Overview

The Four Motor DIY Kit was built to familiarize our users with using PWM expander chips and H-bridges with our platform with a fun and approachable project. We used the Four Motor DIY Kit to build a Mecanum car. The car moves forwards and backwards, and turns like a tank by applying power to only one side. It can be use to drive any four low power motors though as well. This DIY Kit page is currently optimized for revision F.The full DIY Kit can be purchased here

Required hardware

Image Added

Hardware Components

The full DIY Kit can be purchased hereThe components are part of the DIY Kit or can be sourced separately with help of the BOM:

Picture	Name	Designator	Quantity
Image Modified	1x2 3.5mm Terminal Block	J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J8, J9	9
Image Modified	TLC5940NT	U3	1
Image Modified	Sliding Switch	S1	1
Image Modified Reads: “104“	100nf Capacitor	C2, C4, C5	3
Image Modified Reads: “105“	1uf Capacitor	C1, C3	2
Image Modified	L293D	U1, U2	2
Image Modified	2kΩ Resistor	R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10	9
Image Modified	3.9kΩ Resistor	R1	1
Image Modified	Radial LED (5mm)	D1	1
Image Modified	1x2 pin header	J12, J13, J14, J15, J16	5
Image Modified	1x3 pin header	J11	1
Image Modified	1x4 pin header	J10	1
Image Modified	28 pin carrier		1
Image Modified	14 pin carrier		2
Image Modified	Four Motor PCB	Q-PCB-003	1
Image Modified	Q-Client Builder Base		1

Tools Used

Picture	Name	Quantity	Link
Image Modified	Small slotted-head screwdriver	1	Included in Component Kit or you can pick from one on our Recommended Tools List
Image Modified	Soldering Iron	1	You can pick from one on our Recommended Tools List
Image Modified	Solder	1	You can pick from one on our Recommended Tools List
Image Modified	Diagonal Cutters	1	You can pick from one on our Recommended Tools List
Image Modified	Work Holder		You can pick from one on our Recommended Tools List

Story

The Quantum revision on the Four Motor kit was built to familiarize our users with using PWM expander chips and H-bridges with our platform with a fun and approachable project.

Video

Build Process

PCB Assembling and Soldering

Take a look at the required components above and determine their final position on the PCB. The following images should be a good reference:

Image Removed

Image Removed

Place groups of components on the board and then solder them to the pads. It is recommended to start with components with the lowest profile, like for example resistor and them move up to components like buttons with higher profile.

To determine the values of the given resistors and to place them in the correct position, please refer to a resistor color code calculator like this one:

https://www.digikey.com/en/resources/conversion-calculators/conversion-calculator-resistor-color-code

Using some form of work holder is advised. You can find a list of suitable work holders on our Recommended Tools List.

To help you placing the bigger chips for the PWM expansion and the motor drivers, we put a 28-pin carrier and two 14-pin carriers into the kit. These can be soldered down and the chips can simply be plugged in on top of the carrier.

We will start by putting all the parts on the table.

Image Added

Image Added

Connecting to the Builder Base

To connect the DIY Kit to the Builder Base you will need a bunch of male to male jumper wires and your flathead screwdriver.

Please connect the Builder Base to the wide 8-connection jumper on the DIY Kit. The labeling of the connectors will be the same as determined in your firmware. The Builder Base can now get powered via USB and power the Kit as well, or get powered through the Kit. For that, the 2- connection terminal on the opposite side of the Kit has to be powered with 5V. A switch can interrupt the power in this configuration to save energy if for example a battery is used.

Projects

Mecanum Car

The project page can be found here Four Motor ProjectMotors.

In this section we will explain how to make the DIY Kit compatible with the project.

Fist of all, we need to connect the PCB to the Builder Base. For that we simply connect the Builder Base to connectors the 8 connectors on the left side of the DIY Kit. The labeling of the connectors is identifying the terminals clearly. The connections are exactly the same as in the project. Refer to the section here. The Builder Base can now get powered via USB and power the Kit as well, or get powered through the Kit. For that, the connectors on the right side of the Kit have to be powered with 5V. A switch can interrupt the power in this configuration to save energy if for example a battery is used.

Firmware and app are exactly the same! Please refer to the instructions in this section.

Gallery

Resources

Current revision

Older revisions