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product:usb2ax:quickstart

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USB2AX: Getting started

Installation

Linux

No driver needed, just plug the USB2AX in a USB port and the Status LED should light up very briefly in red then in solid green.
The USB2AX should appear as /dev/ttyACM*.

The user must be part of the dialout group to have access to the serial port!

If the Status LED stays red and the device does not appear in /dev, check that USB Modem (CDC ACM) support is enabled in the kernel. All recent desktop distributions have it enabled by default.

If you plan on using Robotis' Dynamixel SDk for Linux, have a look here!

MacOS

Same as for Linux, except the USB2AX will appear as /dev/tty.usbmodem*.

Windows XP, Vista, 7

Before the first use, you will need to install the USB2AX.inf driver file (Right click > Save as… to download it).

The installation is similar to the one for the Arduino Uno (step-by-step under XP).

  1. Plug the USB2AX into a USB port. The Status LED should light up red and Windows might start looking for a driver [Vista, 7]. You can cancel the search, the driver is not on Microsoft's servers.
  2. Open the Device Manager. (Start Menu > Control panel > System and Security > System > Device Manager).
  3. In the Ports (COM & LPT) section, you should see a “USB2AX” device with a little exclamation mark. Right click > Update Driver Software > Browse my computer for Driver software
  4. Here, navigate to and select the USB2AX.inf driver file.
  5. Windows will do the rest. If it raises concerns because the driver is not signed, continue.

Once installation is complete, the Status LED should turn solid green.

Example of use

This part explains how to connect the USB2AX and make a Dynamixel servo move using RoboPlus Dynamixel Manager, on Windows.

usb2axv3.1_connected_s.jpg

1) Gather the needed parts

  • USB2AX
  • a compatible Dynamixel servo (AX-12A for example)
  • Dynamixel cable(s)
  • a way to power the servo (see Q: How to power the servos)
  • a computer running Windows

2) Installation

Install the driver of the USB2AX, and the latest version of RoboPlus.

3) Make the servo move!

  • plug the 3-wire dynamixel cable between the USB2AX and the first servo, and wire-up all other servos
  • plug the USB2AX in the USB port, it should appear as a Virtual COM port.
  • apply power to the servos
  • run RoboPlus Dynamixel Wizard, open the corresponding COM port and run Search
  • You should be able to make the servos move by changing the “Target Position” value.
product/usb2ax/quickstart.1389943065.txt.gz · Last modified: 2014/01/17 08:17 by xevel