Introduction; Getting Started; The Construction Kit; Interface And Software - fischertechnik Computing Starter Pack Begleitheft

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1. Introduction

Greetings PC and fischer fan. Welcome to our computing world. At
fischertechnik, computing signifies programming and controlling models
using a PC. The Computer Starter construction kit provides you with an
optimum way for getting started with this. You can set up eight different
models, from a hand dryer to a car park barrier to a welding robot with
the help the instructions in a very short time. You connect the models
with the PC via the Intelligent Interface part no. 30402. Then you can
program the models quickly and easily using the graphical programming
software LLWin 3.0.
This Activity Booklet is designed to help you find your way around in the
computing world very quickly. It first explains how you can get started and
then what additional steps to take. You can also find programming tasks
for the construction kit models here. Of course, tips for finding the correct
solutions are also included. There are precise descriptions of how you can
program the models using the LLWin 3.0 software. You'll discover how much
fun it is. Okay, let's get started!

2. Getting Started

What is contained in the construction kit?
Everything is contained in the "Computing Starter Pack" that you need.
Only a connection to a power supply (i.e., electricity) is required.

2.1 The Construction Kit

First, you can find numerous fischertechnik building blocks, motor, lamps
and sensors as well as color instructions for building eight different models.
Let's look at them first.
After you have unpacked all building blocks, you must assemble a few com-
ponents before you can start (e.g., cable and plug). The exact ones are de-
scribed in the assembly instructions under "Assembly Help and Notes." Take
care of that first.
The most important construction components are:
12
Motor: This motor drives the fischertechnik models.
It is powered with 9 volt DC (direct voltage). The
maximum power is approx. 1.1 watt with 7000 rpm
(revolutions per minute).
Gear unit: A gear unit is installed on the motor, which
revs down the rpm. The rev down is composed of the
toothed gear with the output shaft at a ratio of 64.8:1.
Lamps:
Two different lamps are available in the construction kit.
Bulb lamp:
This is a normal incandescent bulb for 9 V DC and power
consumption of approx. 0.1 A (ampere).
Lens tip lamp:
A lens is built into this lamp, which collimates the
light. It looks very similar to the bulb lamp. Be careful
that you do not mix them up. You need the lens tip lamp to construct a
light barrier.
Phototransistor:
This is a "brightness sensor". It is a sensor that reacts
to brightness. It is the counterpart to the lens tip lamp
for a light barrier. When it is very bright, i.e., when a
lamp shines on the transistor, it provides current. If the light beam is inter-
rupted, the transistor does not provide any current.
Caution:
When you connect the phototransistor to the power supply,
make certain that you connect the correct poles: red = plus.
Pushbutton: The pushbutton is also called the con-
tact sensor. When you press the red button, a switch
is activated, and current flows between the contacts 1
(middle contact) and 3. At the same time, the connec-
tions between 1 and 2 are interrupted. In this way, you can use the push-
button in two different ways:
As a "connector", contacts 1 and 3 are connected.
Button pushed = current; button not pushed = no current.
As an "opener", contacts 1 and 2 are connected.
Button pushed = no current; button not pushed = current.
NTC Resistance: This component is a thermal
sensor, with which you can measure temperature. The
resistance at 20 °C is 1.5 kΩ (kilo-ohm). NTC means
Negative Temperature Coefficient. This simply means
that the resistance value sinks with increasing temperature.
You can send the information that sensors provide (e.g., light/dark,
pressed/not pressed, temperature values) to the PC via the interface.
Then – with the help of the software – you can program a motor, so that
it opens a door as soon as the light barrier is interrupted, for example.

2.2 Interface and Software

Before you start to build models and write programs, you must
install the control software LLWin 3.0 on your PC.
Then connect the Intelligent Interface part no. 30402 to
an unused serial port (COM1–COM4) of your computer.
Chapters 1 and 2 of the LLWin handbook de-
scribe how to do this in detail. Follow the
instructions there exactly, and you should not
have any problems to get the software and
interface running. The CD with the software is
"hidden" in the LLWin 3.0 handbook. You need
a fischertechnik power supply unit with 9 V DC and
amperage of 1000 mA for the interface (e.g., Energy Set part no. 30182 or
Accu Set part no. 34969).