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FAC1 Controller for Windows - Quick Start

This guide will help you get the FAC1 Controller running on Windows quickly.

Prerequisites

  1. Hardware Setup:

    • FAC1 Camera with pan/tilt servos
    • USB-to-serial adapter
    • Power supply for servos (typically 6-12V)
    • Windows 10 or later

  2. Software Requirements:

    • .NET 8.0 Runtime (if not using self-contained build)

Building from Source (Optional)

If you want to build the application yourself:

  1. Install Prerequisites:

    • .NET 8.0 SDK
    • Git

  2. Clone the repositories:

    # Create a parent folder for both projects
mkdir C:\Projects
cd C:\Projects

# Clone the main application
git clone https://github.com/FyrbyAdditive/FAC1-Controller-Windows.git

# Clone the Feetech SDK dependency
git clone https://github.com/FyrbyAdditive/feetech-servo-sdk-csharp.git

# Build and run
cd FAC1-Controller-Windows
dotnet build -c Release
dotnet run -c Release

    The project references the SDK from ../feetech-servo-sdk-csharp/FeetechServoSDK/FeetechServoSDK.csproj

Quick Setup Steps

Step 1: Hardware Connection

  1. Connect your servos to power supply
  2. Connect servos to each other via daisy chain (data line)
  3. Connect USB-to-serial adapter to your computer
  4. Connect data line from servos to USB-to-serial adapter:
    • Ground: Connect servo GND to adapter GND
    • Data: Connect servo data line to adapter TX/RX (depends on adapter type)
    • Power: Servos should have separate power supply

Step 2: Servo Configuration

IMPORTANT: The servos ship with the same ID and need to be configured:

  1. Pan Servo: Must be programmed to ID 6
  2. Tilt Servo: Must be programmed to ID 4

Use the Feetech SDK tools to change servo IDs before using this controller.

Step 3: Run the Application

  1. Extract the application files to a folder
  2. Double-click FAC1-Controller-Windows.exe
  3. The app will automatically search for COM ports

Step 4: First Connection

  1. Power on your servos

  2. The application will show connection status:

    • USB: Should show "Connected (COMx)"
    • Pan Servo (ID 6): Should show "Connected"
    • Tilt Servo (ID 4): Should show "Connected"

  3. If servos don't connect:

    • Check servo IDs are correct (6 for pan, 4 for tilt)
    • Verify power supply to servos
    • Click "Reconnect" button
    • Check status messages for detailed error information

Step 5: Test Movement

  1. Use the arrow buttons to test movement:

    • ← and → for pan (left/right)
    • ↑ and ↓ for tilt (up/down)
    • ● to center both servos

  2. If movement is backwards:

    • Check "Invert Pan Axis" or "Invert Tilt Axis" in settings

Step 6: Calibration

  1. Use the center button ● to move to center position
  2. If not properly centered:
    • Adjust "Pan Offset" and "Tilt Offset" sliders in settings
    • Click center button again to test

Troubleshooting

No COM Port Detected

  • Check Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT)
  • Install USB-to-serial driver if needed
  • Try different USB port

Servos Not Responding

  • Verify servo IDs using Feetech SDK ping tool
  • Check power supply (6-12V, sufficient current)
  • Verify data connections (GND and data line)
  • Ensure baud rate is 1,000,000 (default)

Permission Errors

  • Run as Administrator if needed
  • Close other applications that might use COM ports

Common Connection Issues

Issue Solution
"USB: Disconnected" Check USB cable and adapter drivers
"Pan Servo: Not responding" Verify servo ID is set to 6
"Tilt Servo: Not responding" Verify servo ID is set to 7
Movement backwards Enable axis inversion in settings
Not centered properly Adjust offset calibration sliders

Support

For issues:

  1. Check status messages in the application
  2. Verify hardware connections
  3. Test servos with Feetech SDK examples first
  4. Check servo IDs and configuration

Next Steps

Once working:

  • Adjust center point calibration for your camera mount
  • Enable "Always on Top" for convenient control
  • Save your settings (settings persist between sessions)