DIY EDTracker Build Guide

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admin
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DIY EDTracker Build Guide

Post by admin » Thu Oct 22, 2020 12:55 pm

This guide will step you through the process of soldering the PCBs found in the DIY EDTracker kit together in the correct order. Note that this guide is for kits shipped with the MPU9250 sensor module.

The DIY EDTracker kit should contain the following components:

1x EDTracker PCB
1x Arduino compatible Pro Micro
1x MPU9250 gyroscope, accelerometer & compass module (sensor module)
2x 12 pin headers
1x 10 pin header
1x Push button switch


Required tools:

A low power soldering iron ~30 to 60W (see item SKU: HCTOOL0030)
Some solder with flux (see item SKU: HCCONS0010)


Note: Each component must be soldered to the PCB in a specific order so please follow the steps in the order shown.



STEP1:

Image


Take the EDTracker PCB and orientate it so that the accelerometer side is showing as above.



STEP2:

Image

Carefully insert the push button switch into the 4 pads labelled SW1. Note that the switch must be orientated so that the pins are on the left and right hand side as shown above. Once all the pins are located into the correct holes, firmly push the switch so that it sits flat with the PCB being careful not to bend any of the pins.



STEP3:

Image

Now turn the PCB over and solder the 4 pins to the PCB.

Tip: Solder two opposite corners first then check that the switch is still sitting flat with the PCB before soldering the other 2 pins. That way if the switch isn’t sitting flat it can be adjusted by carefully re-heating the solder on the appropriate pad whilst adjusting the switch.



STEP4:

Image

With the PCB orientated so that the Pro Micro side is pointing up, insert the two 12 pin headers into the pads for the Pro Micro.

Note that the pins on the headers are slightly longer on one side of the header than the other. These can be optionally trimmed down after soldering but if not then insert the shorter side of the pin header into the Pro Mico Pads so that the longer side is pointing upwards as shown. Make sure the header strips sit flat with the PCB.



STEP5:

Image

Flip the PCB over and solder all the pins on the two header pins to the PCB.

Tip: First solder the two end pins of each strip first. Then check that the header strips are still sitting flat with the PCB. That way if the strips aren’t sitting flat they can be adjusted by carefully re-heating the solder on the appropriate pad whilst adjusting the strip.



STEP6:

Image

Now flip the PCB back over so that the Pro Micro side is facing up and insert the Pro Micro onto the protruding header pins. Make sure that the USB connector on the Pro Micro is pointing to the edge of the PCB as shown above, and that it is sitting flat with the header pins.

Now solder all the pads on the Pro Micro to the header pins. As in previous tips, start by soldering two of the endmost opposite pads, then check the Pro Micro is sitting flat and solder the rest.



STEP7:

Image

With the PCB orientated so that the accelerometer side is pointing upwards, insert the long side of the 10 pin header into the accelerometer pads so that the header strip sits flat with the PCB and the short pin side is pointing upwards.



STEP8:

Image

Turn the PCB over and solder the pins of the 10 pin header as shown above starting with the two end pins first, checking the header is still flat to the PCB, then soldering the remaining pins.



STEP9:

Image

Flip the PCB back over to the accelerometer side and then insert the sensor module onto the 10 pin header as shown above.

As the sensor module only has a header on one side it may lean towards the EDTracker PCB. To keep it parallel with the PCB, this time solder one of the end pads first. Then whilst heating the solder on that pad, carefully hold the opposite side of the sensor module up so that it is parallel with the EDTracker PCB and then remove the soldering iron from the pad keeping the sensor module held in position whilst the solder solidifies. This should then hold the sensor module in position while the rest of the pads are soldered as shown above. Note: Do not keep the soldering iron on any pad longer than a few seconds as this may cause it to delaminate from the PCB.


Your DIY EDTracker is now complete and you can move onto the calibration stage by following this forum thread:

viewtopic.php?f=130&t=2971

Mangart
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:08 pm

Re: DIY EDTracker Build Guide

Post by Mangart » Tue Dec 08, 2020 9:21 am

Buenos días, estaría interesado en vuestro producto, pero la página http://edtracker.org.uk/index.php/shop está caída y no puedo descargar los programas.
No se si este producto está desactualizado y ya no tiene soporte.
Gracias y perdone las molestias.

andrew
Site Admin
Posts: 1374
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:15 pm

Re: DIY EDTracker Build Guide

Post by andrew » Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:19 am

Somos conscientes de que el sitio web EdTracker.org.uk está actualmente inactivo y nos hemos puesto en contacto con EDTracker para intentar resolver el problema. Sin embargo, la única pieza de software que necesitará para usar nuestros kits de bricolaje es la GUI de bricolaje EDTracker, que solo se necesita para el proceso de calibración. Esto se puede descargar directamente de nuestra guía de inicio rápido (consulte el enlace en el paso 3 de la guía) que se puede encontrar aquí: viewtopic.php?f=130&t=2971

Tenga en cuenta que cuando ejecute la GUI por primera vez, intentará conectarse al sitio web de EDTracker y, por lo tanto, obtendrá un error mientras el sitio está inactivo; sin embargo, puede ignorarlo ya que el proceso de calibración seguirá funcionando bien.


Untranslated version:

We are aware that the EdTracker.org.uk website is currently down and have contacted EDTracker in an attempt to resolve the issue. However the only piece of software you will need to use our DIY kits is the DIY EDTracker GUI which is only needed for the calibration process. This can be directly download form our quick start guide (see link in step 3 of the guide) which can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=130&t=2971

Note that when you first run the GUI it will attempt to connect to the EDTracker website and so you will get an error whilst the site is down, however you can just ignore it as the calibration process will still work fine.
Comments made by this poster do not necessarily reflect the views of Hobby Components Ltd.

Mangart
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:08 pm

Re: Guía de compilación de DIY EDTracker

Post by Mangart » Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:06 pm

gracias por su pronta respuesta, pero necesitaria flashear el edtracker ?

andrew
Site Admin
Posts: 1374
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:15 pm

Re: DIY EDTracker Build Guide

Post by andrew » Tue Dec 08, 2020 2:28 pm

No, flasheamos el Pro-Micro con la versión correcta de firmware antes de enviar el kit. Todo lo que necesita hacer es calibrarlo.

No, we flash the Pro-Micro with the correct version of firmware before the kit is sent out. All you'll need to do is calibrate it.
Comments made by this poster do not necessarily reflect the views of Hobby Components Ltd.

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