First Steps in Preparing Your Arm to Run

Hey there and welcome to the DexArm Wiki.
First Steps in Preparing Your Arm to Run - Revision 2 - 20/09/2020 - Chris White

 [Live Document - Rev2] 

If you are here, then you are likely just getting started with your DexArm and eager to get your new arm up and running. There are some basic steps that need to be carried out for reliable and continuous use of your DexArm which are detailed below. As this is a new Wiki and a new Article, it will be updated on a regular basis and further tips and embellishments made to improve readability.

Step 1 - Plugging in your DexArm
''Supplied with your DexArm is a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-C Cable. Choose one of the cables below to connect your Arm to your Workstation.''


 * USB-A to USB-C is the common connecting method for Windows based machines.


 * USB-C to USB-C is the common connecting method for Mac based machines. However at the moment it is believed that a USB hub will be required due to some limitations on ThunderPorts with the DexArm.

Step 2 - Connecting Power
Supplied with the DexArm is a Power Adaptor.

Plug the round connector into the Arm, and the larger plug into your wall power outlet.

Press the rounded rectangle button on the rear of the arm base to power up the Arm. The button should turn green, indicating it was successful.

Step 3 - Identify your COM Port
Identify which COM Port your DexArm has been allocated by your Computer.

For  Windows Users  - press the Windows button on your keyboard and type "devmgmt.msc" and hit Enter. The Device Manager screen will appear. Look down the list till you see the "Ports", click on it to expand the devices in this group. Your DexArm will be listed as STM32 or STMicroelectronics Device, and a COM Port number shown next to it.

For  MAC Users  - a little different to Windows, in that Mac's do not allocate com port numbers as such. But instead descriptions/instances for those ports. Click on the Apple Icon then click on "About This Mac". When the "About" screen appears, click the "More Info..." button. In the Hardware Tree, there should be an option for USB. Here you will find the relevant data to confirm if your DexArm has been identified by your Mac. It may be declared as a USBModem.

Later on when using Rotrics Studio, your device will appear in the Port Selection Drop Down box as "/dev/tty.usbmodem..." or similar as this is how Mac's see the DexArm.

Step 4 - Rotrics Studio
Download and install the latest version of Rotrics Studio from the Rotrics Website: https://www.rotrics.com/pages/download

Step 5 - Visit our Start-Up Procedure Page
Visit our Start-Up Procedure page to continue your setup...

Click Here>> Using Your DexArm - Start-Up Procedure