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Author Topic: mDrawBot software on GitHub
kongorilla
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kongorilla
Post mDrawBot software on GitHub
on: April 11, 2015, 22:00
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Makeblock's firmware and software for their "four-in-one drawing robotic kit" is available on GitHub:
https://github.com/Makeblock-official/mDrawBot
To get it to compile you'll need the Makeblock library as well:
https://github.com/Makeblock-official/Makeblock-Library

So far I've only made sure their "spider.ino" compiles and I installed the mDraw software for the heck of it. ATM, I don't have time to investigate what changes are necessary to make it work on a stock arduino and motor shield or external drivers.

If I had time/money, I'd order a Makeblock Me Orion to play with. It's the board Makeblock includes with their kit. It's reasonably priced at $30, but I don't know what motor drivers are on the board. For those getting into Sandy's Polargraph stuff, perhaps this board is a good alternative to the old uno/adafruit motorshield combo?
http://www.makeblock.cc/me-orion-base-on-arduino-uno/
sandy
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sandy
Post Re: mDrawBot software on GitHub
on: April 12, 2015, 00:11
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It's a neat package - with two motor drivers on board you can only drive one stepper though, there must be another breakout for the second. I haven't had a look at the code, but I bet there isn't much more than pin configuration and interfaces around the motors - probably wouldn't be hard to adapt polargraph to target that board.

Price is decent, but I think you're paying for the ecosystem, and that probably only makes much sense if you're going to use the Makeblock software too. I'm slightly aghast at the last pricing review I did, when I found I could buy a chinese UNO clone, with a L293D motorshield for $7, delivered.

The L293D-based motorshields, with an uno are still a good bet if you can get motors to match them and you don't need microstepping.

I like that Makeblock stuff.

sn
kongorilla
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kongorilla
Post Re: mDrawBot software on GitHub
on: April 12, 2015, 02:42
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Oh, you're right -- I wrongly assumed there were stepper motor drivers on board. The drawbot kit comes with two of these:
http://www.makeblock.cc/me-stepper-motor-driver/
That brings the price up to $66. Not a good alternative, price-wise.
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