should be easy peasy.
Using the soldering iron
The soldering iron is very easy to use but only when used properly.
If you have purchased the CircuitMess tools pack with your Clockstar kit, you have gotten a
the soldering iron with it.
Remember the rules mentioned previously? Good! Let's go over the instructions on how to
use the soldering iron now…
If you're using your soldering iron for the first time or need help with cleaning its tip, check
our video tutorial.
Soldering iron instructions
The soldering iron is very easy to use but only when used properly.
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
The temperature will set to 390 degrees Celsius by turning the soldering iron on.
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 power
outlet to turn it off.
Please use the metal stand every time you are not using the soldering iron to make sure
you don't burn the surface or the circuit board.
Make sure not to touch the soldering iron tip for at least five minutes after you have turned it
off.
Solder your Clockstar
Now you know how to solder, let's put it to the test. Ready?
Part one - Soldering the resistors
Before soldering, please check our video tutorial once again to make sure you're doing
everything right.
The first components we'll use are the main PCB and resistors.
You will need all three resistors for this part.
Resistors are the most basic electronic components found in almost every electronic device.
They just modify the flow of electrical energy in their own unique way.
The resistors that you have gotten in your package have a cylindrical shape and two tiny
metal legs. We call these legs “component leads”.
Firstly, you'll have to bend the resistors' legs in the shape of the letter U. Be careful because
they break easily!
You can bend them either with your fingers or with needle-nose pliers.
Because all of the resistors in the set have the same resistance, it doesn't matter where you
put them.
Take one of them, and place it here:
Make sure it's on the right side (the back) so you can solder it on the front.
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