#1 Any Questions » Can´t set HOME positions on servos » 2016-08-10 15:54:07

spacorum
Replies: 5

I downloaded ControlServer for Windows. I launch it, I can move the servos with it.

Every servo has the wrong position (after mounting the full robot) so I need to set the home positions before anything. But I can´t do it, or I don´t know well how to do it. For example: when I turn on the PLEN servos, the left arm goes up (half way) and it thinks that is the home position.

So I move the slider, putting it down. Then I press HOME to set the new initial position.
But if I press RESET, the servo moves again to the original (bad) position. Nothing has changed. I tried with every servo with the same problem. Position are not stored, so if I turn PLEN off and on, the home positions are still wrong.

Maybe this is not instant? Maybe I need to unplug PLEN after storing it?
PLEASE, HELP!! This is not explained anywhere and is not so easy to understand.
I think the setup workflow is strange, complex and little intuitive.

Thanks

#2 Re: Any Questions » Running ControlServer tool on Windows » 2016-08-10 11:05:31

Could someone at Support give me some advice?
I inserted the battery today, turned PLEN on, and it started again to make random moves.
The ControlServer responds, but when I press the HOME button, the position is not set.
So everytime I press RESET, it moves to its original "home" position.

I´m afraid to burn the servos, so please help me.
Thanks

#3 Re: Any Questions » Running ControlServer tool on Windows » 2016-08-09 18:56:30

Ok, I finally uploaded the new firmware, in case it was updated from May.
Now, when I turn on both switches, the PLEN takes a strange position, forcing every single servo.
It is also making random moves sometimes. Is this part of its "personality" I uploaded?

Now, when I try to launch the Control Server, it detects the PLEN, but I cannot move any servo.
How can I turn off the random movements and set the home positions now? Should I upload a special firmware to do this??

Thanks in advance

#4 Re: Any Questions » Running ControlServer tool on Windows » 2016-08-09 18:46:09

For someone on similar situation. I was able to download the executable file here:
https://github.com/plenprojectcompany/p … r/releases

I had to search on Google for "ControlServer.exe" to find it.. Please, put a link to this files on the README.

#5 Any Questions » Running ControlServer tool on Windows » 2016-08-09 18:12:29

spacorum
Replies: 5

Hello, I have a PLEN from months and still I cannot work with it.
I was using the ControlServer v2.0.0 for Windows, in order to reset the servo positions (which I was never able to do, every time I press RESET, the servos return to the original position, not the right one).

I read that maybe upgrading the firmware would work, but the firmware is already up to date (I think, downloaded on May).
Now, I cannot find anymore the ControlServer.exe (executable for Windows) that I previously downloaded. Now, the new version only has some kind of Python files or something. No exe, no way to launch the server as before. How can I do it??

The README file from the ControlServer at your respository has zero information about this:
https://github.com/plenprojectcompany/p … /README.md

I feel like going backwards on this.. First, problems to reset the servo positions. Now, I cannot even launch the tool itself.
Help me, please. This robot is a pain to setup!!

#6 Re: Any Questions » Where is the battery? » 2016-01-22 16:09:25

The first question is auto-answered: today when I plugged the battery the led indicator on the AC adapter went red (not yesterday). I had it plugged until the light went green. Now the battery is charged and the servos move again.

For what I understand: the switch on the right controls the power source, ON is the USB mode and OFF is the battery mode. Right?
The switch on the left controls... ¿the servos? I´m not sure, but the servos only move it is down. What controls this exactly?

Thanks

#7 Re: Any Questions » Where is the battery? » 2016-01-22 04:07:23

PLEASE answer this three questions so I can continue working:

1) How much time (in hours) do I must plug the battery to the AC adapter for a full charge? There is no indicator.
2) What is the meaning of the two switches? What happens in each position? The servos only move in a particular combination.
3) How to charge PLEN once the chasis is fully mounted? The battery cable is directly connected to the switches inside.

#8 Re: Any Questions » Where is the battery? » 2016-01-21 03:43:31

Thanks for your answer, Guvalif, but I´m afraid is too short for an important topic like this. I followed your instructions and turned my email request into forum request, but please you have to explain things a little more. As I told you, I have no idea about a lot of things that you take for granted. There is no manual (only some outdated guides to print and mount the arms, foot and head).

So your answer leads me to more questions:
Once the robot is fully mounted, we have to unplug the battery from the switches and plug it to the AC adapter? Each time? I don´t understand. I thought that all the cables were hidden once mounted. Is there something I´m missing? Maybe if you could upload a picture it could help. I´m looking at this at the wiki but I don´t see the battery conection: http://plen.jp/playground/wiki/_media/t … c01057.jpg

Also, you told that the battery has to be directly plugged to the AC adapter. In this case, for how much time? How to know if its fully charged?

And maybe you could explain a little more the meaning of the two switches (why the servos only move when the first is ON, what happens when the second is ON, etc). I think it could be important for everyone to know. I spent half a day trying to move the servos programatically until you explained to me that the battery must be plugged in, for example.

Sorry if I don´t look too patient, but it´s been more than a week already, a lot of time lost 3d printing the wrong old files (thanks for updating the Github files, by the way) and I don´t see too much advance. I beg you to please work faster on that guide you are working on. It´s totally necessary.

Thanks for your time!

#9 Re: Any Questions » Where is the battery? » 2016-01-20 15:30:26

Similar problems here. After asking via email to PLEN support, I understood that I must plug the battery if I want to move the servos programatically. But now the default battery charge is gone... And I cannot understand how should I proceed to charge it again.

I tried every possible combination, but nothing (switch A on, switch B off, etc). How should I charge the battery? There are two switches. In what position must they be? And why there is this AC adapter that only can be connected directly to the battery? Is for "manual charge" or something? I thought that the way to charge it was the mini-USB port... Can I charge it via USB? In this case, in what switches positions??

Again, soooo many questions. We need an official and updated manual as soon as possible, people. There are a lot of missing chapters (how batteries work, how to mount the motherboard, how to connect the switches to the motherboard, how to even start using a recently mounted PLEN, what the head does and how to use it or test it...).

Thanks

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