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Having Trouble With Projects That Have Custom Ezbits?

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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Synthiam
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United Kingdom
#1  
A little tip for posting code that the forum tends to play around with, paste it on pastebin.com and link to it:)

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:)
#2  
Just trying to help. I thought I screwed myself but decided to have a look at my project in notepad before losing my cool. I'm glad I did. My project ain't much but it's mine;) Thanks for the pastebin.com tip Rich.
PRO
Synthiam
#3  
:) We're in beta for a bit longer while we work out some kinks. We'll be stable in a few days I suspect.... I feel EZ-Bits are nearly there!
#4  
Well I had deleted my custom ones and didn't back them up. I had some other issues too so getting to start from scratch minus my learning mistakes was cool for me, I just didn't want to loose my other controls;) EZ Bits are pretty cool. I'm having lots of fun with them. I can't wait till they're green light go.
PRO
Synthiam
#5  
We have a huge list of EZ-Bits to do. Including a wall-e and other robots. And Omnibot and and and and and a dalek! and more!:D
#6  
Is there a place to find the dimension standards for EZ-Bits? Like what size connectors to make the EZ-Clips. Also I am a little confused on the whole thing. I think a video giving a run-down of the details on EZ-Bits and how it all works would be great, but no pressure really, I know so much has happend already. I just wanted to mention my state of current confusion on EZ-bits as well as JD the robot. I can't figure out some things about it that I previously posted about.
United Kingdom
#7  
There is some info from DJ on this topic about the stuff that's coming.

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?
#8  
EZ bits for omni and Dalek... Interesting
United Kingdom
#9  
I wish I had thought about 3D printing when I was doing the first 4 attempts on Melvin's arms!..

Omni bits will come in handy there, well provided on which bits of course...
#10  
Lol. I want to 3d print new arms for Jarvis that are 50 Percent longer so dude can reach stuff lol. Right now he's kinda like the Trex of medium sized robots.
United Kingdom
#11  
Get playing with Sketchup or AutoDesk 123:) I think 3D printed arms for Melvin are going to be the only solution that meets my standards... Can't wait for the 3D scan feature to be available. I think I just convinced myself to save and buy a 3D printer:D
#12  
Just thought I'd mention that I had problems with the Sketchup exports but 123D Design worked just fine as far as exports.

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.
United Kingdom
#13  
Personally speaking I prefer 123. I have AutoCAD, Inventor and SketchUp but I always go back to 123. It makes it very simple although it's not as advanced but it's a good tradeoff.

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)
#14  
I'm at a loss my friend. It only imported one wire for me. I started deleting wires one at a time then all of them, once I did that it only showed the spindle. Then the main body. SO, my only option was to make it an ezbit.

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.:(
United Kingdom
#15  
I'll figure it out. it may be because I haven't combined (not group) all of the primitives, since doing so loses the separate materials (which doesn't matter but I like it to look right)

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:)
#16  
Thanks Rich, that is the way I figured out how to do my boxes. I tried grouping the servo parts and even changed the material to the frosted glass so I noticed you had hollowed it out. I also tried combining them all but it said that nothing intersects. (I may be doing it wrong, What would be the source and target? Any links to a good Tutorial or Vid on this would be appreciated.) It still only imported one of the wires.

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.
#17  
@Rich I had to expand the internal gear 1.035 to get it to intersect to make it a solid object. It exports and imports. I didn't save the ezbit (I'll let you do that and share it) but here are my versions (I worked off copies of your files, I don't like to mess with the OGDs;) )

http://alpha7.netau.net/ezr/myMG90Servo.zip

The 123 and stl for you sir. (I did see the watermark btw:) )
United Kingdom
#18  
Thanks, I'll check it all out when I get home in a couple of days (taking a well deserved break right now :))
United Kingdom
#20  
Thanks, I still haven't recovered or even come down from the awesome high of being front row center at the Bon Jovi gig last Wednesday:)

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.
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