2020 Kit Assembly
Additional tips and cautions
⚠ Caution: the 4.5V buck converter must be inserted correctly or damage is likely. Be sure the flat side is toward the rest of the components and each pin is in a socket. If it is off by one position, components could draw too much power in the wrong places, overheat, and fail.
If the laser module does not tilt freely in the hanger, it's possible the grommet wasn't installed tightly enough and is rubbing on the sides of the laser ring where the M4 screws are installed. A fairly easy fix for this is to unscrew both M4 screws and file down the tops of those holes on the sides of the laser ring (see photo to right). A small metal file works very well; an Emory board or coarse sandpaper should do the trick, too.
Printed assembly instructions
A printed copy of the assembly instructions is included with each scarecrow. You may download another copy and view additional information here. Please let David Brown know what additional content would be helpful: david_h_brown@uri.edu
Change history
2021-05-01: drill out second hole in control box (knocking out is unreliable)
For serial numbers 2020-KIT-21 through 2020-KIT-40, the second hole in the "control box" has already been drilled out. Page 6 of the printed instructions (page 2 of 8 in the Kit-00-Power cable) section has been updated by inserting a slip of paper with updated instructions simulated in this PDF (323kB, 1-page PDF)
For serial numbers 2020-KIT-01 through 2020-KIT-20, research participants have been emailed the suggestion to firmly clamp the box and drill out the hole with a 3/4" spade-style wood bit.
2021-02-25: Original Assembly Instructions as printed (7MB, 82-page PDF)
Assembly detail videos
Assembly photos
These links are to Google Photo albums into which I've placed the photos used in the assembly instructions. You may find them useful if you wish to zoom in. Unfortunately, Google did not retain the filenames, but you should be able to find your way.
KS-06 laser diode and servo is the longest stage, so I've broken it up as follows:
Servo and hanger (photos on pages 3-7)
Laser module (photos on pages 8-12)
Attach and wire (photos on pages 13-16)