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Start and assembly guide

Components overview

After opening the package, you can learn about the components in your kit by comparing them with the kit contents list

Assembly

Soldering components

If your kit is not the pre-assembled version, you need to solder some components. All are very simple, traditional components, so even if you're not very skilled at soldering, this step is manageable.

  • Average time required for non-experts: 2h
  • What you need: a soldering kit. Even a basic, cheap model is sufficient.

It's not mandatory, but the recommended steps to follow are:

  1. Solder all the add-on module headers/sockets.
    In this picture, all add-on module headers and sockets are highlighted with different colors.
    PCB-GP-ELEMENTS

  2. Solder all the components
    Be careful with resistor values: they must match the values printed on the PCB. This may not be obvious to everyone — resistor values can be read using a tester or based on the colored lines on the component.
    ⚠️ Be careful when placing the IO-Expander resistor array (blue color in the picture): the dot on the component must be on the same side as the dot on the PCB.

PCB-GP-ELEMENTS

  • Solder the connectors on the main PCB
    All connectors are marked in the picture with "CN_...".
    Connectors-Overview

  • Solder UPS connection wires
    If you're using a UPS battery to power the Sushi Board, you'll need to solder the 4 required wires.
    See the LX-2BUPS wiring section and the CN_BATT connector in the UPS schematic diagram in the hardware guide.

  • Solder the module headers
    Some modules, such as relays and IO expanders, are usually supplied without pre-soldered headers. In this case, solder them yourself. Note: all use 2.54 mm male headers.
    Important note about the "PCF8575" IO Expander: this module is often shipped with the front connector (the shorter one) bent. For Sushi Board installation, do not use this bent header — instead, use the straight one provided in the kit.

  • Solder the General Purpose connectors (OPTIONAL)
    If you plan to use them, you can solder the extra GP connectors. Otherwise, you can leave them unmounted for now.
    PCB-GP-ELEMENTS

Plug add-on modules

Once soldering is complete, you can plug the add-on modules onto the board:

  • Micro ESP32-DevKitC board: be careful to mount it on the correct side (USB connector to the right, as printed on the PCB)
  • Buzzer: make sure to align the "+" pin correctly
  • IO Expander module: cannot be inserted incorrectly
  • Relay modules

If, for some reason, you're not using the top board:

  • The OLED can be plugged directly into the base main board
  • The keyboard must be plugged using the flat cable, left-aligned to pin 1 of the connector (see the keyboard schematic diagram for details)

Top PCB assembly

The Top PCB is needed to set up the Sushi Board in "castle" configuration. This PCB doesn't contain any circuit traces — it's only used as mechanical support.
All "fix kits" are listed in the mounting hardware contents list.

  • Fix the OLED using the "OLED fix kit". Washers must be placed between the module and the top PCB
  • Fix the UPS using the "Battery pack fix kit"
  • Fix the MODEM using the "Modem fix kit"
  • Attach the keyboard to the PCB by passing the flat cable through the slot in the PCB. Align the flat cable to pin 6 on the connector (see the keyboard schematic diagram for more details)
  • Finally, fix the top PCB to the bottom using the "TOP PCB fix kit"

Assembly pictures

Some pictures can be useful to highlight certain details and possibly answer some questions.

MNT-01
PCB with essential components mounted. Note that the 2 sockets beside the ESP32 (highlighted in red) are mainly intended as test holes. The male header is not essential unless required for a custom application.

MNT-02
Main PCB with all plug-in modules inserted into their sockets.

MNT-03
Top view of the PCB with modem and UPS modules.

MNT-04
Modem module view. The flexible 4G antenna can be fixed on the back of the PCB.

MNT-05
Note that the modem uses only 3 spacers between the module and the top PCB. On the top PCB only 2 screws are used, while 3 screws are used to fix the spacers to the module. One spacer is “blind” on the top (no hole is required in the PCB).

MNT-07
Side view of UPS and OLED module mounting. Note that 2 spacing rings are used for each of the 4 fixing points.

MNT-10
OLED connection between the main (bottom) and top PCBs.

MNT-09
Keyboard connection view: when the keyboard is mounted on the top PCB, the connector must be aligned to the right (the unplugged pin on the left is highlighted in red). When the keyboard is placed on a desk, the connector must be aligned to the left. Don’t worry: an incorrect connection won’t cause damage; the keyboard will simply not work as expected.

MNT-08
Side view with UPS connection.

MNT-11
Modem module connection. Be very careful to plug the cable with the correct alignment indicated by the white dot. A wrong connection can damage the modem module!

First start

Connect the power supply

There are different options to connect power to the board — see all available methods in the CN_BATT diagram.

System test

The Sushi Board comes with the Sushi-IoT-Framework preloaded. This allows for a quick system test at first startup.
By browsing the user interface, you can perform a basic hardware check. For more details, see the Sushi-IoT-Framework DOC.

Setup & development

At this stage, the Sushi Board is ready to use. You have two main options:

  • Start using the Sushi-IoT-Framework, which gives you a ready-to-develop system using MicroPython. In this case, refer to the Sushi-IoT-Framework DOC.
  • Develop and flash your own firmware using your preferred environment (Arduino, Espressif IDF, or others).