If you ordered your DDV3 Beltless Dana Dolly with to work with the Conductor SA2.6 controller, we included a sensor board and sensor stickers to mount to your Dana Dolly Rails.
This sensor board/stickers will work with certain firmwares for the Conductor to calibrate and read the sensors during certain shot types (ping pong) and auto adjust.
Sensor Board Install
- Gather your sticker sheet, sensor board/cable and screw + wrench
- Mount and power your Conductor and check or set Settings --> Port --> I/O port is set to Ext. Trig.
- Attach your cable to the sensor board if not already installed.
- Plug the other end of the cable to the Conductor's 4 pin i/o port on the left side.
- Both LED's should light (green and red). If not, make sure your I/O port is set correctly in the above steps.
- Attach your sensor board to the DDV3 Integration Kit, finger tight or very lightly using the single M4 screw. The channel is oriented so that it's touching the carriage mount. Wires are on the outside.
- Reposition the sensor board as high as possible on the mount while being level (parallel to the track). Lightly snug the screw down. Did one or both of the sensor lights go out? Good. LED's are off when we get reflections from the track surface!
- If you aren't already, disengage the Drive wheel (click it out of place) so you can manually move the Dana Dolly.
- Move the Dana Dolly left and right while watching the Red and Green LEDs. If both are off for the full length of the track, you are good! If not, then we need to get the sensor board closer to the track so that the LED's remain off while the dolly traverses the full length of the track.
- Loosen and reposition the board lower and level until both LED's turn off when the screw is tightened, and the board is parallel to the t rack. Below shows the lowest the sensor board placement (usually not necessary). Watch out!! - don't lower it too much or the screws or sensors can make contact with the track or stickers.
- When your LED's stay off while manually moving over the clean track, lightly snug the mounting screw to lock in the sensor board position. The stalk holding the sensor board is plastic, so resist the urge to overtighten as this can break the part. Hint - grab and use the Short End end of the wrench to give yourself less leverage.
Sensor Sticker Install
When installing stickers its important to understand two dimensions:
Left/Right position of the sensor is what most people focus on, but there's also what part of the round speed rail you use. There are two sensors that straddle the centerline of the speed rail. This centerline (highest point of the rail, running the length) is important as you want the sensor stickers placed so both sensors can clearly "see" the black portions of the stickers.
- Placing the Left End Stop sticker - Move the Dolly to the left hand stop, and mark the track with a pen or tape to indicate where you want your left stop to be. Place the sensor sticker on top of the track so that when the Dolly is travelling left both LED's will turn on 6 to 8 inches before dolly would run into the ends. Then ends up being about 15-16 inches from the left side
- Placing the Right Stop Sticker - Move the Dolly to the right hand stop, and mark the track with a pen or tape to indicate where you want your right stop to be. Place the sensor sticker on top of the track so that when the Dolly is travelling right both LED's will turn on 6-8 inches before dolly would run into the ends. Then ends up being about 13-14 inches from the right track end.
- Place the middle sensor between the two end (exact position doesn't matter) - place the sticker so the middle centerline is on top of the track. You want this centerline to be between the two sensors (straddling) as shown.
Completely seal the sticker to the track so nothing is sticking up. (above pictures is not final!)
Testing sensor sticker placement
Now you are ready to test your install. You will do this by looking for the LED's that are indicated as you pass over these markers.
- Manually move your Dana Dolly left and right.
- During most of the track, the sensor should be "unlit" This is actually "seeing" the track, well actually the reflection of the sensor.
- Test the left stop - when travelling left it should indicate both lights (Red/Green) and have an additional 6 to 12 inches more space before hitting stops.
- Test the right stop - when travelling right it should indicate both (Red/Green) lights and have an additional 6 to 12 inches more space before hitting stops.
- Test the Mid Point X sticker - the Green LED indicates sensing the back black portion of the sticker and the Red LED indicates the front black portion of the sticker. Both should clearly turn on when passing over their respective regions. It is this sensor that we must pass over during a ping pong shoot.
If all tests well, your Dana Dolly is ready to Calibrate and run its first ping pong shot!
Comments
1 comment
Thankyou Brian these are a fantastic set of instructions everything is working as it should even with my alternative build. I was very excited when it hit all the marks, brought a big smile to my face. Thankyou for your on going help.
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