MECHA C2 User manual

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.01.10

C2 USER’S GUIDE

September 2, 2021

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

Contents

WARNINGS...............................................................................7

Simple Mode

Introduction.......................................................... 9

MECHA Controller C2 Features ...........................................10

Before First Use...................................................11

Get your equipment ready .............................................................11

Related Videos..................................................................................13

C2’s Buttons .....................................................................................14

Power On and Test ..........................................................................15

Check the Battery Level...................................................................16

Simple Rotations..............................................................................16

Firmware Update Using a Hot-spot....................................20

C2’s Menu Mode .................................................22

Using C2’s Menus .................................................................22

Creating a Preset in C2’s Menu Mode................................24

Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using C2’s

Menu ......................................................................................30

Panorama Using C2’s Menu..............................32

Setting the Rotators Using C2’s Menu..........................................32

Test Panoramas ....................................................................33

Test without Camera – Parked Position ........................................33

Test without Camera – Level Position ...........................................33

Test without Camera – Raised Position.........................................34

Panorama with Camera Mounted ......................................34

iii

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

Basic Information About Shooting ...............................................35

Shooting in Step-by-Step Mode .....................................................36

Custom Partial Panorama Using Two Corners.............................36

C2’s Menu Options .............................................38

Preset (P) Menu ....................................................................38

Cong (C) Menu ....................................................................39

How to Access the UI..........................................47

About the User Interface .....................................................47

Set MECHA in AP, STA, or AP+STA Mode at - + ≡ on Display .....47

Access the User Interface (UI) with a Smartphone ..........48

Access the User Interface (UI) on Your Computer

Connected to a Wireless Network ......................................49

Test Using the UI.................................................50

UI Test ‒ Parked, Level, Raised.......................................................50

Advanced Mode

User Interface (UI)..............................................53

UI Controls.............................................................................53

Conguration Page.............................................64

Default Mode....................................................................................64

STA Mode ..........................................................................................66

Fixed Settings ...................................................................................66

Rotator Settings ...............................................................................67

Buzzer PWM and Start Page...........................................................68

IR Settings and more.......................................................................68

Reverse Direction of Rotations.......................................................70

Camera Settings...............................................................................70

Arrow Buttons ..................................................................................71

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

Favorite Codes..................................................................................73

Battery Voltage.................................................................................73

More from Server, zLM, Firmware, OLED......................................77

Technical Details ‒ IP Addresses, FW ............................................78

Backup and Restore Data ...............................................................79

Other Updating Methods...................................80

Firmware Update Using a Smartphone: Method 2 .........80

Working with Presets .........................................82

Programming a Preset Using Parameters.........................82

How to Create Your Own Presets Using the UI.................84

Default Presets.................................................................................84

Loading a Preset ..............................................................................85

Modifying a Preset...........................................................................88

Saving a Preset.................................................................................88

Preset Power Code .........................................................................89

Show your own presets in C2’s Preset Menu ....................90

Using a preset name as a base name ...........................................91

Directional preset name .................................................................92

MECHA’s Simple Scripting (MSS) ........................................93

Three Row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith (MSS)..............................93

Shooting Panorama Made Easy for Dual Axis..............................95

MSS Script Explained .......................................................................96

What Needs to be Changed, sometimes, in Real Situations ......98

Using Pause in MSS Script ..............................................................99

Let's Take a more Dense Approach with more Photos toward

Gigapixel Imagery..........................................................................100

Rewind after each ROW ................................................................101

Shooting in Horizontal Zigzag Pattern........................................101

Script for 2 Focal Lengths - MECHA Dual Axis ............................102

Download more Presets from Server............................... 103

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

How to Set Both MECHA and Smartphone to Have

Internet Access........................................................104

Panorama Using MECHA’s Buttons......................106

Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using only the

MECHA’s Buttons........................................................................106

MECHA’s Current Codes ........................................108

Current Codes List ......................................................................108

Appendix

MECHA’s S (Shots) Language................................117

Three Row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith ‒ EXAMPLE 1 (SL) ................ 119

Three Row Panorama + Nadir + Zenith ‒ EXAMPLE 2 (SL) ................ 119

Panorama Using Loop in Script ‒ EXAMPLE 3 (SL) ............................ 122

Panorama with Extra Shots and Pause ‒ EXAMPLE 4 (SL)................ 122

C2 – C1 Differences and Similarities .....................124

MECHA C2 User’s Guide

in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,

or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For

information on getting permission for reprints and excerpts, contact

[email protected]

How to use this User’s Guide

Welcome to the MECHA C2 User’s Guide!

C2 is our second generation of controllers, with OLED display, external

battery, and support for two MECHA rotators.

Before you start reading page-by-page, go section-by-section, looking at

titles, tables, highlighted paragraphs, images, etc. Although there is a lot of

information you have not read yet, this will clue you into what you are

about to read.

After that, go back to the beginning and read the Introduction and Before

First Use chapters. Please move on only after you become familiar with the

basic operations we present here, and leave aside the more complex

chapters and deepen the part that interests you more.

Even if you are an experienced user, please pay attention to the warnings.

If you find the firmware update and other operations difficult, you can

receive support and guidance at [email protected]

Let’s get started!

For firmware version 12295 or newer.

NOTE. Images shown in this guide may not be an exact

representation of the current firmware version.

Download the latest version of this guide from

https://www.nodalninja.com/Manuals/c2-guide.pdf

Web: www.nodalninja.com,www.fanotec.com

Support email address: [email protected]

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

WARNINGS

WARNINGS to Dual Axis MECHA Users

●Test MECHA WITHOUT a camera mounted first!

●Please test for camera clearance before running any program.

●Test any preset supplied or adjusted WITHOUT a camera mounted FIRST,

especially when the clearance is not enough.

●CHECK for clearance with shutter cable attached!

●Use short cable with extreme caution.

●The power button, P, can always be used as an emergency stop, except

for the speed calibration procedure.

●If the movement is not as expected, or there is any danger for the

moving parts to hit something, please press

, the power button of

MECHA, to stop the movement immediately.

In this user guide, we assume that some settings on the

Configuration page – such as the rotation intervals for the

<>/\ buttons – have their default values.

So when we say „Press /then quickly press +for a rotation of

90°...”, this statement is valid if Arrow buttons Interval 2 is indeed

90°.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

Simple Mode

Before practicing what you read in this section, please make sure that C2

works in Simple Mode.

Power on MECHA by pressing the Pbutton for 3 to 5 seconds (long

press). It may take about 35-45 seconds to start, then MECHA reaches

the idle status and the display will show

1. either the Preset (P) Menu

2. or the rotators in use and the dynamic IP address.

Case 1. The display shows the Preset (P) Menu:

●Press the =button to switch to Config (C) Menu.

●If the first option in this menu is SIMPLE MODE, just leave it

unchanged. Otherwise, press the Sbutton to change it to

SIMPLE MODE.

Case 2. The display shows the rotators in use and the IP address:

●Long press the =button to enter Menu Mode.

●Press the =button to switch to Config (C) Menu.

●Press the Sbutton to change the first option to SIMPLE MODE.

📹https://youtu.be/gBGxE5Q11xI

Introducing Simple / Advanced Mode – MECHA C2

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

Introduction

You may already know, from the

documentation available at this time,

that MECHA consists of a rotator (E1,

E2, or P1) and a controller (C1), and

is generally used to automate the

movement of various devices, such

as a panoramic head mounted on a

tripod or a turn table holding an

object for filming or photography.

Two such paired MECHA units –

MECHA Dual Axis Combo (DAC) – can

be used for dual axis applications, for

example, in panoramic photography.

The controller is the part of MECHA where

the buttons are located and that allows you

to send various commands to the rotators,

or to update the firmware, for example,

when you do not want to use the User

Interface (UI) for these purposes.

The new controller – C2 – which we present

in this user guide, is a dedicated dual-axis

controller with an OLED display and external

battery.

It is similar to C1 and can control the same

rotators – E1, E2, and P1 – so now you can

choose from the two controllers the one that

best suits your needs and preferences.

Please see C2 – C1 Differences and

Similarities for more details.

The OLED display can guide you through all the major operations and

settings, making C2 much more intuitive than the single-axis C1 controller

with LED indicators only.

The use of an external battery means you can carry spare batteries and

quickly refuel MECHA before or during a shooting session.

A power cable splitter (optional) is available for using 2 sets of batteries at

the same time for extended operation and/or changing batteries without a

pause.

MECHA Controller C2 Features

●Controlling two MECHA rotators.

●Compact with an OLED display.

●9 buttons for controls and inputs, including a button to trigger camera

shutter release.

●Shortcut keys to run presets stored in the memory, which can be

configured via the OLED display and web page interface.

●Wi-Fi remote control from smartphones, tablets, PCs by using simple

web page interface.

●Connection via a Wi-Fi access point and remote control over the internet.

●Over-the-air firmware update.

●Linking and controlling multiple controllers via Wi-Fi (future firmware

development).

●External power input (DC 9-19V, 2A rated, plug 1.7x4.0x9.5mm) for use

with different battery packs, or regulated power supplies for continuous

operation.

●CAM port to trigger camera focus and shutter release.

●Support any camera with a wired remote release port.

●Multipurpose AUX port for

○Commanding MECHA Start/Stop and other functions with a wired or

wireless RF remote.

○Commanding MECHA various functions with NN IR remote.

○Triggering a camera with an IR remote emitter.

○Camera shutter release confirmation.

MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.8.2

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