Main Board

VERY IMPORTANT: BEFORE INSTALLING THE SPIRIT MAIN BOARD, PLEASE VERIFY IT POWERS UP AND OPERATES AS EXPECTED. SEE A QUICK YOUTUBE VIDEO ON THIS PROCESS HERE: https://youtu.be/46sohDrlSIU

Required Parts:

• 4x 10mm M1.4 Screws

• 4x M1.4 ('small') Nuts

• 8x Nylon Washer

• 1x Spirit Main Board

Install the Spirit Main Board onto the frame as described below.

This is a challenging step. Be sure to work over a clean area. If you drop a nut into the rover, carefully rattle it loose and try again. We suggest attempting this step with the following instructions. As this step can be challenging, please read and consider all the steps below before beginning the actual installation. This step is what we amature engineers call "making stuff up as you go".

During this installation, we will accomplish the following to complete the assembly:

1. We will do a quick power-up test to make sure the Spirit Main Board functions as expected. We do a good test on each before shipping, but we do occasionally have one of our other robots fail on arrival. Establish if your board is working before assembling and plugging in all the parts. This will also establish a baseline if you do complete assembly then discover the unit won't power on (perhaps because a cable is connected incorrectly, a part was damaged during the build process, etc). You can view a quick YouTube video of this process here: https://youtu.be/46sohDrlSIU

2. We will install 4 screws through holes in the Spirit Main Board.

3. We will place TWO of the nylon washers on each screw. The nylon washers will be installed between the bottom of the Spirit Main Board and the top of the upper frame.

4. We will feed the Raspberry Pi Camera ribbon cable through the slot on the Spirit Main Board.

5. We will engage the pins of the Raspberry Pi into the mating socket on the bottom side of the Spirit Main Board.

6. We will install one of the small M1.4 nuts on the bottom side of the upper frame on each of the 4 screws.

We suggest the installation steps generally as follows:

1. Do a quick power-up test of the board. You can see a YouTube video of the process here: https://youtu.be/46sohDrlSIU

2. Insert a screw in each of the holes of the Main Board. Study the illustrations below for the correct holes. Install the screws from the top of the board.

3. Temporarily secure the screws in place from the top side of the Spirit Main Board. We suggest using tape of some kind for this. Clear scotch/craft tape, packing tape, electrical tape, masking tape, or small stickers with cats on them are suggested. You could also use a very small amount of rubber cement or other temporary adhesive. You can also use a small dot of hot glue on the top side by each screw, but keep in mind you'll need to get this glue back off before you can complete the step. This is probably the most "secure" way, but be very careful if you choose to do this.

4. Flip the board upside down and carefully place TWO of the nylon washers on each screw.

5. With the main board still upside down, orient the frame assembly you have already completed correctly in relation to the main board.

6. Feed the ribbon cable through the slot on the main board.

7. Slowly bring the assembly you have already completed down on top of the main board.

8. Carefully direct the 4 screws into the 4 corresponding holes in the frame assembly.

9. As the two parts are moved together, take special care to carefully align the pins on the Raspberry Pi to the mating connector on the main board.

10. If you encounter resistance when mating the pins on the Raspberry Pi into the main board connector, the likely causes may be:

    1. The pins on the Pi may not be completely aligned.

    2. The connector on the Spirit Main Board may be hitting the plastic spacer used to connect the Pi to the upper frame. Two of these spacers are placed very close to the pins on the Pi. You may need to nudge the spacers away from the pins a bit and try again. Be careful to not bend the pins on the Pi when doing this.

11. Once the pins on the Raspberry Pi have all begun to engage the holes in the main board connector, attempt to start threading a nut onto the each of the screws as they begin to exit the bottom side of the upper frame.

12. We suggest starting the nuts on the side opposite the Pi pins first.

13. We suggest using small tweezers to set the nut on each screw and carefully rotate it slightly to begin to engage the threads of the screw.

14. Use finger pressure or a small screwdriver on the top of the assembly on the head of the screw to help stabilize it while starting the nut on the bottom side.

15. Once all 4 nuts have been started the assembly will be "stable" and you won't have to worry about parts falling out. At this point, go back and carefully peel back the tape on the top of the screws, one screw at a time, and fasten the screws deeper into each nut, one at a time.

16. Go back around and fully tighten each of the 4 screws. Note the pins on the Pi won't fully seat into the connector on the back of the main board. This is okay and as designed. You will still see some of the pin metal showing, though there is still enough engagement between them for reliable electrical connection.

17. Take comfort in knowing you have just completed the most difficult part. It gets easier from here forward.

We will now go through each step again below with illustrations. There are notes at the very bottom with suggestions to help deal with any problems that may come up during this step.

Install a screw in each of the circled holes above. Add some sort of tape or adhesive over each screw to temporarily hold it in place during the next steps.

It's hard to see in this image, but clear Scotch tape has been applied over each of the 4 screws.

Turn the board upside down and add TWO of the nylon washers on each screw.

Feed the ribbon cable for the Raspberry Pi Camera through the slot on the Spirit Main Board

Position the main board and frame assembly as shown. Bring the frame assembly down onto the main board. Pay attention to the alignment of the pins of the Raspberry Pi as they engage into the connector on the bottom of the main board.

It is a good idea to look at these spacers and consider this point before starting. As you attempt to engage the Raspberry Pi pins with the main board, if you encounter resistance, the problem is likely that the spacers used to mount the Raspberry Pi are moved inward, taking up space in the receiving slot. The connector on the main board may hit these spacers and prevent easy insertion of the part. These spacers can be moved around some. By carefully reaching a tool into this area these spacers can be moved outward so they don't interfere with the opening. You may have to slightly loosen the Raspberry Pi mounting screws in this area to slide the spacers back out of the way then re-tighten the Raspberry Pi mounting screws.

Start the nuts on the end of the screws on the side opposite the Raspberry Pi pin header. If find the best way to do this is to carefully set the nut on top of the screw with tweezers. Then use the pad of the tip of your finger to carefully hold it in place, while touching the opposite end of the screw with a screwdriver. Use the screwdriver to peel back the tape and engage the screw. Turn the screw some while still holding the nut in place with your finger to begin the threads engaging.

A trick you can use to get threads to engage is to turn the screw backwards (the "unscrew" / lefty-loosy direction) until you feel a small click on the nut. This will line up the threads. Then turn the screw back the normal direction to begin threading the screw into the nut. This trick can be used with just about anything that screws into something else.

Once all nuts have been started on all screws, go back around and tighten up all the nuts. It is suggested to get these fairly tight. There are no traces inside the Main Board near the screw holes, so if the screw bites into the gold mounting hole on the Main Board some, this is okay.

Note and Warning:

You may find that the screws coming through the Main Board don't perfectly line up with the holes in the frame assembly. Consider that as the pins on the Pi engage with the connector on the Main Board, the Main Board will become aligned with the Raspberry Pi board, and this will be the main thing that locates the Main Board in relation to the frame assembly.

As the Pi can move somewhat in relation to the Pi mounting spacers, it may be necessary to nudge the Pi somewhat. You may need to apply some pressure one direction or another to the Pi and / or the Main Board. Try to move these parts together if possible. It is generally safe to press on the sides of the Pi and the Main Board to achieve proper alignment, however, BE VERY CAREFUL AND DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO THE PARTS COMING OFF THE MAIN BOARD. DO NOT TRY TO SLIDE THE MAIN BOARD BY PRESSING ON THE LARGE BLACK POWER CONNECTOR OR ANY OF THE OTHER PARTS COMING OFF THE MAIN BOARD. THESE ARE SURFACE MOUNT PARTS, HELD IN PLACE BY SOLDER CONNECTIONS ONLY. TOO MUCH FORCE ON THESE PARTS CAN RIP THEM OFF THE BOARD. APPLY PRESSURE TO THE EDGES OF THE CIRCUIT BOARDS THEMSELVES WITHOUT PUTTING UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE COMPONENTS.

When complete, the assembly should look like this.