Camera node: parts and beginner assembly guide

Polska wersja listy części i wyboru silnika: BOM.pl.md.

MVP guide in Polish (USB and battery power, measurements, safety): MVP-GUIDE.pl.md.

Sections 1 and 2 follow the rules of ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English (STE). No STE checker examined the text. Sections 3–13 are the earlier assembly guide. They did not change.

Start with the workbench. Open the animated assembly workbench in a browser. The workbench operates offline. It shows the position of each wire and each measurement. Assemble the electronics on the bench first. Install them in the printed parts after the tests.

Build one node first. Do the stages in this sequence:

1. Connect the XIAO to USB.
2. Move one servo without a load.
3. Add the second axis.
4. Add the camera.
5. Add the sensors.
6. Add the battery.
7. Solder the circuit to a board.

Complete the measurements of each stage before you start the next stage.

In this guide, the Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 controls the motors. A separate camera board sends the video: the XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense for node 0, the ESP32-CAM for node 1. Start on the breadboard. Solder only after the bench tests are satisfactory.

1. Bill of materials

This list agrees with the purchase list of 2026-10-17. The part names are the shop names. The quantities come from the earlier order. If the order did not give a quantity, the table shows "not given". Write the correct quantity in your copy of the table.

The Stage column shows when you use the part. The letters A–H agree with the stages in sections 5–12. "Later" means after the first node operates correctly.

1.1 Controllers and camera

Items 28–32 are boards that you already have (list of 2026-10-17). Section 1.1 of the MVP guide gives the function of each board.

1.2 Motors

1.3 Sensors

1.4 Power conversion and cooling

1.5 Battery and charger

WARNING: Do not connect the battery directly to a servo, sensor, camera or controller. The voltage of 12.6 V causes damage to these parts.

WARNING: Do not let the XT60 contacts touch each other or a metal tool. A short circuit causes a very high current. The wires become hot immediately and can cause burns and fire.

WARNING: Charge the battery only with the B6 in the LiPo BALANCE program, 3S, 2.2 A maximum. Connect the balance lead. Stay near the charger during the full charge. Put the battery on a nonflammable surface or in a LiPo safe bag.

CAUTION: Do not charge or use a pack that is swollen, damaged or hot. If you do not use the pack for some days, use the STORAGE program of the charger.

1.6 Capacitors, connectors, switches and buzzers

1.7 Tools

1.8 Contents of the starter kit (Botland 19291)

The Botland product page gives these contents:

• ESP32 module with ESP-WROOM-32, 30 pins, ESP32 DevKit type
• Breadboard, 830 holes
• 30 LEDs, 5 mm: 10 red, 10 green, 10 yellow
• 65 male–male wires and 40 female–female wires
• 200 resistors: 20 of each of the most frequent values
• Logic-level converter, 3.3 V ↔ 5 V
• Tact switches
• DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor
• HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor
• OLED display, 1.3 inch
• PIR motion sensor
• Micro-USB cable
• Relay module
• DS18B20 temperature sensor
• Organizer box

CAUTION: Do not connect the HC-SR04 echo output directly to a GPIO pin. Its output is 5 V. The ESP32 pins accept 3.3 V maximum.

The relay module is not necessary for this design. Do not use it to switch the battery.

1.9 Items from the earlier order that are not in this list

The earlier order also had the items below. Make sure that you have them. The assembly guide uses the meter, the breadboards, the solder and the heat-shrink tube.

Print gears in the basic PLA. Silk PLA has weaker layer adhesion.

1.10 Necessary parts that are not in this list

1.11 Parts for two nodes

1.12 Servo supplies: B6, UBEC 3A and LM2596

You have three servo supplies:

• The B6 charger in DC output mode, for the bench.
• The Hobbywing UBEC 3A, for the servos of node 0.
• The LM2596 with the heatsink, for the servos of node 1.

The XD-42 and the D24V5F3 are not servo supplies.

On the bench: the B6 charger in DC output mode. This is the safest supply in the list, because it has a current limit.

1. Disconnect all batteries from the charger.
2. Connect the 11–18 V power supply to the charger input.
3. Select the DC output mode. Set 5.0 V and 2 A.
4. Measure the output voltage with no load. The voltage must be 4.9–5.1 V.
5. Stop the output. Connect the servo supply wires.
6. Start the output. If the servos stop or shake during movement, set 3 A.

On the nodes: the UBEC 3A and the LM2596. Each supply gives 3 A. This current can supply two MG996R servos during normal movement. It cannot supply two servos that stall.

Do these steps for the UBEC:

1. Set the jumper cap to 5 V. Do not use 6 V. At 6 V the servos take more current, and 6.0 V is the maximum of the servo.
2. Connect the input to a 5.5–26 V source, for example the B6 DC output set to 12 V, or the battery circuit.
3. Measure the output with no load. The voltage must be 4.9–5.1 V.
4. Keep the UBEC 5 cm or more from the compass and the GPS antenna.

Do these steps for the LM2596:

1. Attach the heatsink to the LM2596 regulator with the thermal glue. Make sure that the heatsink does not touch other components.
2. Set the output to 5.0 V. Then put Kapton tape over the adjustment screw.
3. Keep the LM2596 away from PLA parts. PLA becomes soft at approximately 55–60 °C.

WARNING: Measure the LM2596 output before each test. If the adjustment screw turns, the output can increase to the battery voltage of 12.6 V. This voltage causes damage to the servos and the controller.

Do these steps for the two supplies:

1. Install a 1000 µF capacitor across the servo supply, near the servo connectors.
2. In the firmware, set each angle limit 5° before the mechanical stop. A servo at a mechanical stop stalls and takes maximum current.
3. In the firmware, start the servos one at a time, with 0.5 s between them.
4. In the firmware, limit the speed of each movement.

Do this test on each node. Move the two servos at the same time for 10 minutes. The test is satisfactory if:

• The voltage at the servo connector stays at 4.8 V or more.
• The servos do not shake.
• You can hold a finger on the supply for 5 seconds.

If the test is not satisfactory, get a supply with more current, for example a 5 A UBEC.

On battery power, connect the controller and the camera to a separate 5 V supply. Do not connect them to the servo supply. A servo current peak can reset the controller.

2. Motor selection: MG996R servo or 28BYJ-48 stepper

The printed parts and the firmware files ID0 and ID1 are for 28BYJ-48 stepper motors with ULN2003 driver boards. The prototype photo shows these motors. You have MG996R servos. You can use the servos. Read the differences before you start the CAD work.

The MG996R is a stronger and faster motor. It also knows its angle. The camera heading is then the base heading plus the servo angle. The compass is then necessary only to measure the base heading, with the motors stopped. This decreases the compass errors that the motors cause.

The 28BYJ-48 is the faster path to a working prototype. It installs in the printed parts. It operates with the existing firmware and a small power supply.

If you use the MG996R, do these steps:

1. Design adapters for the servo body. Attach each printed gear to the round servo horn with screws. Do not print a splined hole.
2. Get a 5 V servo supply with a minimum of 5 A for each node.
3. Change the search function. The servo cannot turn continuously. Use a sweep between the two angle limits.
4. Write new motor firmware for the XIAO. Do not upload ID0 or ID1 as a servo test. Do not copy their pin numbers to the XIAO.
5. Support the tilt arm when you remove the power.

The tilt axis has a 20-tooth gear and a 40-tooth gear. If the 20-tooth gear turns the 40-tooth gear, the output travel is half of the servo travel. Examine the assembly to find which gear turns which gear.

Continuous rotation through 360° is possible only with a slip ring or with the battery on the part that turns. A continuous-rotation servo controls speed, not angle. It does not replace a servo that controls position.

The sections 5–8 below use the MG996R servo.

3. What “which slot?” means on the breadboard

On a conventional board, a10 through e10 connect together, and f10 through j10 form a separate group. Row 10 is separate from row 11. The center gap separates the two five-hole groups. Long side rails can have a break halfway along; opposite-side rails are not automatically connected. Confirm this on your own empty board using continuity mode. Breadboard anatomy

For the sensor stage, reserve these example terminal groups on an empty part of the board:

Each group is one electrical connection with five insertion points. If one is occupied, another hole in the same verified group is equivalent. Adjust the row numbers if your layout requires it, and relabel your drawing. These are distribution points, not instructions to put an entire module header along a single connected row. Each different module pin must land on a separate electrical group. Keep the XIAO outside the board on an insulating support with properly soldered headers if its width obstructs access.

Use red for positive power, black for GND, and other colors for signals. Label red wires with their voltage. Keep servo power and battery wiring off the breadboard: use short, adequately rated wires and secure connectors directly to the supply. Breadboard jumpers are for the control signals here.

The physical left-to-right order of modules is not important electrically. The connection topology, polarity, voltage, and power-up sequence are important. GND is the common reference for signal voltages; each device gets its supply in parallel, not through another device.

4. Learn two multimeter checks first

Read your meter's socket labels/manual. For these checks put black in COM and red in the voltage/resistance socket, not an A or mA current socket. Select the function explicitly instead of relying on automatic mode detection.

A capacitor can cause a brief beep while charging from the meter. A persistent low reading needs investigation; a lack of a beep alone does not certify a populated circuit as safe. Before resistance/continuity checks, unplug all sources, including USB, and use voltage mode to verify the rails have discharged. Do not short a capacitor with a tool to discharge it.

Measure voltage across two points. Current measurement would require opening a circuit and inserting the meter in series; it is not needed for this guide. Never put a meter in current mode directly across a battery or power supply. Use the bench supply's current display for initial observations. A handheld voltage meter may miss short motor-induced dips; resets can still indicate a power problem even when it displays 5 V.

5. Stage A — XIAO alone on USB

1. Leave the LiPo, buck module, motors, sensors, and camera disconnected.
2. Inspect header soldering for bridges. Support the board on an insulating surface; do not rest it on loose screws or a metal tool.
3. Connect the XIAO using a USB data cable. In Arduino IDE install Espressif's ESP32 board package and select XIAO_ESP32S3. Follow Seeed's setup instructions, including USB serial settings if needed.
4. Upload a simple serial example and confirm serial output. Check GND-to-3V3 with the meter.
5. Unplug USB before wiring anything else.

Pass: repeatable upload/serial operation and about 3.3 V at 3V3, without abnormal heating. If the rail is missing or the board gets hot, disconnect and inspect before continuing.

The following pin plan is for the standard XIAO ESP32-S3, not the starter-kit ESP32 or the ESP32-CAM. D0 is GPIO1, not GPIO0. All external logic in this plan is 3.3 V. Seeed setup and pinout

Use USB as the XIAO's only positive power source throughout the bench stages. Do not connect servo +5 V to XIAO 5V or 3V3. Never connect the 3S battery to its battery pads: those are for a single-cell battery. External power on its 5V pin requires the power-path arrangement described by Seeed; a later battery conversion needs that design verified. XIAO power guidance

6. Stage B — prepare and measure the servo supply

The easiest bench source is an enclosed regulated 5 V supply suitable for the selected servo, ideally with adjustable current limiting. Use it directly for the servo branch. If testing your LM2596, supply its input from a current-limited DC bench source initially; the LiPo procedure is later in this guide.

For an LM2596 module whose terminal markings and input range have been confirmed:

1. With power off, connect bench positive to IN+, negative to IN−. Leave OUT+/OUT− unloaded. Use an input within the module rating and sufficiently above 5 V, such as 9 V if its documentation permits it.
2. Secure insulated meter clips: black on OUT−, red on OUT+. Keep loose conductors apart.
3. Apply input power and read DC voltage. An adjustable module may arrive set much higher than 5 V.
4. Adjust the trimmer carefully to 5.0 V, preferably using an insulated tool. Direction and number of turns vary; watch the meter. Avoid slipping across live pads.
5. Power off, let the output discharge, power on again, and recheck. Label the module “5.0 V SERVO”. Do not adjust it with electronics attached.

Pass: a stable no-load output close to 5.0 V. Use 4.9–5.1 V as a practical no-load setup target; this is not a universal servo tolerance. Loaded behavior remains unverified until Stage C. If adjustment is erratic, output is wrong, or there is unusual heating/smell, disconnect.

Keep XD-42 out of this circuit. Do not assume its DC jack accepts a fully charged 3S pack. Do not connect two regulator outputs together. A 470 µF capacitor can help with short transients; it cannot turn an undersized supply into a larger one.

7. Stage C — connect and move ONE unloaded servo

Remove the horn/linkage so an unexpected startup movement cannot drive the mount. Secure the servo body without obstructing the shaft. Verify the servo's wire assignments: commonly brown/black = GND, red = positive, orange/yellow/white = signal, but the actual servo documentation takes precedence over color.

flowchart LR
    USB[USB 5 V] --> X[XIAO ESP32-S3]
    P[Regulated servo supply 5.0 V] -->|positive: direct power wire| S[One servo]
    P -->|negative: direct return wire| G[Common ground junction]
    S -->|servo ground| G
    X -->|GND reference wire| G
    X -->|D0 / GPIO1 signal| S
    C[470 uF capacitor] ---|positive lead| P
    C ---|negative lead| G

The diagram shows electrical connections, not scale or exact connector positions. Put the capacitor across servo positive and ground near the servo connector; keep the motor return path directly to the supply instead of through the XIAO or breadboard.

Make these connections with USB and servo supply both off:

For an uncut electrolytic capacitor the longer lead is usually positive, but rely on body markings if the leads have been trimmed. Its 25 V marking is its voltage rating, not the voltage it generates or requires. Insulate exposed leads.

Small manual movement test

Create a separate Arduino sketch using the code below. Install ESP32Servo by the maintainer linked below and use a compatible Espressif ESP32 core (the current library documents 3.0.0+). Select the XIAO board. Upload with the servo supply disconnected. This is a bench example, not tracking firmware; it has been reviewed against the API but has not been compiled or tested on your hardware here. ESP32Servo API and compatibility

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <ESP32Servo.h>

Servo testServo;
constexpr int SERVO_PIN = 1;  // XIAO D0, not GPIO0
int pulseUs = 1500;
bool enabled = false;

void setup() {
  pinMode(SERVO_PIN, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(SERVO_PIN, LOW);
  Serial.begin(115200);
}

void loop() {
  if (!Serial.available()) return;
  const char command = Serial.read();
  if (command == 'c') {
    if (!enabled) {
      testServo.setPeriodHertz(50);
      testServo.attach(SERVO_PIN, 1000, 2000);
      enabled = testServo.attached();
    }
    pulseUs = 1500;
  } else if (command == 'x') {
    testServo.detach();
    enabled = false;
    pinMode(SERVO_PIN, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(SERVO_PIN, LOW);
  } else if (enabled && command == '+') {
    pulseUs = constrain(pulseUs + 10, 1450, 1550);
  } else if (enabled && command == '-') {
    pulseUs = constrain(pulseUs - 10, 1450, 1550);
  } else {
    return;  // Ignore line endings and unrecognized commands.
  }
  if (enabled) testServo.writeMicroseconds(pulseUs);
  Serial.print(enabled ? "Pulse us: " : "Signal off; last pulse us: ");
  Serial.println(pulseUs);
}

1. With wiring checked, power the XIAO by USB and open Serial Monitor at 115200. The sketch starts with signal low; do not send c yet.
2. Turn on the servo supply. The servo may twitch even before commands. Check voltage at its connector, not only at the regulator.
3. Send c to command a 1500 µs center pulse. This can cause a large initial movement; the horn/linkage must still be removed.
4. Send one + or - at a time for small changes within 1450–1550 µs. At 50 Hz, a pulse repeats every 20 ms; its width requests position. Pulse width is not a measured angle.
5. Observe voltage while moving. Stop for binding, sustained heavy buzzing, controller resets, or unusual heating. With a 5 V setting, a sustained fall below 4.8 V is a supply/wiring failure to investigate. Do not intentionally stall the servo to measure current.
6. Send x to stop control pulses, then switch off servo power, then unplug USB before changing wiring. x does not disconnect power or guarantee release on every servo; the supply switch is the physical stop.

Pass: repeatable small motion with a stable supply and no controller resets. Failure to move can also mean reversed signal/ground, an unsupported 3.3 V signal threshold, or the wrong servo type. If the exact servo needs higher signal voltage, use a suitable 3.3-to-5 V logic buffer; never feed 5 V back into a XIAO GPIO.

8. Stage D — mount and add the second axis

1. Test each servo separately using Stage C. For the second signal path, change SERVO_PIN to 2 and wire its signal to D1, with only that servo under test.
2. With the gear train disengaged, check printed bearing fit and free axis movement. Do not force a servo shaft past its stops. Compare actual mounting holes, horn/spline, shaft height, and gear engagement before making an adapter.
3. Center the servo electrically while disengaged. Power off, then fit the horn and linkage with the camera support at the intended mechanical midpoint. Support the tilt load whenever power is removed.
4. Restore power and test very small movements. Determine actual direction, gear ratio, cable clearance, and comfortable limits. Never begin with an automatic 0–180° sweep.
5. Record a conservative minimum/center/maximum pulse for each axis with margin before binding. The full advertised servo travel may be unusable in the assembled mechanism.
6. Only after supply capacity is established, connect both servo positives in parallel to the servo +5 V junction and both returns directly to its ground junction. Signals remain D0 and D1. The single-servo sketch tests one axis at a time; simultaneous operation requires a two-servo controller.

Pass: each axis moves through a documented safe range with no contact, cable tension, or supply problems. A later controller must clamp commands to those measured limits, start in a predictable state, and stop motion on lost commands. Do not reuse the original stepper search behavior for a bounded servo axis.

9. Stage E — bring up the camera independently

Keep the servos off during the first camera test. Verify whether your board is the classic AI-Thinker-layout ESP32-CAM and whether you have a compatible USB programming base. Do not apply the following UART wiring to an unidentified board.

For a confirmed classic layout, use its documented regulated 5 V input and GND, supplied through short wires from a separate suitable source for this test. Confirm the board's input requirements from its seller documentation. Do not power it from a USB–UART adapter's weak 3.3 V output or the small Pololu regulator without a verified power budget.

Connect everything with power off. Power the adapter and camera for upload; avoid leaving a powered UART driving an unpowered camera. A jumper marked “5 V/3.3 V” on an adapter does not necessarily change its signal levels—verify its documentation.

Use Espressif's CameraWebServer example, select the matching board and camera configuration, and enter your own Wi-Fi details. On revisions with a board_config.h, select the camera model there. Use CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER only for that confirmed layout. Upload, turn power off, remove GPIO0-to-GND, then restart and open the printed camera address. Official camera example

Pass: stable video in a browser for several minutes. Then repeat with servo movement using a suitably sized supply arrangement. If video fails only during motion, investigate power distribution before software tuning. Keep the camera on a separate supply branch; do not route its supply through a servo connector.

The Python application reads network camera streams such as http://<camera-IP>:81/stream. This proposed arrangement needs no UART link from camera to XIAO. Browser streaming alone does not complete tracking: camera addresses, controller addresses, and servo motion firmware still need integration.

10. Stage F — add sensors one at a time

Do this with servo power off. For GY-521/GY-271/GY-68/GY-NEO6MV2, the board name alone does not establish its regulator, input voltage, or pull-up wiring. Confirm the exact breakout's supply requirements before connecting VCC. A sensor IC's data sheet is not proof of a breakout's VCC input rating. If the breakout supports a 3.3 V supply at the labeled input, use the 3V3 distribution group; otherwise resolve the power/level-shifting arrangement first. Feeding 3.3 V through a regulator with excessive dropout may also make a board unreliable.

For each verified 3.3 V-compatible I²C breakout, with all power off:

Connect one sensor, power by USB, and run an I²C scanner configured with Wire.begin(5, 6) and a conservative 100 kHz clock. In sensor examples, ensure the library continues to use this configured bus. Do not copy Wire.begin(21, 22) from the repository firmware.

Address references: MPU6050 guide, QST QMC5883L data sheet, SparkFun BMP180 library. An address response confirms communication, not correct sensor identity or calibration.

Before attaching SDA/SCL to the XIAO, verify from the breakout documentation that pull-ups go to 3.3 V, not 5 V. Where practical, check their idle voltages with the breakout powered alone. A voltage above 3.3 V is a stop condition for direct connection. The meter is a sanity check, not proof of transient compatibility. Multiple breakout pull-ups act in parallel; don't add more blindly. Keep wires short.

These three different addresses can share a bus without the TCA9548A. If adding multiple BMP180s to the same XIAO, use separate mux channels: XIAO D4/D5 → mux SDA/SCL, 3V3 → VIN, GND → GND; sensor SDA/SCL → SD0/SC0, next sensor → SD1/SC1. Power sensors separately from the appropriate rail. The Adafruit board defaults to 0x70; select only the intended channel in software before initialization, scans, and reads. Check required downstream pull-ups. Adafruit mux pinout

For GPS, first verify breakout VCC requirements and 3.3 V UART compatibility. Connect GPS TX → XIAO D7/GPIO44, plus GND. Leave GPS RX disconnected for a receive-only test; optional configuration uses XIAO D6/GPIO43 → GPS RX. Start with Serial1.begin(9600, SERIAL_8N1, 44, 43) and print received bytes to USB serial. Look for NMEA text before requiring a position fix, and test outdoors with the antenna facing skyward. An already configured receiver may use another baud rate. u-blox NEO-6 defaults

Pass: each sensor works alone, then all required sensors work together. Position the IMU on the moving structure if it is intended to report camera tilt, and record axis orientation. Place the magnetometer away from motors, steel fasteners, and high-current wires; compare readings with motors off/on. Recalibrate after final mounting. The offsets and axis remapping in ID0/ID1 belong to the original build and cannot be assumed valid for yours.

11. Stage G — introduce the LiPo after bench tests

Your 3S 11.1 V pack reaches 12.6 V fully charged. It must feed appropriate regulators, never the servo, sensor, camera 5V pin, or XIAO directly. Use one pack; do not join the two packs in series or parallel for this prototype.

Use a compatible 3S LiPo balance charger and its prescribed connectors/settings. The LM2596, XD-42, XIAO charger, and P309 are not 3S balance chargers. Charge attended on a nonflammable surface away from combustibles; do not use swollen or damaged packs. Follow the pack/charger instructions for charge rate and storage. Gens Ace LiPo guidance

Prepare this harness while disconnected from the pack:

Pack XT60 positive -> fuse near pack -> DC-rated disconnect -> buck IN+
Pack XT60 negative ----------------------------------------> buck IN-
Buck OUT+ set/checked at 5.0 V ----------------------------> servo +
Buck OUT- ------------------------------------------------> servo GND
                                                             |
USB-powered XIAO GND -----------------------------------------+

This first battery test powers only the servo branch from the battery; the XIAO remains USB-powered and the camera remains on its verified supply. The buck must already have passed the relevant load tests. A completely battery-powered node needs a verified logic/camera regulator branch and the XIAO external power path before removing USB.

1. Select a fuse and DC-rated switch for the actual input current, wire capacity, and fault duty. Put the fuse close to the pack so little wire remains unprotected. Do not choose the fuse rating solely from the battery's “30C” label or an AC switch rating.
2. Verify XT60 polarity with insulated probes/adapters, red in the voltage socket. Avoid bridging adjacent contacts. Assemble and solder only the disconnected mating harness, not the live pack leads.
3. With the pack absent, check the harness connections and absence of a short. First connect the pack with all downstream electronics disconnected, and recheck the buck output.
4. Unplug the pack and verify output discharge before attaching the tested servo branch. Repeat the one-servo test before increasing load.
5. Connect the P309 only after its pin labels and the pack's balance connector orientation are confirmed from their instructions. Do not guess pin order or force a G-Tech connector. It must report three plausible individual cell voltages. Use about 3.5 V/cell as a conservative bench-test alarm setting if supported; stop and disconnect at the alarm. This is an early test threshold, not a statement of the pack's absolute discharge limit.
6. Disconnect the pack and alarm after use. The alarm warns; it does not cut motor power. Unattended operation needs a suitable cutoff strategy.

Leave the KCD4 rocker out until its exact DC rating and terminal diagram are known. Its 230 V illuminated-switch label does not establish DC motor-switching capacity, and its indicator may not light at battery voltage. No mains wiring is needed anywhere in this build.

12. Stage H — transfer to a soldered board

1. Draw the final wiring with connector pin numbers, voltage labels, and measured servo limits. Photograph the working breadboard and label every cable before unplugging it.
2. Map the universal PCB with continuity mode. Individual-pad perfboard is not internally connected like a breadboard; plated holes may connect top to bottom only. Other boards have strips or bus patterns.
3. Fit headers/sockets and low-current signal wiring first. Route servo current through appropriately sized dedicated wires and connectors; do not assume a narrow solder bridge is adequate.
4. Practice on spare pads using the Pinecil, electronics-compatible flux, and your lead-free solder. Heat pad and lead together, feed solder into the joint, and let it cool without movement. Use ventilation and eye protection; keep heat away from the LiPo and printed parts.
5. Inspect with magnification for bridges, loose strands, dry joints, and reversed capacitors. Check continuity from each source pin to its destination and isolation between adjacent connections.
6. Add heatshrink, strain relief, and standoffs. Tape and thermal glue do not replace secure connectors or mechanical mounting. Keep antennas clear of metal and high-current wiring; allow regulators to cool.
7. Repeat the same staged power-up checks. A working breadboard does not prove the soldered board is wired correctly.

Add buzzers only after identifying current requirements and selecting a transistor/MOSFET driver and any required suppression components. Do not drive an unidentified 5 V buzzer directly from a GPIO. Defer limit switches until their terminal pairs, pull-up wiring, and firmware behavior have been designed and tested.

13. Troubleshooting and bench record

Fill this out as you build. Blank cells are not yet tested.

First useful stopping point: one servo follows small manual commands reliably, with its linkage removed and its supply checked. You can reach that point before integrating GPS, compass, camera tracking, or the battery. Full tracking still requires adapting the stepper firmware to the servo pin plan, calibrated movement limits, and your network configuration.

Original purchase notes

The following text is preserved verbatim so product names, explicit quantities, and ambiguous duplicate entries remain available. It is an inventory record, not wiring instructions.

Project: Distributed camera node
i am beginner when it comes to electoronic, i am programmer 6 years with 4 years CAD contruction, actualy starting with eletronic, i printed 3D parts and model is already there, i bought all necessary parts i am bulding prototype, about this 3D model you can learn from video link by transcribing in README.md, basicly 2 mechanism, 1 base rotating 360 degree around and 2 base moving 180 degree up and down.

i need help how to set up on board, does the order in which the electronics are connected to the board matter, should I check something with a multimeter, etc. Best i will be happy if you show me how to connect, which slot and in which order, what to measure, What should I pay attention to at each step? I’d really like to learn a lot. I'm keen on getting this assembled quickly and have fun.

the list what i bought in Poland.

Produkt Ilość   Cena
ESP32 Starter Kit - zestaw startowy z modułem WiFi ESP32
ESP32 Starter Kit - zestaw startowy z modułem WiFi ESP32
Filament Rosa3D PLA Magic Silk 1,75mm 0,3kg - Aurora
Filament Rosa3D PLA Magic Silk 1,75mm 0,3kg - Aurora
Nóż do obróbki wydruków 3D - gratownik
Nóż do obróbki wydruków 3D - gratownik
Zestaw filamentów Rosa3D PLA 1,75mm - basic colours - 12x10m
Zestaw filamentów Rosa3D PLA 1,75mm - basic colours - 12x10m
Płytka drukowana uniwersalna dwustronna 80x120mm
Płytka drukowana uniwersalna dwustronna 80x120mm
Płytka drukowana uniwersalna dwustronna 40x60mm
Płytka drukowana uniwersalna dwustronna 40x60mm
Seeed Xiao ESP32-S3 - WiFi/Bluetooth - Seeedstudio 113991114
Seeed Xiao ESP32-S3 - WiFi/Bluetooth - Seeedstudio 113991114
Czyścik do grotów z podstawką
Czyścik do grotów z podstawką
Pinecil V2 - Inteligentna przenośna mini lutownica - OLED - RISC-V - Pine64
Pinecil V2 - Inteligentna przenośna mini lutownica - OLED - RISC-V - Pine64
Zestaw 4 grotów do lutownicy Pinecil - seria Gross typ TS - Pine64 TIPK1
Zestaw 4 grotów do lutownicy Pinecil - seria Gross typ TS - Pine64 TIPK1
Cyna Cynel LC99.3 100g/0,56mm - bezołowiowa
Cyna Cynel LC99.3 100g/0,56mm - bezołowiowa
Zestaw szczypiec Vorel 42309 - 6szt.
Zestaw szczypiec Vorel 42309 - 6szt.
Zestaw śrubek, podkładek i nakrętek - 330szt.
Zestaw śrubek, podkładek i nakrętek - 330szt.
Zestaw śrub i nakrętek M3/M4/M5/M6 - 1000szt.
Zestaw śrub i nakrętek M3/M4/M5/M6 - 1000szt.
Marker permanentny czarny - Pentel N850
Marker permanentny czarny - Pentel N850
Taśma izolacyjna Rebel 0,13x19mm x 18,2m czarna
Taśma izolacyjna Rebel 0,13x19mm x 18,2m czarna
Taśma kaptonowa 20mm
Taśma kaptonowa 20mm
Dwustronna taśma montażowa Rebel - transparentna - wielokrotnego użytku
Dwustronna taśma montażowa Rebel - transparentna - wielokrotnego użytku
Taśma dwustronna piankowa 10mm x 3m
Taśma dwustronna piankowa 10mm x 3m
Magnetometr GY-271 3-osiowy cyfrowy I2C 3,3V / 5V - QMC5883L
Magnetometr GY-271 3-osiowy cyfrowy I2C 3,3V / 5V - QMC5883L
Buzzer z generatorem 5V 12mm - THT
Buzzer z generatorem 5V 12mm - THT
Mosiężny gwint - insert do druku 3D - różne rozmiary - zestaw 100 sztuk - justPi
Mosiężny gwint - insert do druku 3D - różne rozmiary - zestaw 100 sztuk - justPi
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - żeńsko-męskie 20cm 40szt.
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - żeńsko-męskie 20cm 40szt.
Płytka stykowa justPi - 400 otworów
Płytka stykowa justPi - 400 otworów
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - żeńsko-żeńskie 20cm - 40szt.
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - żeńsko-żeńskie 20cm - 40szt.
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - męsko-męskie 20cm 40szt.
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - męsko-męskie 20cm 40szt.
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - 20cm 3x40szt. m-m, ż-ż, m-ż (120szt.)
Zestaw przewodów połączeniowych justPi - 20cm 3x40szt. m-m, ż-ż, m-ż (120szt.)
Płytka stykowa justPi - 830 otworów
Płytka stykowa justPi - 830 otworów
Miernik uniwersalny TrueRMS z autozakresem i NCV - Aneng AN870
Miernik uniwersalny TrueRMS z autozakresem i NCV - Aneng AN870
Zestaw rurek termokurczliwych 100szt. - różne kolory
Zestaw rurek termokurczliwych 100szt. - różne kolory
Zakładka do książki z symbolami podstawowych elementów elektronicznych - 1 sztuka - Botland
Zakładka do książki z symbolami podstawowych elementów elektronicznych - 1 sztuka - Botland
Wtyk XT60 z przewodem 10cm
Wtyk XT60 z przewodem 10cm
1 Buzzer aktywny z generatorem 5V 85dB 1 szt
2 Buzzer piezo 3V-24V 1 szt
3 Cyfrowy barometr BMP180 GY-68 3 szt
4 ESP32-CAM z kamerą OV2640 WiFi + Bluetooth 2 szt
5 Moduł GPS GY-NEO6MV2 NEO-6M z anteną 1 szt
6 Serwo TowerPro MG-996R Robot 180 4 szt
7 AG Klej termoprzewodzący 10 g 1 szt
8 Ręczny multimetr cyfrowy FNIRSI S1 1 szt
9. Przełącznik kołyskowy wodoodporny podświetlany KCD4 czerwony 230V 16A 2 szt
10 Płytka uniwersalna PCB 7x9 cm 5 szt
11 Radiator silnika krokowego NEMA17 1 szt
12 Serwo Tower Pro SG90 9g 2 szt
13 Zestaw tactswitch microswitch w
organizerze 180szt 1 szt
14 Żyroskop MPU-6050 GY-521 2 szt
15 Koszty dostawy 1 szt
16 Gens Ace Akumulator Bateria Pakiet LiPo 2200mah 11.1v 30C 3S 1P XT60 G-Tech 2 szt
17 Moduł zasilający do płytek stykowych XD-42 - 3,3V 5V
18 Przetwornica step-down LM2596 3,2V-35V 3A
19 Kondensator elektrolityczny Low ESR 470uF/25V 8x12mm 105C THT - 10szt.
20 Wskaźnik napięcia Li-pol 1-8S z buzzerem P309
21 TCA9548A - moduł z multiplekserem I2C - Adafruit 2717
22 D24V5F3 - przetwornica step-down - 3,3V 0,5A - Pololu 2842
23 Gniazdo DC 2,5/5,5mm do prototypowej płytki stykowej
24 Wtyk XT60 z przewodem 10cm

Updated purchase list (2026-10-17)

The list below is the updated parts list, preserved verbatim. Section 1 is based on it.

SkyRC iMax B6 V2 oryginalna ładowarka 60W 6A 6S LiPo / LiHv / NiCd / NiMh
Gens Ace Akumulator Bateria Pakiet LiPo 2200mah 11.1v 30C 3S 1P XT60 G-Tech
Buzzer aktywny z generatorem 5V 85 dB
Buzzer z generatorem dźwięku cofania sygnał przerywany piezo 30x15mm 3V-24V
Czujnik ciśnienia i temperatury BMP180 GY-68 3.3V
ESP32-CAM z kamerą OV2640 WiFi + Bluetooth
Elektroweb Moduł GPS GY-NEO6MV2 NEO-6M
Elektroweb Serwo TowerPro MG-996R 180, 55g, 9,4 kg*cm MG996
Klej termoprzewodzący AG TermoGlue 10g
Serwo SG90 Tower Pro 9g serwomechanizm
Radiator silnika krokowego NEMA17 chłodzenie z klejem 3M 40x40x11
Zestaw przycisków tact switch micro-switch w organizerze 180szt
Żyroskop MPU-6050 GY-521 akcelerometr 3-osiowy MPU6050 do RC Arduino RPi
Wtyk XT60 z przewodem 10cm
Gniazdo DC 2,5/5,5mm do prototypowej płytki stykowej
Moduł zasilający do płytek stykowych XD-42 - 3,3V 5V
Przetwornica step-down LM2596 3,2V-35V 3A
Kondensator elektrolityczny Low ESR 470uF/25V 8x12mm 105C THT - 10szt.
Wskaźnik napięcia Li-pol 1-8S z buzzerem P309
TCA9548A - moduł z multiplekserem I2C - Adafruit 2717
D24V5F3 - przetwornica step-down - 3,3V 0,5A - Pololu 2842
ESP32 Starter Kit - zestaw startowy z modułem WiFi ESP32 BOTLAND https://botland.com.pl/zestawy-z-esp32/19291-esp32-starter-kit-zestaw-startowy-z-modulem-wifi-esp32-5903351242950.html#product_tab_description
Seeed Xiao ESP32-S3 - WiFi/Bluetooth - Seeedstudio 113991114
Pinecil V2 - Inteligentna przenośna mini lutownica - OLED - RISC-V - Pine64
Kondensator elektrolityczny 1000uF/25V 10x17mm 105C THT - 5szt.
Złącze ARK4 do płytki stykowej
Magnetometr GY-271 3-osiowy cyfrowy I2C 3,3V / 5V - QMC5883L