More servo motors ordered, preparing for new robotic projects. I also ordered an OpenMV H7 board. I want to experiment with face recognition and the robot to follow your face.
I still don't understand completely why the servo motors of the SainSmart sometimes jumps to random positions when I power it on.
However extended the code so that only when I press the PS3 "Select" button that I power on the motors. This guarantees me that my PS3 controller is in full control and I am prepared.
Also added added a Home position that is connected to the square.
This robot is 6 DOF but is clearly designed for ground objects unlike the Thor project where I have all freedom's.
Trying to figure out why when I power on the SainSmart it moves to different positions that are unexpected. While during development I had no such issues.
I think I figured it out by the fact that the PS3 controller receiver lost power and therefore has initial values that makes the robot jump to weird positions.
This may be solved by making the robot only initiate it's motors when I press a start button on the PS3 controller.
Some movements of the The SainSmart 6 DOF are limited to other motor positions, this is going to be a coding challenge. Motor 3 has its maximum range when motor 2 is in a 45 degree angle.
Before I continue with the Thor project I wanted to get experience with a smaller robot to see how to control it. I have chosen a cheap 160 euros SainSmart 6 DOF robot.
This one is built with servo motors and easier to develop for.
The Thor project is still alive,just had other priorities that needed money and time to build like a solar generator.
The reason why I ended up frying my Nextion display can be traced to bad set of new purchased batteries for my volt meters that ended in showing inaccurate voltages and a contact that came lose.
Got some shelves to put my parts on it. My desk was getting too small to contain all parts. Work on the robot got delayed over the last year because it took time to clear the desk.
I got a soldering station and an air gun right next to my PC. Just arms length and I can solder. when I feel up to.
The only bad thing is that my holiday is running out of days. Other priorities my take over again.
Tried to repair the Nexion display with the exploded capacitor but it just doesn't want to function. So I guess something else broke but there is no visual damage to be seen.
AY CARAMBA! Just smoked my touch screen when wiring up my touch panel. I initially thought that I fed it a too high voltage since I use a 24V to 5 V converter. But it turns out to be inverted polarity.
A C5 blew up, and I think this is the only damage. By comparing I found another reference capacitor at the same board, because I could not read the writing. So I am guessing that it is a 106C = 10µF capacitor.
I found some classical capacitor and tomorrow I will try to replace it and hope that it works.
Very long delay in proceeding with this robot design, but I needed my time and energy somewhere else.
The story continuous by building a box for the electronics part.
Rough box that barely fits on my printer, but this is only a development box to test out electronics parts. And especially the software design.
The box contains separate stepper motor connectors that i can pull so I have a safe environment to test the robot without the motors physically connected to it.
The Thor robot is still a work in progress but job insecurity has forced me to as much online learning as possible. That ate all my available free time.
Since I have no clue what my next client will need, I am forced to learn everything I encounter.
Just a quick update. Any free personal time is still used up for getting schooling for my job. No time to even come close to continuing the Thor project.
I also did investigate in air quality indoor when I print. It is a complicated matter but opening your window daily for 30 minutes seems to be the only and most effective way. Air-filtering won't remove that kind amount of Formaldehyde.
Good to know. My enclosures are heated and conducted to the outside, in the similar manner as in the clothes machine dryer, having the natural air flow from the room trough the envelope to the outside.
The Thor project is not dead, but my professional life requires me to get as many learning certificates as possible just in case I need to move to another client. My current contract at the client are only short time extensions. So I am using all my free personal time to get these 'official" certificates.
Started with a 78 hour course, 58 hours left to learn :-)
It would be nice if someone out there could give me a list of electrical connectors, and where to buy that is needed for this Thor robot. I am a N00b in regard to electrical connectors :-)
Sepio I noticed that you have these nice colored cable protectors so you can group your cables. Any idea where you found them?
I try to have my power supply disconnected from my Thor controller by a detachable cable
I tried to order this PX0412/03P IP68 but I am a bit confused what parts I need. I saw that you need to order pins. I also found a connector cable 739681 IP68 Aantal polen: 3. But what makes it unclear is where is the male part connector that can be used in a 3D printed part.
(Maybe I have not found them yet, Conrad site is very slow and not always give me results what I need)
Holidays! The next few days are 100% dedicated in learning to cerate 3d models in Fusion 360. Last year I tried FreeCAD, but I never managed to get it right. One of the reasons was to control the 3D space, very tiring on my right hand to use the mouse that much. I once had RSI and recovered so I have to keep that in check.
But this time I have a 3Dconenction spacemouse that I can use my left hand with.
3dconnection spacemouse pro is in and for me this is a big improvement working with Fusion 360. Getting used to the movements but seems worth it. Fusion 360 needed me to use the scroll wheel as a button. But because you need more force on the scrollwheel to press it and prevent from scrolling, it started to hurt my middle finger.
The 3Dconnection spacemouse has a 6 DOF joystick. The best technique that seems to work is to grasp the lower bottom to pan (this prevents rotation). The top part to pull up and down. And for more precision you use one finger at the top and the other at the bottom for more precise rotation control.
I went for the Pro because it was more heavy and it stays on your desk even when you pull up. The buttons on the right has a rotation freeze. That way only the pan controls work.
When I was reviewing this 3D mouse, I saw a lot of people having problems using it (mostly 3D artists). It is clear that not everybody can handle it. You are using your left hand for something that needs a lot of precision.
I am wondering if the reason why I can handle it easily is because I used to do mechanical things and thus trained my left hand when I was young to hold screws and objects while I used my right hand for screwing in the screw.
But it is still a very expensive to invest in. 340 Euros.
The last week of this year will mainly be used to learn Fusion 360 and create a box for my controller. I think I will also provide a 12V 24V to 12V internal power source to drive the fans in the robot. I need more silent fans to cool the robot because most of the development time is done at night and the current ones are way too noisy.
Noctua fans are very silent but they do not come in 24V.
Olaf Baeyens
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More servo motors ordered, preparing for new robotic projects. I also ordered an OpenMV H7 board. I want to experiment with face recognition and the robot to follow your face.
Are you sure? yes | no
I still don't understand completely why the servo motors of the SainSmart sometimes jumps to random positions when I power it on.
However extended the code so that only when I press the PS3 "Select" button that I power on the motors. This guarantees me that my PS3 controller is in full control and I am prepared.
Also added added a Home position that is connected to the square.
This robot is 6 DOF but is clearly designed for ground objects unlike the Thor project where I have all freedom's.
Are you sure? yes | no
Trying to figure out why when I power on the SainSmart it moves to different positions that are unexpected. While during development I had no such issues.
I think I figured it out by the fact that the PS3 controller receiver lost power and therefore has initial values that makes the robot jump to weird positions.
This may be solved by making the robot only initiate it's motors when I press a start button on the PS3 controller.
Are you sure? yes | no
Some movements of the The SainSmart 6 DOF are limited to other motor positions, this is going to be a coding challenge. Motor 3 has its maximum range when motor 2 is in a 45 degree angle.
Are you sure? yes | no
The SainSmart 6 DOF came with a wrong assembled head and a defective SG90 servomotor. Luckily I have a spare one laying around.
Are you sure? yes | no
Before I continue with the Thor project I wanted to get experience with a smaller robot to see how to control it. I have chosen a cheap 160 euros SainSmart 6 DOF robot.
This one is built with servo motors and easier to develop for.
I order control the robot I went back to the PS3 controller I had issues with and with a new firmware update (http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/ps3-ps4-controller-bluetooth)
Iit seems to work with a ELEGOO Mikrocontroller Board ATmega328P ATMEGA16U2 (11 euro's).
One thing I noticed is that the the controller has a 3V and a 5V connector, the Bluetooth needs 5V to synchronize with the PS3.
I don't have time yet to update my Thor pages, maybe in the weekend?
The SainSmart 6 DOF has very limited movement range compared to the Thor project. However it is fast!
Are you sure? yes | no
The Thor project is still alive,just had other priorities that needed money and time to build like a solar generator.
The reason why I ended up frying my Nextion display can be traced to bad set of new purchased batteries for my volt meters that ended in showing inaccurate voltages and a contact that came lose.
Are you sure? yes | no
Got some shelves to put my parts on it. My desk was getting too small to contain all parts. Work on the robot got delayed over the last year because it took time to clear the desk.
I got a soldering station and an air gun right next to my PC. Just arms length and I can solder. when I feel up to.
The only bad thing is that my holiday is running out of days. Other priorities my take over again.
Are you sure? yes | no
Memo to myself, make sure that the print is no higher than a nut thickness so they can't roll under your print if you lose one.
Are you sure? yes | no
Tried to repair the Nexion display with the exploded capacitor but it just doesn't want to function. So I guess something else broke but there is no visual damage to be seen.
Are you sure? yes | no
AY CARAMBA! Just smoked my touch screen when wiring up my touch panel. I initially thought that I fed it a too high voltage since I use a 24V to 5 V converter. But it turns out to be inverted polarity.
A C5 blew up, and I think this is the only damage. By comparing I found another reference capacitor at the same board, because I could not read the writing. So I am guessing that it is a 106C = 10µF capacitor.
I found some classical capacitor and tomorrow I will try to replace it and hope that it works.
Are you sure? yes | no
Very long delay in proceeding with this robot design, but I needed my time and energy somewhere else.
The story continuous by building a box for the electronics part.
Rough box that barely fits on my printer, but this is only a development box to test out electronics parts. And especially the software design.
The box contains separate stepper motor connectors that i can pull so I have a safe environment to test the robot without the motors physically connected to it.
Are you sure? yes | no
The Thor robot is still a work in progress but job insecurity has forced me to as much online learning as possible. That ate all my available free time.
Since I have no clue what my next client will need, I am forced to learn everything I encounter.
Are you sure? yes | no
Just a quick update. Any free personal time is still used up for getting schooling for my job. No time to even come close to continuing the Thor project.
I also did investigate in air quality indoor when I print. It is a complicated matter but opening your window daily for 30 minutes seems to be the only and most effective way. Air-filtering won't remove that kind amount of Formaldehyde.
Are you sure? yes | no
Good to know.
My enclosures are heated and conducted to the outside, in the similar manner as in the clothes machine dryer, having the natural air flow from the room trough the envelope to the outside.
Are you sure? yes | no
The Thor project is not dead, but my professional life requires me to get as many learning certificates as possible just in case I need to move to another client. My current contract at the client are only short time extensions. So I am using all my free personal time to get these 'official" certificates.
Started with a 78 hour course, 58 hours left to learn :-)
Are you sure? yes | no
It would be nice if someone out there could give me a list of electrical connectors, and where to buy that is needed for this Thor robot. I am a N00b in regard to electrical connectors :-)
Sepio I noticed that you have these nice colored cable protectors so you can group your cables. Any idea where you found them?
Are you sure? yes | no
Hoi Olaf,
You can find them at conrad in different colors.
https://www.conrad.be/ce/nl/overview/6401091/Gevlochten-slangen?queryFromSuggest=true?queryFromSuggest=true;jsessionid=CE1AB03A95CBA6F147CF91D9B0BFB1CA.ASTPCEN20
Are you sure? yes | no
Thanks, exactly what I was searching for.
Are you sure? yes | no
Just received some colors.: CBBOX0205-GN They may be a bit too small 2 - 5 mm but now I have a sense of direction.
Are you sure? yes | no
This are the connector also at conrad
bulgin connectors px04
https://www.conrad.be/ce/nl/Search.html?search=bulgin+connectors+px04&searchType=mainSearchBar
Are you sure? yes | no
I try to have my power supply disconnected from my Thor controller by a detachable cable
I tried to order this PX0412/03P IP68 but I am a bit confused what parts I need.
I saw that you need to order pins. I also found a connector cable 739681 IP68 Aantal polen: 3.
But what makes it unclear is where is the male part connector that can be used in a 3D printed part.
(Maybe I have not found them yet, Conrad site is very slow and not always give me results what I need)
Are you sure? yes | no
Holidays are over. Just ordered a slip ring SRC-22-24A as test. It seems to be only available at aliexpress.
Are you sure? yes | no
Holidays! The next few days are 100% dedicated in learning to cerate 3d models in Fusion 360. Last year I tried FreeCAD, but I never managed to get it right. One of the reasons was to control the 3D space, very tiring on my right hand to use the mouse that much. I once had RSI and recovered so I have to keep that in check.
But this time I have a 3Dconenction spacemouse that I can use my left hand with.
Are you sure? yes | no
3dconnection spacemouse pro is in and for me this is a big improvement working with Fusion 360. Getting used to the movements but seems worth it. Fusion 360 needed me to use the scroll wheel as a button. But because you need more force on the scrollwheel to press it and prevent from scrolling, it started to hurt my middle finger.
The 3Dconnection spacemouse has a 6 DOF joystick. The best technique that seems to work is to grasp the lower bottom to pan (this prevents rotation). The top part to pull up and down. And for more precision you use one finger at the top and the other at the bottom for more precise rotation control.
I went for the Pro because it was more heavy and it stays on your desk even when you pull up. The buttons on the right has a rotation freeze. That way only the pan controls work.
When I was reviewing this 3D mouse, I saw a lot of people having problems using it (mostly 3D artists). It is clear that not everybody can handle it. You are using your left hand for something that needs a lot of precision.
I am wondering if the reason why I can handle it easily is because I used to do mechanical things and thus trained my left hand when I was young to hold screws and objects while I used my right hand for screwing in the screw.
But it is still a very expensive to invest in. 340 Euros.
Are you sure? yes | no
The last week of this year will mainly be used to learn Fusion 360 and create a box for my controller. I think I will also provide a 12V 24V to 12V internal power source to drive the fans in the robot. I need more silent fans to cool the robot because most of the development time is done at night and the current ones are way too noisy.
Noctua fans are very silent but they do not come in 24V.
Are you sure? yes | no