Holds the integrated circuit chip safely without soldering it directly. Protects the IC from heat damage.
A sliding switch that controls power flow to your circuit.
Limit current flow and protect your LED. Non-polarized.
Filters electrical noise. Non-polarized, orientation doesn't matter.
Stores electrical charge. White stripe marks negative leg—polarity matters.
Light emitting diode. Short leg is negative, long leg is positive.
Holds your CR2032 coin cell battery. Opening faces up.
The 555 timer creates the blinking pattern. An electronics legend since 1972.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic animals that can survive extreme conditions—radiation, freezing, boiling, even the vacuum of space. They're nature's most resilient creatures. Fun fact: they can survive without food or water for over 30 years.
Set up your soldering iron, wet sponge, and all components. Make sure you have good lighting and ventilation. Heat your soldering iron to 350°C.
Solder the 3 resistors: R1 = 100 ohms R2 = 1 kOhm R3 = 100 kOhm
Insert the IC socket with the semicircle notch matching the semicircle on the PCB. Bend the legs slightly outward, flip the board, and solder all 8 pins.
Place the switch with the slider on top. The switch should sit flat against the PCB. Solder all three pins.
Insert the small brown disc capacitor into the holes marked C2. Orientation doesn't matter. Bend legs, flip, solder, and trim.
Polarity matters. Insert with the white stripe on the right, pointing toward the rear tardigrade part. White stripe = negative leg.
Polarity matters. The short leg (ground) goes in the square hole. Position the LED head on the front-side. Solder both legs and trim.
Place the battery holder with the opening facing upwards. Solder the two metal tabs on the underside.
Gently insert the 555 timer into the socket. Match semicircle to semicircle—the notch points downward. Be careful not to bend the pins.
Place a CR2032 battery with the + side facing up (text visible). Press gently until it clicks.
Slide the switch to ON and watch your Tardigrade come to life. The LED should blink steadily.
You've successfully assembled your Tardigrade Solder Pet.
Your circuit uses a 555 timer IC in astable mode to create a blinking pattern. The capacitors and resistors set the timing frequency. The LED blinks at approximately 1-2 Hz—about the same rhythm as a resting heartbeat.