Quick Notes

Published on 2016-04-09 in Tote HaD.

The workshop just finished, and I will have more to say about it, but for now I need to take a couple of notes for improving things, in case I will be doing it again.

• Cheap screwdrivers are useless,

• The screws that come with servos are really bad for this, make sure to use the 1.5x3M screws,

• Check the software also in the AP mode, not just when it’s connected to your home WiFi,

• Investigate the glue-less approach to making feet,

• Provide more detailed instructions. Separate instructions for left and right legs, better instructions for what to plug where, mark the colors for B&W prints,

• Tell people to use the servo horns that came in the bag with the servo, as they differ very much for servos from different sources.

• Order plastic bags and divide the parts into kits. Make sure to use servos from the same source in each kit,

• Add instructions for cutting off the servo “ears” for the hip servos,

• More detailed instructions for centering the servos,

• Tell the organizers about the upper limit on the number of people in advance. Order everything at once, in bulk,

• The cheap LiPo chargers are 1A, not good for batteries smaller than 1000mAh,

• Have enough USB2TTLs for everyone to use,

• Double-check all the boards for soldering errors and missing parts,

• Bringing a soldering iron and basic tools was a great idea,

• Send the kits to the organizers as a package, to avoid customs problems at the airport,

• Tell people to bring laptops,

• Add web interface,

• Have it blink LEDs in different patterns to indicate different stages and/or errors,

• Print the address of the project website on the instructions and the PCB,

• Have a helper for every 10 people,

• 4h is barely enough to assemble everything, forget about programming them,

• If servos are erratic, check the battery,

• People who came are amazing! Thanks!