Evil Mad Scientist 2575 Installation Manual

Brushless servo upgrade kit

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Models 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578

If you should need any assistance installing this upgrade,

please let us know right away; we're here to help!

There are variations between different AxiDraw

machines. If something doesn't look right or doesn't

seem to fit right, please don't hesitate to say so.

Please let us help you get up and running!

Preliminary step 1: Tool check

Certain tools are required to install this upgrade; they are not included with this upgrade kit:

•

Wire cutters, sharp scissors, or a similar tool to cut cable ties.

•

Hex L-wrenches: 2 mm and 2.5 mm

(Both hex L-wrenches are included in the standard set of tools that ships with an AxiDraw.)

•

One specialized screwdriver; type to be determined.

That screwdriver will be type PZ1, PZ2, or T20, depending on your AxiDraw. To determine which, for

your exact configuration, keep reading.

You may also find tweezers and a pin, needle, or ballpoint pen tip helpful.

Brushless Servo Upgrade Kit

— Installation Guide —

This upgrade kit, compatible with most AxiDraw V3

and AxiDraw SE family machines, replaces the stan-

dard pen-lift servo motor with a narrow-band brush-

less servo motor and upgrades the AxiDraw power

supply.

This guide walks through the process of installing the

new motor, including replacing the servo mount and

mounting and connecting the new electronics.

We strongly recommend that you read through all

of the steps before starting the installation. One key

reason is to make sure that you have the correct tools

needed for your specific upgrade configuration.

For ease of viewing the photos in this guide, consider

reading this guide on a phone, tablet, or computer

screen, rather than printing it.

Email:

contact@evilmadscientist.com

Tech support chat:

axidraw.com/chat

Rev A; 2023-01-27

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Summary of Contents for Evil Mad Scientist 2575

Page 1 For ease of viewing the photos in this guide, consider reading this guide on a phone, tablet, or computer screen, rather than printing it. Models 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578 If you should need any assistance installing this upgrade, please let us know right away; we’re here to help!
Page 2 (silver-colored) servo mount and replacing the servo mount). it with the upgraded black one. Make sure that you have upgrade kit model 2575 or 2576, which If your AxiDraw looks like this, proceed to Part A, come with the black mount included. (If you starting with Step A1 on the next page.
Page 3 Part A - Swapping the servo motor Part B is for AxiDraw units that already had the black servo mount to begin with. If you just installed a servo mount in Part A, instead skip ahead directly to Part C. Step A1: Screwdriver needed The screwdriver that you will need is a Pozidriv PZ1, or “Pozi #1”.
Page 4 Step A4: Check the cable guide Take a close look at where the cable guide is attached to the servo mount, and compare it to the pictures below: 1 Hole 3 Holes If your servo mounting bracket looks like the pho- If your servo mounting bracket looks like the to above, with 3 holes through the cable guide, photo above, with only 1 hole through the cable...
Page 5 Step A5: Remove the cable guide Fig 1 Cable guide If you have 3 holes visible through the cable guide — from backer step A4 — skip this step; leave your cable guide attached. The cable guide — the flexible black plastic ribbon — is attached to the servo mount by two plastic rivets (Fig 1).
Page 6 Step A6: Identify servo motor and screws Fig 1 First, identify the brushless servo motor and the four small screws from the kit of upgrade parts (Fig 1). Orient the black lift arm of the servo motor pointing towards the cable, as shown here. Aside: If the servo motor in your upgrade kit is al- ready attached to a mount (Fig 2), use the PZ1 driver Fig 2...
Page 7 Step A8: Add the warning label Fig 1 Locate the “Warning” label from the kit of upgrade parts (Fig 1). Peel the label off of the backing. (The label may have a large black outer rectangle left over from the printing process;...
Page 8 Part B - Upgrading the servo mount Fig 1 Part B walks through the first steps for upgrading from an AxiDraw with a silver-colored servo mount. If you just finished Part A, skip past this section, directly to Part C. Step B1: Tool check To determine the screwdriver type that you’ll need, remove the pen clip and lower your pen position to its...
Page 9 Step B3: Disconnect the old servo Fig 1 The existing servo wiring is typically held in place by two cable ties, as indicated (Fig 1). Use wire clippers or sharp scissors to cut and re- move both cable ties (Fig 2). Do not cut or damage the wiring itself.
Page 10 Step B4: Disconnect the cable guide Cable guide backer The cable guide — the flexible black plastic ribbon — is attached to the old servo mount by two plastic rivets (A). (The exact shape of your cable guide may not match the one shown here; they vary slightly between AxiDraw models.) Between the cable guide and the servo mount is a Rivets...
Page 11 Fig 1 Step B5: Attach the new servo mount Now, let’s attach the vertical slide with the new servo mount. Rotate arm down First, get things oriented correctly: 1. Rotate the black lift arm on the servo to point down to the right, as shown here (Fig 1). 2.
Page 12 Step B6: Checks Fig 1 Your new servo mount and coreless servo should now be installed in place behind the vertical slide (Fig 1). Basic checks to make sure that everything looks OK: • The vertical slide should move up and down freely when you lift it.
Page 13 Fig 1 Part C - Cable Guide & Tiedown Long rivets Step C1: Attach the cable guide If your cable guide is already attached — if you left it on as directed by an earlier section — skip this step and proceed to Step C2 on the next page.
Page 14 Step C2: Connect the servo cable Fig 1 Plug the new servo motor into the connector jack until it is fully seated (Fig 1). As you do so, take care to avoid any extra twisting of the cable; It’s best if it lays flat to the extent possible.
Page 15 Step C3: Begin tying down the cable Fig 1 We now begin the process of tying down the excess cable slack. Ideally, we would like to end up with something as neat as the first pictures of this upgrade guide, be- fore removing the old servo motor.
Page 16 Step C4: Finish tying down the cable Fig 1 Tuck the excess cable over the top of the servo mo- tor and below or behind the metal flap above it. If you have enough slack to do so, add a second ca- ble tie on the opposite side, down through the hole capturing this part of the cable in place (Fig 1).
Page 17 Step C5: Checks Fig 1 The final appearance may vary a bit, but the im- portant thing is that there should not be any excess cable below the servo motor itself (Fig 1). The cable should be tied down well enough that it can’t fall down below that point either.
Page 18 Part D - Upgrading the electronics Fig 1 Step D1: Disconnect servo cable On the left-hand side of the AxiDraw, disconnect the servo extension cable, the black-red-white ca- ble. Pull it straight out to release it (Fig 1). Step D2: Remove three cover screws Identify the three highlighted screws on the top of the black metal cover over the AxiDraw electronics (Fig 2).
Page 19 Step D3: Stage the power module Fig 1 Identify the power module (Fig 1) from the upgrade kit. The power module has a channel through its lower side, designed for routing cables. Optional but highly recommended: Place the power module over your USB and pow- er cables, with the two cables fitted into its lower Fig 2 channel as shown (Fig 3).
Page 20 Step D4: Lightly attach power module Fig 1 The upgrade kit includes 6 long black screws: 3 each, in two different thread sizes (M3, M4). You’ll need 3 of one size or the other. One turn Find the 3 screws that are the same type as the short ones that you removed.
Page 21 Step D6: Secure the power module IMPORTANT SAFETY CAUTION: Verify, and be certain, that the power supply is unplugged (unpowered) before starting this step. Continue to leave it unpowered until af- ter the power module is secured by tightening the three screws at the end of this step. If you have fed the USB and power cords under the power module: Fig 1...
Page 22 Step D7: Power jumper cable The power jumper cable (Fig 1) is a short dou- ble-ended power plug cable. Plug one end of the cable into the jack of the power module that is labeled “Power out”. Plug the other end into the existing power jack on the AxiDraw’s control board (Fig 2, Fig 3).
Page 23 Part E - Using the upgraded AxiDraw Step E1: Connecting power and USB The upgraded AxiDraw with brushless servo motor should only be used with a regulated 9 V, 2.5 A, center-positive DC power supply such as the one provided in the upgrade kit. If you have not already done so, go ahead connect the AxiDraw power and USB.
Page 24: Upgrade Kit
Step E4: Software and settings Fig 1 The brushless servo requires AxiDraw software ver- sion 3.8 or newer. If you are using Inkscape with AxiDraw Control or AxiDraw Merge, select “Brushless” as the “Pen-lift servo” type on the Options > Config tab (Fig 1). For the AxiDraw command line or Python API, configure the penlift option to select the brushless servo configuration:...
Page 25 AxiDraw Brushless Servo Motor Use Instructions Appendix: Wheel replacement & Servo Calibration The rolling wheel on the end of the lift arm is de- signed to be replaceable. (It can wear down over time, but protects the lift arm and vertical slide so that they can last much longer.) Periodically check this wheel’s condition.
Page 26 Replacing the wheel alone (continued) Inside the wheel is a screw that goes through a stainless steel sleeve. You’ll re-use these with the new wheel. Put the screw through the sleeve, and then through the recessed end of the new wheel. Then, reverse the prior steps: Screw the new wheel into place on the lift arm and tighten it into place.
Page 27 Springs wear out over time; replacements are avail- able from Evil Mad Scientist. 2. Initial setup In the Setup tab of AxiDraw Control or AxiDraw Merge (the one that you will be using), set the pen- up height to 50%, and the pen-down height to 0%.
Page 28 3. Add the spring backer The spring backer has one smooth side and one side with a ridge on it. With the vertical slide in the “pen down” state and the pen-up/pen-down positions still set to 50% and 0%, place the spring backer over the stainless steel shaft that extends above the vertical slide.
Page 29 5. Add the shaft collar Slip the shaft collar over the end of the shaft until its top is flush with the top of the shaft. Tighten it firmly in place with your 2 mm hex L-wrench (the same one used to adjust the pen clip on the AxiDraw).

This manual is also suitable for:

2576 2577 2578