Assembly Directions
It’s generally easier to solder components to a PCB if the lowest lying components are soldered first. This means
you begin assembling the CheapBot- 14 by soldering the jumper wires and resistors first. The suggested soldering
order is indicated in the list below. (Note the CheapBot- 14 used polarized components that must be inserted with the
proper orientation.)
Battery pack – The red lead
of the battery packs solder to the
red wire in the top silk diagram.
Capacitors – Align the +
mark on the capacitor with the +
on the top of the silk diagram.
PICAXE- 14 socket – Align
the socket’s notch with the notch
on the bottom.
H-bridges – Align pin 1 with
1 printed on the top silk diagram
(this puts the heatsink of the
H-bridges towards the bottom
side of the PCB).
LEDs – The cathode or lead
on the shaved side of the LED
body solders to the black wire
in the top silk diagram.
An illustration of the proper layout of components for the CheapBot- 14.
The PCB pattern for this project is available on the SERVO website at www.servomagazine.com.
The schematic for the CheapBot- 14 controller. The two items responsible for
keeping its cost so low are the PICAXE-14M and TA8080K motor drivers.
44 SERVO 06.2009
