Are you having trouble loading your projects with custom EZBits since the 6-5(6?)-13 update?
Well I did so I figured I'd show you all how to save your projects from complete disaster.
Step 1. Make a copy of your project.
Step 2. Open the project in Notepad (or whatever)
Step 3. Remove EZ Bits from the project. Here is what one looks like. The key is to make sure you have your matches
Code:
[EZRobotBit] code here [/EZRobotBit]
NOTICE I had to change all of the tags from greater/less than to brackets so it would let me post this.
There are two in this example. Can you find them?Code:
[EZRobotBit] #START EZBit
[GUID]59bc6bd3-9043-42de-bace-79a349468e06[/GUID]
[Transform3D]
[Matrix]
[M11]1[/M11]
[M12]0[/M12]
[M13]0[/M13]
[M14]0[/M14]
[M21]0[/M21]
[M22]1[/M22]
[M23]0[/M23]
[M24]0[/M24]
[M31]0[/M31]
[M32]0[/M32]
[M33]1[/M33]
[M34]0[/M34]
[OffsetX]-8.2720588235294326[/OffsetX]
[OffsetY]-14.446227929374004[/OffsetY]
[OffsetZ]0[/OffsetZ]
[M44]1[/M44]
[/Matrix]
[/Transform3D]
[CategoryId]1[/CategoryId]
[Connections]
[EZRobotBitConnection]
[GUID]c9c2960a-9fd9-41a9-b812-f81613f80a19[/GUID]
[Description]Left Wheel (Modified)[/Description]
[BitConnectionType]Servo[/BitConnectionType]
[Port]D13[/Port]
[/EZRobotBitConnection]
[EZRobotBitConnection]
[GUID]92f3c04f-b254-41d8-bd73-6c7307e77bb1[/GUID]
[Description]Right Wheel (Modified)[/Description]
[BitConnectionType]Servo[/BitConnectionType]
[Port]D11[/Port]
[/EZRobotBitConnection]
[/Connections]
[Description]Bottom half[/Description]
[/EZRobotBit] #END EZBit
[EZRobotBit] #START EZBit
[GUID]fee55075-b6d8-4a2c-809b-22cb7e49abbe[/GUID]
[Transform3D]
[Matrix]
[M11]-2.2204460492503131E-16[/M11]
[M12]0[/M12]
[M13]1[/M13]
[M14]0[/M14]
[M21]-1[/M21]
[M22]-2.2204460492503131E-16[/M22]
[M23]-2.2204460492503131E-16[/M23]
[M24]0[/M24]
[M31]2.2204460492503131E-16[/M31]
[M32]-1[/M32]
[M33]0[/M33]
[M34]0[/M34]
[OffsetX]-10.202205882353452[/OffsetX]
[OffsetY]4.89566613162121[/OffsetY]
[OffsetZ]58.83053713058257[/OffsetZ]
[M44]1[/M44]
[/Matrix]
[/Transform3D]
[CategoryId]1[/CategoryId]
[Connections]
[EZRobotBitConnection]
[GUID]fcd53845-419a-43e5-97bc-f76588cc499e[/GUID]
[Description]Left Arm[/Description]
[BitConnectionType]Servo[/BitConnectionType]
[Port]D5[/Port]
[/EZRobotBitConnection]
[EZRobotBitConnection]
[GUID]28c0cdc1-8849-41c7-af39-73f03bb98b55[/GUID]
[Description]Right Arm[/Description]
[BitConnectionType]Servo[/BitConnectionType]
[Port]D7[/Port]
[/EZRobotBitConnection]
[EZRobotBitConnection]
[GUID]3b8b001a-7351-498d-b65d-2df00c7495eb[/GUID]
[Description]Cam Tilt[/Description]
[BitConnectionType]Servo[/BitConnectionType]
[Port]D0[/Port]
[/EZRobotBitConnection]
[EZRobotBitConnection]
[GUID]06fd5272-8bdf-45ed-a3c0-2c25662de0d2[/GUID]
[Description]Cam Pan[/Description]
[BitConnectionType]Servo[/BitConnectionType]
[Port]D2[/Port]
[/EZRobotBitConnection]
[/Connections]
[Description]Top half[/Description]
[/EZRobotBit] #END EZBit
As you can see the sizes vary depending on what's in them so be sure to check your tags. You don't want to delete anything you are trying to save.
Sure, you'll have to re-make re-import your stls and make new bits but, at least all of your other hard work won't go down the tubes. Besides I'm having fun importing stls. (@DJ Thanks for the servo btw!)
I hope this helps someone out.
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Luckily for me I never got around to using any of my EZ-Bits on projects so this wasn't an issue but it may be for someone so good find
I'm sure there is another one somewhere that DJ said about the tutorials but I can't seem to find it, they are coming but aren't here yet
On the EZ-Bit Builder side of things, I don't know if it's possible or not but a few suggestions that I would find useful is;
1. Edges of parts snapping to each other (to ensure they are lined up correctly)
2. Orbit mode to, well orbit around the EZ-bit
3. I may have missed it but can you re-edit an EZ-Bit or save one part way through building?
Omni bits will come in handy there, well provided on which bits of course...
I found Sketchup was easier to use and it's less of a resource hog than 123. It also required a plugin to do the stl exports so maybe the pluging is at fault.
But 123 is pretty cool once you get familiar with it. It is a resource I didn't feel like trouble shooting the Sketchup issue so I've just stuck with 123.
123 tip:? It seems that 123 always starts and loads files using mm for measurements. My fellow Americans, you may want to get in the habit of setting it to inches as the first thing you do when you start the program and/or load a file.
I have problems with STL exports though. It's probably me but if you look at the one I've zipped up and attached it should have the 3 wires for the servo cable shown and the servo spindle but importing into ARC these aren't shown... Any ideas?
TowerProMG90MicroServo.zip (STL and 123 formats)
http://alpha7.netau.net/ezr/Mg90MicroServo.zip
I hope that will get you by until this gets figured out. It seems to not register as one complete piece even after grouping them. I tried "inserting" it hoping it would convert it to 1 generic object but that didn't happen. I've only scratch made a couple of boxes with 1/16" walls. Started with my solid shape, drew the rectangle and recessed it in. I haven't tried putting pieces together yet.
Just play dude, you'll figure it out and figure out the best way that works for you. I generally draw squares, rectangles and circles. Extrude them to the right heights. Draw more and extrude to remove parts that I don't want, recess bits etc. The servo I drew up (which is to scale within 0.5mm) started with a box for the bottom of the servo, another box for the piece with the mounting holes in, another box for the top part, two cylinders for the very top and spindle. Drew circles and extruded to remove for the holes and that was about it really. Then just played and added detail. And if you look inside the servo you will see I used shell to make it hollow and threw in a little "watermark" to let me know if anyone has "borrowed" it for anything
It was late so I didn't see the watermark. I'll look at it when I get home from school. I can't figure out how to slice an object down the center. (Like JD's head) Maybe I'll get struck with a grand idea.
Did you DL the bit? FYI it goes in folder 5. Now I'm curious to see if your mark translated over to the ez-bit. I didn't look "inside" any of the parts. Let me know if you figure it out.
http://alpha7.netau.net/ezr/myMG90Servo.zip
The 123 and stl for you sir. (I did see the watermark btw
I completely forgot about this one and ended up fixing the stl of the micro servo by combining all parts into one complete part, it seems to import into the EZ-Bit designer perfectly now anyway.
For anyone interested here it is. Use for reference when building brackets, frames etc. It's pretty accurate (+/- 1mm), I'm using it to help build a couple of arms for Melvin which will fit perfectly and hide everything nicely.
More are coming as and when I get the time to make them or the need for them on Melvin's arms (brackets, horns, other bits & bobs), but I'll probably start a new topic for them once I have a few to share.