Mounting Deck

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TETRIX® Autonomous Mounting Deck

User Guide

60010 V0412

Materials Included • Acrylic mounting deck • 4 – 5-40 screws • 4 – 6-32 screws

• 4 kep nuts • 4 hex nuts • 4 nylon spacers

Items Required (not included) • TETRIX® robot with programmable components • Hex key pack from TETRIX set • 4 to 8 – 1/2" socket head cap screws with kep nuts or stand-off posts from a TETRIX set

Safety Note Teachers should provide adequate supervision when leading this activity in the classroom. As needed, teachers should implement general safety requirements including, but not limited to, the following: eye protection, proper ventilation, and instruction on the use of hand tools. Furthermore, teachers should implement the safety requirements determined by their district and/or state in combination with the safety requirements mentioned in this user guide. Pitsco, Inc. is not responsible for bodily injury or property damage resulting from the misuse of its products or the teacher’s failure to implement proper safety procedures within the classroom.

Before You Start This mounting deck is designed for use with the off-the-shelf Arduino™ or BASIC Stamp® (Board of Education by Parallax) controllers. When building your robot, plan for where you are going to place the mounting deck, which is 6.25" L x 4.25" W x 1/8" D. You can either attach it directly on TETRIX channels or use stand-off posts to elevate it above other robot parts. The instructions that follow show the parts being attached in a specific order – this order is random and can be changed.

Attaching the Controller 1. Note that there are placed etched into the deck’s acrylic for the speed controller and an Arduino or BASIC Stamp controller (Figure 1). 2. Peel off the backing paper from both sides of the mounting deck (Figure 2). The etched lines can still be seen in the acrylic. 3. Where the deck is labeled “Speed Controller,” attach the speed controller using its included hardware (Figure 3). Figure 1

Figure 2 2

Figure 3 TETRIX Autonomous Mounting Deck User Guide 60010 V0412

To attach the controller, follow the directions below for your specific device.

Arduino Controller:

BASIC Stamp Controller:

4. Find the 5-40 screws, hex nuts, nylon spacers, and hex keys (Figure 4a).

4. Find the 6-32 screws, kep nuts, nylon spacers, and hex keys (Figure 4b).

Figure 4a

5. Thread a screw through the top of the controller and then through a nylon spacer that is aligned with a hole on the mounting deck where it is labeled “ARDUINO,” (Figure 5a).

Figure 5a

Figure 4b

5. Thread a screw through the top of the controller and place a nylon spacer that is aligned with a hole on the mounting deck where it is labeled “BASIC STAMP” Figure 5b (Figure 5b).

6. Repeat Step 5 with the three other screws and spacers in the remaining three holes of the controller. Make sure the controller is facing up from the deck and that the screws go through the mounting deck. Secure the screws with the hex nuts (Figure 6a).

6. Repeat Step 5 with the three other screws and spacers in the remaining holes of the controller. Make sure the controller is facing up from the deck and that the screws go through the mounting deck. Secure the screws with the kep nuts (Figure 6b).

Figure 6a

Figure 6b

The mounting deck is ready to be attached to the robot (Figure 7a).

The mounting deck is ready to be attached to the robot (Figure 7b).

Figure 7a

Figure 7b

TETRIX Autonomous Mounting Deck User Guide 60010 V0412

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Attaching the Deck 7. Connect the wires that attach to the Arduino or BASIC Stamp controller to the robot according to the controller’s directions. Connect the wires of the speed controller to the robot components according to your TETRIX Creator’s Guide. Note: This step will vary according to each robot design. 8. If you have a place on the robot to attach the deck directly onto the TETRIX elements, do that with four socket head cap screws, kep nuts, and the hex keys. If you do not have a clear place on the robot body for the deck, create an elevated area by securing four stand-off posts with the cap screws in an arrangement that lines up with the holes on the mounting deck. Place the deck on top of the stand-off posts and secure it with four more Socket Head Cap Screws (Figures 8a and b).

Figure 8a – Arduino

Figure 8b – BASIC Stamp

P.O. Box 1708 • Pittsburg, KS 66762 www.pitsco.com Toll-Free Orders 800-835-0686

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TETRIX Autonomous Mounting Deck User Guide 60010 V0412