Nixie Tap kit assembly instructions
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Last updated: 17.07.2021.
This short guide will help you solder your own Nixie Tap. Each image is clickable, and it reveals a higher-res version.
Good luck!
Contents
1. Introduction
This product is designed around SMD parts. Passive parts in 0805 footprint make up the most of the soldering. Because of this, you will need an adequate soldering iron. At least Baku 936 or similar Aliexpress clone is recommended.
A few random tips:
- use a lot of flux
- use thin solder, 0.75mm or smaller diameter
- use lead-based solder until you learn the trade
- watch EEVBlog soldering tutorial video
As far as tools are required, a good-enough soldering iron is necessary, at least Aliexpress Baku 936, and I recommend a chisel type tip. You'll also need tweezers, solder and flux.
Once you prepare the equipment, open the kit box and check contents. You should find three carboard sleeves and a USB cable.
2. Kit revisions
A total of two revisions were made.
Kit revision 1.0
The original release, distributed through Crowd Supply logistics.
Known issues:
- Some tubes were broken during transport, and for this, refunds for the tubes were issued, and customers instructed to buy tubes on the market.
- Some parts might have fallen out of their sleeves. Please pick these parts up (if there are any), open the sleeves and compare with the picture below.
Contains PCBs with revisions:
- PCB1 - REV B
- PCB2 - REV B
- PCB3 - REV B
Kit revision 1.1
Picture to be added
Changelog:
- Revised all packaging sleeves, to correct small errors and protect the tubes better.
- PCB2 redesigned, to reduce EMI interference with the touch panel.
- USB chip on PCB3 now has integrated XTAL and capacitors.
Contains PCBs with revisions:
- PCB1 - REV B
- PCB2 - REV C
- PCB3 - REV B
3. Soldering: PCB1
Start by plugging and soldering the 10 pin headers.
Note that, due to manufacturing tolerances, insertion may be difficult. In that case, try plugging in left side first, and then right, and then middle.
Then, move on to plugging in the Nixie pins. These should plug in with less effort.
Please make sure that Nixie pins are sitting flush with the PCB, as on the picture below.
Solder the Nixie pins and plug in the Nixie tubes. Mind the orientation of the digits, it should be like on picture below. The easiest way to check is to look at digit 3.
4. Soldering: PCB2
There are two revisions of this PCB, key differences being PSU section location, and connectors. Please check which one you have!
This PCB mostly contains SMD parts, so, it's time to get serious. How you chose to solder is up to you, but the recommended method is to fix a part on one side, then solder the other side.
If you are right-handed, the easiest way is to first apply solder to right side pads of each component, as on the picture below.
Then, use tweezers to position component to the required pads. Once at the pads, melt the solder and the adjust the part to sit flush at the reqired place.
PCB2 REV B
There are some small traps, placed intentionally to confuse you:
- PCB2: Q1 on the card sleeve should be soldered to Q7 on the PCB
- PCB2: C2 silkscreen is obscured by a via, you can find this capacitor near the IC.
Make sure that you oriented the ICs and the transformer correctly! Please take a look at the photo below.
After you do this for all components, apply some flux, and solder the opposite side. While the flux is liquid, you can also touch up the side you soldered first.
To solder ICs, you can use the "drag" technique, and soldering the transformer will be trivial for you after you have mastered the previous actions :)
Now solder the through-hole connectors.
Please take J2 and J3 from PCB3 kit sleeve. These should go to J6 and J7.
PCB2 REV C
The revised version of this PCB is slightly different, in the sense that the high voltage PSU was moved to the back of the PCB. Thus, the connectors are soldered differently.
Just follow the designators printed on the sleeve, and you should be OK :)
The final product should look like this:
5. Soldering: PCB3
If you managed to solder PCB2, PCB3 is just more of the same.
Solder everything at your own leisure, but leave J7 for the end.
Kit revision 1 note: if you have kit revision 1.0, please take J8 and J9 from PCB3 kit sleeve. These should go to J2 and J3.
Each IC has pin 1 marked on its case, please align this dot with the dot found on the footprint.
6. PCB3 touch sensor
Touch sensor (basically a small PCB plate) connects to the touch IC via a 2 pin header, J7. This header should be soldered on the rear side of the PCB.
Additionally, if you have a PCB3 REV B, a trace on the PCB should be cut. Please click on the picture below for reference.
Once you do the modifications and soldering, you can remove the plastic part from the 2 pin header, and try to connect the touch plate. It should slide in easily.
7. PCB inspection
Now is the time to pause and reflect. Also please inspect the PCBs, they should look like pictured below.
Kit revision 1.0
Kit revision 1.1
8. PCB cleaning
When you're finished with soldering, you should clean up the PCBs. There is no single best way to do this, industrial process boils down to ultrasonics+cleaning chemicals, your best hope is IPA.
9. Assembly
Try assembling everything. If reality matches the picture below, good job!
10. Firmware upload
Go to Downloads page.
Please return here when you finish! :)
11. Initial configuration
Go to User guide page.
As before, please return here when you finish! :)
12. Troubleshooting
The expected outcome of this guide is an assembled Nixie Tap, without enclosure, which shows a random time. When you connect it to a computer, it should show up as a COM port. When you touch the sensor plate, the display contents should change.
If this is not the case with your device, here are some potential causes and solutions.
Unable to communicate with the device / device not visible in Device Manager
Check circuitry of the USB interface chip. Parts of interest are: U3, Y2, C9, C10, J1.
Device visible as a COM port on a PC, but esptool fails
Check the whole PCB 3 for bad solder joints.
Firmware sucessfully uploaded, but the display doesn't show anything / display is garbled
Check PCB 2 for bad solder joints.
13. Further steps
If you reached this step, I have one word to say to you:
CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🥳🥳🥳
Now you can 3d print a comfy case for your Nixie Tap, as I have done here:
Please don't print it in white though. It looks weird.