describe openscad as "part shaping"

[challenge-bot] / guide / hausner / 2016 / 08 / overview.org

#+TITLE:hausner challenge-bot overview
#+SETUPFILE: ../../org-html-themes/setup/theme-readtheorg.setup
* assembling the hardware
  go to the [[file:0-mechanical-assembly/mechanical-assembly.html][mechanical assembly]] page to see excruciating detail
  on how to put the mechanical parts together.
* software
  software is available as nice neat installable packages for
  Mac OS X, GNU+Linux, and MS Windows.

  it's also available in source code form, so you can compile it for
  other platforms.

  all software used in this robot is available for you to use for any
  purpose, improve, and, share those improvements (if you want).
** robot behavior: arduino
   control how the robot gets information from sensors, and moves
   its motors.

   https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
** part shaping: openscad
   create robot parts!

   use this program to view parts inside the "3d-printables"
   directory.  write code to modify the parts and create completely
   new ones.

   http://www.openscad.org/downloads.html
** wiring: fritzing
   wire up components!

   you can also create your own circuit board layouts and get your
   design fabricated by fritzing.

   http://fritzing.org/download/?donation=0
** extract: 7-zip
   extract the contents of .tgz files, like the content of this class.

   this is needed on MS Windows(tm) only.

   if you are on Mac OS X, or GNU (on top of cygwin or linux), then you
   do not need this.
   operating systems other than MS Windows can extract class content
   with no extra software.

   http://7-zip.org/
* class content
  all the source code for the class is available here:

  http://challenge-bot.com/repos/?p=challenge-bot;a=snapshot;h=232ff7a14f9d8be27362c268c6cdd1b67f59a24a;sf=tgz

  what follows is a high level description of the contents of the most
  important top level directories in the class content.
** 3d-printables
   the parts of the robot that are 3d-printed are in this directory.
   use openscad to open the parts in this directory.
** build-stages
   all the wiring diagrams and arduino code live in this directory.

   under this directory, there is one subdirectory for each
   build stage.
   each build stage is prefixed with a letter to make it appear in
   order.
   for example, =a_serial= contains the first build stage.
* troubleshooting
   to troubleshoot a misbehaving robot, go through these stages
   in order until you find a stage that does not work correctly.

   first, in =a_serial=, you'll check whether the arduino can
   communicate over the serial connection with the computer.

   in each stage, make sure the wires shown in the fritzing
   diagram are correctly connected on your robot.
   then load the corresponding arduino sketch to your robot
   and either check the serial monitor, or turn on the motor battery.

   this will help you pinpoint exactly where the problem lies on your
   robot.