Newbie build problems ....
Newbie build problems ....
by BigJon
Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:20 am
Hi,
My first post ...
I built my new RN-1 today. It took about 8-ish hours to build. Everything went as the instructions said albeit a bit fiddly, excepted for two issues and a sore hand now from all the unscrewing / screwing …
The main issue was when I powered my RN for the first time, it took a rather odd lop-sided pose and "buzzed" as the motors strained and the legs hit each other. I fiddled for about a hour tracing the wires and checking the instructions. In the end I took all the servos off, loaded the "set zero" program and put each servo back one by one, checking it with the set zero. It would seem the manual for my controller board is very wrong ? One whole side of the RN is wired completely differently compared with the drawing in the manual ?
Looking at the manual on page 42 I have diagram with servos labelled 0 to 22. The diagram in the instructions say blocks of pins A & B on the RHS of the controller run from the bottom S23 - S18 & S17 - S12 (I have this in my manual http://robosavvy.com/Builders/gsferrari/4.jpg). However when I got my RN working, mine should have been wired S23 = motor 18, S22 = motor 19, S21 = motor 20, etc. i.e. my blocks of pins A & B on the controller run from the bottom S18 – 23 & S12 - S17, a mirror image of the other side of the controller, but not what it says in the manual ?!
Surely there should be an addendum for the manual ? I bought the kit from here (the RoboSavvy Store) last week, shouldn’t you/they include an updated instruction page, or have I read it wrong ? I wasted a good 2 hours.
The other issue was solved by searching this forum. I don’t have a serial port on my XP laptop, and only have Vista running on my desktop, so the post from "Dimlow" last week here http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1069 was VERY helpful. The unregister/register script worked perfectly and got me up and running on Vista, removing the mscomm32.ocx error message I had.
So as of tonight (10 hours from opening the box, I have my RN walking, rolling, cart wheeling, etc, albeit, with a bit of falling over
So, thanks to everyone, already this forum has been invaluable. I’m sure I’ll be posting more as I get my RN setup and adjusted.
Speak to you all soon.
Jon.
My first post ...
I built my new RN-1 today. It took about 8-ish hours to build. Everything went as the instructions said albeit a bit fiddly, excepted for two issues and a sore hand now from all the unscrewing / screwing …
The main issue was when I powered my RN for the first time, it took a rather odd lop-sided pose and "buzzed" as the motors strained and the legs hit each other. I fiddled for about a hour tracing the wires and checking the instructions. In the end I took all the servos off, loaded the "set zero" program and put each servo back one by one, checking it with the set zero. It would seem the manual for my controller board is very wrong ? One whole side of the RN is wired completely differently compared with the drawing in the manual ?
Looking at the manual on page 42 I have diagram with servos labelled 0 to 22. The diagram in the instructions say blocks of pins A & B on the RHS of the controller run from the bottom S23 - S18 & S17 - S12 (I have this in my manual http://robosavvy.com/Builders/gsferrari/4.jpg). However when I got my RN working, mine should have been wired S23 = motor 18, S22 = motor 19, S21 = motor 20, etc. i.e. my blocks of pins A & B on the controller run from the bottom S18 – 23 & S12 - S17, a mirror image of the other side of the controller, but not what it says in the manual ?!
Surely there should be an addendum for the manual ? I bought the kit from here (the RoboSavvy Store) last week, shouldn’t you/they include an updated instruction page, or have I read it wrong ? I wasted a good 2 hours.
The other issue was solved by searching this forum. I don’t have a serial port on my XP laptop, and only have Vista running on my desktop, so the post from "Dimlow" last week here http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1069 was VERY helpful. The unregister/register script worked perfectly and got me up and running on Vista, removing the mscomm32.ocx error message I had.
So as of tonight (10 hours from opening the box, I have my RN walking, rolling, cart wheeling, etc, albeit, with a bit of falling over
So, thanks to everyone, already this forum has been invaluable. I’m sure I’ll be posting more as I get my RN setup and adjusted.
Speak to you all soon.
Jon.
All's good
by Robogun
Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:15 pm
It's good to hear you got your bot running. I also have found this site and forums very helpful.!.!.! Thanks All!!!
Knowledge is power
by NovaOne
Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:29 pm
Just out of curiosity( and for future reference for others) what version manual do you have (see back cover) and what version MRC3024 firmware
My manual was 1.01 and firmware v2.5 (511) and the servo mappings weren't mirrored left to right. gsferrari's is correct for v2.5 firmware
Any how, I'm glad you have your RN assembled OK
My manual was 1.01 and firmware v2.5 (511) and the servo mappings weren't mirrored left to right. gsferrari's is correct for v2.5 firmware
Any how, I'm glad you have your RN assembled OK
by BigJon
Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:50 pm
I have firmware version 2.5. The printed and electronic manuals are both version 1.00.
I think the PCB is a new version, however I can't find a version number on the PCB anywhere. It might be on the back, but I'm loath to take it all apart to get the controller off, now I've finally got it working !
It would seem I'm not the only one. There's a recent post on the Hitec web site too with the same issues
The response from Hitec was :
This was a running change on the PCB boards. New versions of the manual will have the correct pin assignments.
On very close inspection of the PCB, the silk screen printing has the correct numbers. Here are the pin outs for the new boards.
Jon.
I think the PCB is a new version, however I can't find a version number on the PCB anywhere. It might be on the back, but I'm loath to take it all apart to get the controller off, now I've finally got it working !
It would seem I'm not the only one. There's a recent post on the Hitec web site too with the same issues
The response from Hitec was :
This was a running change on the PCB boards. New versions of the manual will have the correct pin assignments.
On very close inspection of the PCB, the silk screen printing has the correct numbers. Here are the pin outs for the new boards.
Jon.