RP6 ROBOT SYSTEM - APPENDIX
9. The Motors could be damaged, how do I check them and how can I re-
place them?
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When the robot is still under warranty, you should contact us beforehand.
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You can check the Motors by removing the gray plastic side covers on the
Robot chassis – these can be pulled out or pushed out from the inside.
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Then you can access the rear of the motors. Check them for any visual dam-
ages. Rotate the Motor and listen to how it sounds. It can make some noises
of course, this is normal. If only one Motor is affected, rotate the other one
as well and compare if one of them sounds (very!) different. Slight differ-
ences are normal and you do not need to worry about that.
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The RP6 uses brushed Motors, it can happen that the brushes wear out. It
may be required to replace the motors – or just the brushes – after a few
thousand hours of continous operation. This is NOT covered by the warranty
and a normal mechanical wear out process. It may wear out faster the more
you stress the motors (change rotational direction fast and often, accelerate
fast and brake hard). The Software is optimized to enhance the lifetime of
the Motors and the gears – it changes direction smoothly and not abrupt and
limits the possible acceleration to a safe value that ensures long lifetime of
the motors. This can be tuned of course if you want maximum performance
e.g. for a contest.
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The Motors can be replaced, but it requires some mechanical and soldering
skills. This is NOT a work for beginners! You must desolder the two wires
(which is NOT easy due to large thermal mass and hard to wet surface of
the solder terminals of the motors!) and also pull/push the pinion gear off
the shaft. Then the screws can be removed and the Motor can be pulled out
of the chassis.
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