Makeblock mBot User manual
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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 4
Part I General questions...................................................................................................................... 5
How to connect Makeblock robot with mBlock.........................................................................5
How to upgrade firmware for Makeblock robot with mBlock.................................................10
How to reset default program manually with mBlock..............................................................12
How to upload my program to the Makeblock robot with mBlock......................................... 13
What is the difference between upgrade firmware and reset default program.........................16
Why my Makeblock robot doesn't move when I set low motor speed.....................................18
A Comparison among Bluetooth connection, 2.4G connection and USB connection.............19
What troubleshooting I can try if my Makeblock robot cannot connect to my phone App.....21
Part II mBot.......................................................................................................................................22
How to replace motor shaft for mBot....................................................................................... 22
Why the Ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance Mode doesn’t work on mBot...................................23
Why the Line Follower Mode doesn't work on mBot.............................................................. 24
How to connect 2.4G wireless serial to my mBot.................................................................... 27
How to change the speed of mBot with IR remote controller..................................................28
Issues related to Battery............................................................................................................ 29
Useful links for mBot................................................................................................................31
Part III Ranger...................................................................................................................................33
Why the motors are not working properly as they should be...................................................33
Can I use 2.4G wireless module for my Ranger.......................................................................35
Why the Ranger cannot avoid objects in object avoidance mode............................................ 36
What should I do if the Nervous Bird could not keep balanced?.............................................37
Questions related to Bluetooth connection on Mobile devices................................................ 38
What should I do if the Makeblock App says “synchronization fails”.................................... 42
Why my Ranger moves once I turn it on.................................................................................. 44
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Why the line follower doesn’t work on Ranger?......................................................................45
Part IV Starter....................................................................................................................................47
What should I do if my starter motors are not working properly.............................................47
What is the difference between Starter IR version and Bluetooth version...............................49
How to play with IR version Starter......................................................................................... 50
Can I use 2.4G module to replace the Bluetooth module on Starter........................................ 53
Questions related to Bluetooth connection on Mobile devices................................................ 54
What I should do when Ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance Mode of my Starter fails to work.... 58
How to check if the Starter main board lose its bootloader......................................................59
Questions for Starter Battery.....................................................................................................63
How to program the add-on Robotic Arm for Starter...............................................................64
Part V Ultimate 2.0............................................................................................................................66
What should I do if my Ultimate 2.0 motors are not working properly...................................66
questions related to Bluetooth connection on Mobile devices................................................. 68
Can I use 2.4G wireless module to control my Ultimate 2.0....................................................72
What should I do if the self-balancing robot could not keep balanced?.................................. 73
Questions to Ultimate 2.0 Battery.............................................................................................74
Why my Ultimate 2.0 starts to run every time I turn it on....................................................... 75
Part VI LaserBot................................................................................................................................76
How to test if the wire connection for X, Y axis connected properly on Laserbot.................. 76
How to test Your Laser to see if it is Faulty..............................................................................78
Why the laser head reaches to the X-axis or Y-axis without stop............................................ 82
How to fix if the X-axis or Y-axis cannot move when test home?...........................................86
Why does the LaserBot cut or engrave the image in different size on X axis (or Y axis)....... 90
Why the serial port of LaserBot doesn’t appear on mLaser while using Mac?....................... 92
How should I enter mLaser when the opening page is in Chinese...........................................94
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Why the interface of the mLaser is black rather than white.....................................................98
Why the mLaser showed damaged when I opened it on my Mac............................................99
Why the Laser is on but it cannot cut or engrave anything?.................................................. 100
Part VII XY Plotter..........................................................................................................................103
Why the stepper motor doesn’t run or runs abnormal?.......................................................... 103
Why I cannot draw correct pictures?...................................................................................... 107
Why it runs abnormal when testing home?............................................................................ 110
Why the laser doesn’t light on or it is weak?..........................................................................114
Why the laser cut discontinued lines?.....................................................................................117
Why Pen-up and Pen-down is not working properly?............................................................118
What I should pay attention when switch from mDraw to Benbox?..................................... 120
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Introduction
Here are some frequently asked questions about Makeblock robot kits which are based on mCore,
Orion, Auriga, and MegaPi boards, and the related PC software in this document is mBlock 3
(latest 3.4.12). If you haven’t downloaded the software, click here to download and install.
If you still have question after reading this document, please contact Makeblock Support Team at
support@makeblock.com.
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Part I General Questions
How to connect Makeblock robot with mBlock
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Devices required: PC (here we use windows); Makeblock robot kit (here we use mBot as an
example); USB cable
Step 1
Connect mBot to PC with USB cable and turn on the mBot.
Step 2
Open mBlock software, choose mBot(mCore) under Boards.
If you are using a starter, select Orion; for ultimate 2.0, select Megapi, etc.
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Step 3
Choose the correct Serial Port for mBot under Connect->Serial Port. (Here my mBot's serial port
is COM3, and you can check your mBot serial port under your computer's Device
Manager->Ports (COM&LPT))
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Notes:
1. If you cannot detect any serial port, it may be caused by the following reasons.
a. Failing to install Arduino driver.
Normally when we install mBlock software, Arduino driver will be installed automatically at the
same time. But sometimes we may need to install Arduino driver manually.
For windows users, we can select “Install Arduino Driver” under “connect” and install it easily.
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For Mac OS users, please download and install correct driver as below says:
Below Mac OS sierra users, download this driver;
Mac OS sierra users, download this driver;
Mac OS high sierra users, download this driver.
When choose Serial port under Connect->Serial Port, please choose port similar to
/dev/tty.wchusbserial1410.
b. The power switch of the main board (mCore) has not been turned ON (this cause is only for
mBot/mCore).
c. The Bluetooth connection from the robot may capture the serial port. Remove the Bluetooth
module from the robot while using the USB cable.
d. Paired Bluetooth devices on the PC may interfere the Serial port of the USB connection too.
e. The USB port or USB cable is faulty. Please try changing the USB port (you may change the
PC have a check too), USB cable etc.
2. Cannot find the serial port for my robot on mBlock and there are lots of BT port under the
device manager like below.
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Cause: The Bluetooth module you paired before would be mapped into COM ports. Even if they
are not present, they still appear in the “Serial Port” list. So, uninstall these paired Bluetooth
devices will resolve this issue.
Solution: disable or uninstall all the Bluetooth ports (COM ports) from the PC.
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How to upgrade firmware for Makeblock robot with mBlock
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Devices required: PC (here we use windows); Makeblock robot kit (here we use mBot as an
example); USB cable
Step 1
Refer to FAQ to connect your Makeblock robot to mBlock
Step 2
Go to Connect->Upgrade Firmware, wait until it says Upload Finish.
Ps: online debug only works after firmware update.
Note:
what should I do if firmware upgrade fails and shows below picture?
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