Builder Road Map
Note: This WIKI was only just started on 2022-04-22, but are actively working on filling it up and making a good documentation for the new builders out there!
Warning
Please note that this project currently is in a very early stage! So don't go buying stuff right away! You will need to order and solder your own boards, since there are no assembled boards for sale yet.
Please make sure that you're actually allowed to build this device in your area. There may be laws / patents prohibiting you of doing so!
Please just be responsible and if you're not sure what you're doing, please don't do anything.
BTW the warranty of your brand new mower will obviously be void as soon as you modify it in any way, so be aware.
Intro
If you want to embark on building an OpenMower, we have collected an overview of the various parts and where find information and what to to below. Beware that this is not complete, but it gives you some navigation to how to go about making a project for yourself.
Please see the image to the right for an overview that will assist you when reading the road map description below.
You can find more information on the various parts in the page Building the Mower
Disclaimer
This material is provided as-is and free of charge. No guarantees of any kind are made that the information contained herein is exact or correct or does not violate any local regulations or cause any security risk. Any use you make of any information given here is at your own discretion and risk.
Road map
The Mower
Get a mower in a store
So far only the Yard Force 500 is supported. See FAQ for more about alternative mowers.
Disassemble the mower and Remove the old mainboard
See @c.ez's YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bImqD-pQSA
Now, it is ready for a new main board.
PCBs with components
You need to build two PCBs; 1 for the main board and one for the three motor controls (ESCs). You have to get the PCBs, get the parts and solder it yourself at the current stage. Due to international parts shortage, getting parts is quite a detective task, but here, we give you some help.
The recommended process for getting parts is the following:
- There are some parts lists (BOMs) maintained in Octopart - they will be given below.
- Use the Octopart tool to find out where there are parts available and order them. You will very likely have to use several vendors. We propose that you start at digikey and then move on for parts that you can not get there.
- Order the parts.
- Use the relevant Gerber files for the board that you are making to order PCBs at e.g. JLCPCB. If you plan to use a hot plate or an oven for the soldering process, consider simultaneously ordering a stencil for placing solder paste on your PCBs.
Main board
| What | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gerber files | https://github.com/ClemensElflein/OpenMower/tree/main/dist/Mainboard | Get the latest zip file here. |
| BOM .csv file | https://github.com/ClemensElflein/OpenMower/blob/main/dist/Mainboard/OpenMowerMainboard_bom_.csv | With a little effort can be used to create an Octpoart list or a digikey list, if you spend some time mapping fields. The file has digikey and lcsc part numbers in it already. |
| BOM on Octopart | https://github.com/ClemensElflein/OpenMower/tree/main/dist/Mainboard | Use this to see where parts are available |
At the time of writing, the main board is version 0.9.1beta and has a few issues (but is working, with the remarks stated here: Hardware !!), so you can either go from there or you can wait until a next revision fixes these problems.
[TODO]: @c.ez : How does one find a current BOM for the main board if going to build one-self?
[TODO] : @tinker0436 and @vamatis will try to see if a comprehensive description can be made on how to order an assembled main-board from JLCPCB.
Assembling
You need to have all the fixed parts soldered to the main board. Either you do it yourself or you find a way to order it assembled from e.g. JLCPCB.
Further parts needed
You also need
- A Raspberry Pi 4
- An RTK Module
- 3 xESC modules
- A Raspberry Pi Pico
- And check the BOM here: Building the Mower
Getting the xESC's
There are currently two versions of the xESC (of which you need 3 for the main board).
- An version based on the STM32 chip. Information about that is in the git repo https://github.com/ClemensElflein/xESC. That is working and tested, but it is hard to get the STM32s and the soldering is somewhat technical and one cannot order xESC pre-assembled (from e.g. JLCPCB) due to parts sitting on both sides of the PCB. But you can go ahead and build those now.
- A new version, simpler and cheaper, and based on the RP2040 chip. That is currently (2022-05-01) under final revision and should be available ca. medio May. That should be possible to order assembled from JLCPCB, once ready. So you might want to wait for that.
Base station with the base RTK GPS module
[TODO] @c.ez : Need info.
Charging Station
Get a CC/CV module
This is currently needed to fix the charging station provided by Yard Force due to incompatibilities with the replaced main-board. It should be possible to fix this issue, but right now, it is necessary. See Building the Mower for where to get it.
Upgrade the Charging Station
[TODO] @c.ez : Need info.