K'Nex Education 79018 User Manual Download

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888-ABC-KNEX

Education

™

79018

AGE

EDAD/ÂGE/ALTER

K’NEX

COMPUTER CONTROL

™

User’s Guide for:

K’NEX Interface

Computer Control Software

Summary of Contents for 79018

Page 1: ...1 888 ABC KNEX Education 79018 9 AGE EDAD GE ALTER K NEX COMPUTER CONTROL User s Guide for K NEX Interface Computer Control Software...

Page 2: ...should be examined periodically for potential hazards any potentially hazardous components should be repaired or replaced The toy must only be used with the recommended transformer The transformer is...

Page 3: ...14 Downloading a program to the K NEX Interface 15 Running a program while disconnected from the computer 15 Technical specifications 16 Troubleshooting 16 Warranty 17 Table of Contents K NEX Compute...

Page 4: ...s 29 Running a control program 29 The Symbols 30 Switch Motor 32 Sound 32 Binary Output 33 The Process symbol 34 Wait 35 Procedure 35 Make 36 The Decision symbol 38 Is Input 38 Is Sensor 39 Is Variabl...

Page 5: ...cence conditions copyright information and disclaimers 53 K NEX Education s policy is to continually improve products and services so we reserve the right to make changes without notice It is acknowle...

Page 6: ...omputer to control electrical devices e g lights buzzers and motors This may also involve the use of switches as input devices An interface box such as the K NEX interface is required to interpret the...

Page 7: ...ddly toys that demand attention In the modern industrial world the ability of computers to repeat both easy and complex instructions precisely and endlessly is harnessed to control production lines an...

Page 8: ...via a USB lead A green power GO light On the top of the interface To indicate whether interface is being supplied with power or if a program is running A GO push button switch On the top of the interf...

Page 9: ...he USB port on a computer the USB drivers will need to install Connect K NEX Interface to the USB port on your computer Windows will automatically detect a new device and install the necessary drivers...

Page 10: ...GO button once so it is solid Connect the K NEX Interface to the computer using the USB cable Start the K NEX Computer Control software Click on the Connect icon to establish connection to the K NEX...

Page 11: ...several Input and Output devices to use with the K NEX Interface to control the K NEX models Input and Output devices are easily connected to the interface Only the devices included in this set should...

Page 12: ...ative and the right socket A2 positive If the motor is switched reverse the LED indicator goes red switches the left socket A1 positive and the right socket A2 negative Commands in the K NEX Computer...

Page 13: ...yellow black Switch the switch to an On position e g if using a push button press the button and watch the indicator LED next to the relevant input on Interface light up when the switch is ON A switc...

Page 14: ...or compile and download your program the memory used indicator will show an approximation of the amount of memory used see page 13 There are also some program limits to a program for download and if t...

Page 15: ...le or compile and download your program the memory used indicator will show an approximation of the amount of memory used To download the program 1 Select the Download icon from the toolbar 2 Click on...

Page 16: ...n I get a Communications Error Could not connect to the interface message 1 Disconnect the power supply re connect and try again 2 Check that the interface is powered and the green LED is on 3 The USB...

Page 17: ...the Output socket on the Interface is lit The Interface is attached to a power source There isn t a loose connection If you are using a buzzer that the leads are connected correctly red to positive bl...

Page 18: ...18 www knexeducation com The K NEX Computer Control Software User Guide back to Table of Contents...

Page 19: ...within an educational context to a control project that helps the student to understand a problem that the student can identify with be it from first hand experience or via a subject area they are int...

Page 20: ...prior to the application install This may extend the installation time significantly Installing the K NEX Computer Control Software USB Interface users Make sure K NEX Interface is not connected to th...

Page 21: ...un a select Program Level window will automatically open Select user Level 2 In Level 1 some of the features of the K NEX Computer Control Software are hidden These include all references to Variables...

Page 22: ...hen maximized to restore down to standard size Right click in window to change the quality of the picture or print the SCE For information about the SCE description and tasks To show or hide output la...

Page 23: ...sing the motor controls If no interface is connected then an Input a Maybe switched on or off by clicking on the hot spot on the SCE The SCE will duplicate the way a switch should react e g The bridge...

Page 24: ...new control program Save your control program Set the display options Go or Stop the control program running Run through a program step by step Hide show the flowchart view of the program Flowchart pr...

Page 25: ...will check for feedback from an input switch or sensor or the value of a variable to decide YES do this or NO do that See page 38 Stop use to end a flowchart or procedure See page 41 Flow Line use to...

Page 26: ...in the box alongside the input number the box will color up Click back in the box to switch off With Sensor inputs without the interface connected either use the up down arrows next to the relevant se...

Page 27: ...ntering commands If the Selection icon isn t already active click to select Click on the symbol you require in the symbol toolbar it will highlight to show it has been selected Move the mouse over int...

Page 28: ...symbols in the edit area together to show the order in which each symbol command should be carried out the direction of the flowchart 1 Click on the Flow Line icon 1 2 Click on the first symbol 2 usu...

Page 29: ...tart Stop icon To stop the program click on the Start Stop icon This will stop all parts of the program instantly If the program contains multiple flowcharts that begin with the Start command all will...

Page 30: ...rrent choice in the selection panel To delete a symbol or line with Selection active click on the symbol or line it will highlight to show it is selected and click on the Delete icon The Start symbol...

Page 31: ...rt and cannot be run on its own A procedure allows specific parts of a flowchart to be programmed in isolation The flowchart can then call up these procedures and repeat as required All procedures mus...

Page 32: ...ny sound file in a wav mp3 or wma file format Click on the Browse button Locate and select the sound file to be used Select whether the sound file will start and play once default play and wait play a...

Page 33: ...l 2 Binary Output uses an 8 bit byte to allow the setting of significant bits from one command These bytes are accessed through their decimal equivalent The Binary Output command is used to switch Out...

Page 34: ...00000100 4 3 on 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 00001000 8 4 on 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 00010000 16 5 on 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 00100000 32 6 on 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 01000000 64 7 on 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10000000 128 8 on To control multipl...

Page 35: ...s command e g Wait x Note Variables for controlling wait times are not suitable for download to the K NEX Interface Procedure This function is used to call up a previously defined procedure You can sp...

Page 36: ...chart will be seen by all the other flowcharts and procedures in the control program Most standard mathematical operators can be used within this function etc E g Make x x 5 y 2 Note Variables are int...

Page 37: ...mbers between 5 6 and 7 A decision symbol can be used to check for a random number Seconds Seconds is a free running timer that starts from zero to give the elapsed time in seconds since a program was...

Page 38: ...a NO line The first flow line you draw from the symbol will be from the base of the symbol this will normally be the yes line To swap these lines double click on the decision symbol and they will aut...

Page 39: ...l to less than or equal to symbol The sensor value to use as the trigger In addition to sensor input numbers you may also be offered names these are set by the SCE that is currently connected If Go is...

Page 40: ...s set to 0 The decimal is created from the byte created by setting the bits to check the inputs The table below indicates the bit pattern and decimal values for the byte when one input is to be checke...

Page 41: ...he flowchart If there are other flowcharts running multi tasking they will continue un affected Stop at the end of a procedure all procedures must have a stop without one the program will eventually f...

Page 42: ...already active click to select Click on the Text Tool icon A ghost box will appear move it to the required position for the label click and an empty label will appear Type the required text in the di...

Page 43: ...view your whole control program select the Map tab Right click in the map area and scale to view e g Auto When a control program is run the symbol which represents the point that the program has reac...

Page 44: ...xtremely long programs that seem to scroll down the page forever Procedures can also be used effectively where something needs to be repeated a set number of times By creating a procedure and then cal...

Page 45: ...he I O panel or SCE to switch them on or off The Switch Output command will automatically appear in the edit area The time between each selection will automatically appear as a wait command To stop th...

Page 46: ...ct Run xx the current procedure or flowchart s name from the Debug menu Pause and Single Step 1 Click on the Start Stop icon to start your program running 2 When it gets to the part you want to check...

Page 47: ...icon to start your program running 2 When it gets to the part when the program goes wrong click on the Pause button to immediately stop the program running 3 Select the relevant procedure or flowchar...

Page 48: ...or 256 bytes of program When you test compile or compile and download your program the memory used indicator will show an approximation of the amount of memory used The size of program that can be dow...

Page 49: ...in the edit area To select more than one symbol with Selection active hold down the CTRL key and click on each symbol To select the entire flowchart or procedure in the edit area use the Select All o...

Page 50: ...sed to alter to another location See page 53 for altering the defaults Open To open your previously saved control program either click on the Open icon or select Open from the File menu Locate the cor...

Page 51: ...ch be scaled to fit onto separate sheets of paper Everything full size to separate sheets will print the selected flowcharts or procedures at 100 scale on separate sheets of paper Print Preview Flowch...

Page 52: ...mation Connection problems If the interface fails to connect please check the following Is the correct interface selected Is the correct connection selected USB or Serial If serial connection is being...

Page 53: ...tory to point to the folder you wish to set as the new default Please note on all windows 64bit operating systems references to C Program Files will change to be C Program Files x86 Glossary of comman...

Page 54: ...re continuing With the repeat command the sound will be played until the flowchart stops running or the stop playing command is used Start Start Name Begins a new flowchart up to 10 starts may exist i...

Page 55: ...this license may not be amended changed or altered in anyway It may not be translated into another language nor will it be versioned for use on any other computer system No part of the software may b...

Page 56: ...sed of the possibility of such loss General These conditions supersede any prior agreement oral or written between the licensee and DHG relating to the software Disclaimer The K NEX Computer Control S...

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