Butterfly AMICUS ADVANCE User manual

From novice to professional, from defender to attacker,
... ideal for every type of player and every level of play
Congratulations, you are now the owner
of a Butterfly table tennis robot! The ma-
nufacturer offers a full 2 year guarantee
as well as a 5 year service plan covering
repairs and replacement parts, effective
from the date of purchase. Please ensure
you keep your receipt!
Special features:
1. Unique worldwide innovation: Ball
delivery with state of the art three-
wheel technology
2. The wheels are manufactured using
rigid sponge with a special coating
for better durability
3. Compact, solid, functional
construction (6kg)
4. A large all-round collection net
5. Well designed and user-friendly
control panel
6. Variable ball placement, adjustable to
desired spin, speed and trajectory
7. Automatic correction of length of ball
delivery
8. Memory and AFC (Automatic
Frequency Control) functions
9. Remote control
10. All functions adjustable from the
player’s side on the control panel
11. Adjustable height of ball delivery
Please note:
12. Please read this instruction manual
carefully before using the machine!
13. The Table Tennis Robot may only be
connected to a 100-230V power supply
14. The projection wheels rotate at high
speed therefore avoid touching the
wheels while the machine is running as
this can cause injury!
15. The Table Tennis Robot, AMICUS
ADVANCE, should only be used in c
losed and dry rooms!
Important: Please read instructions carefully before using the equipment.
The chapter Control Panel (Quick Reference Guide) outlines the basic functions for operating the Table Tennis Robot AMICUS ADVANCE.
1. Assembly p. 1
2. Control Panel (Quick Reference Guide) p. 2
3. Operation Switching on the Machine, Settings,
Selecting Type of Ball, Ball Placement, Random
placement, Rally programing, Height of the Projection
Head, AFC function, Memory, Ball Frequency
Switching off the Machine, Transport p. 2 - 3
4. Maintenance and Repair p. 3
5. Trouble Shooting p. 4
6. List of Replacement Parts p. 4
7. Technical Data Steps For Further Development p. 4
Instruction manual
1. Assembly
The following components are included
with the robot and must either be assem-
bled or connected to the machine prior to
its use.
a) Base unit with collection net
b) 24V DC power adapter
c) Control unit
d) Extension cable
e) Control unit holder
Other components: Allen keys, projection
wheels, tube for wheel adjustment, spare
rubber for the collection net, Velcro strips
for securing the collection net.
1. Place the base unit on the table in an
upright position (connections facing you).
(Fig.1). Open out the net supporting frame
into Position 1. (Fig. 2); the metal poles
facing you are for securing the base unit to
the table as seen in the photograph.
2. Attach the base unit to the table with the
aid of the preassembled holder (see photo-
graph) and rotate the head by loosening
the large screw on the base unit, turning
it in the opposite direction (180 degrees).
3.Standing behind the machine, fold down
the net supporting frame completely by gr-
ipping the top part of the frame on each
side and pulling the sides apart until fully
extended (Fig. 3) Attach the plastic corner
pieces to the corners of the table (Fig. 4)
4.Then pull the ends of the ball collection
net between the table tennis net posts and
its supports, and secure the rubber bands
to the clamp screws. Secure the velcro
strips, which are attached to the side of
the ball collection net, to their counterparts
fixed to the plastic corner pieces.
5. Connect the extension cable and the
adapter to the appropriate connections
found on the side of the base unit (Fig.7).
The cable on the opposite side of the table
is then connected to the control unit which
you should then mount onto the players-
side of the table. ( Fig. 8.)
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 7
Fig. 5
Fig. 3
Fig. 4 Fig. 6
Table Tennis Robot AMICUS ADVANCE

2. Control Panel
(Quick Reference Guide)
With the help of rotary switches 1-6 above
and the buttons, it is possible to program
six different landing spots, for example Ball
1 Þ middle, Ball 2 Þ left, Ball 3 Þ right, Ball
4 Þ right.
Trajectory: Trajectory regulation
Button A: Setting balls 6-1
Button B: Setting balls 1-6
Memory: Saving rallies and exercises
Side-Spin: Sidespin regulation (left →Side-
spin left; 0 →no Sidespin; right →Side-
spin right)
Speed:Speedregulation(1→slow;19→fast)
Spin: Spin regulation (-4 →extreme back-
spin; 0 →no spin; 5 → extreme topspin)
Memory Place: Choice of up to 10 previ-
ously saved exercises
Ball/min: Regulation of the ball frequency
RND: Choice of 3 random functions
AFC: Automatic frequency regulation when
playing with varied spin
Backstep: Automatically uses the setting for
the previous ball for the next ball to be set
Sample: 1.Simulated with longer push a
ball throw with the currently set.
2. During an exercise, the Button is used
by pressing briefly as a Start/Stop function.
Advice:
When executing an exercise starting with
service, both the trajectory and speed of
the ball are to be adjusted in low position,
whereas the height of the head in rather
high position.
3. Operation
Switching on the Machine
Fill the “ball container”with a sufficient
quantity of balls (50-60 balls) and then turn
the Ball/min rotary switch to the “0” posi-
tion before turning on the power. After tur-
ning on the power, the robot will carry out
a brief self test (approximately 10 seconds)
and the control unit will then automatically
switch to the basic setting. By turning the
„Ball/min” rotary switch to a higher positi-
on the projection motors will start to work
and the robot will start releasing balls.
The height of the projection head
As with all the Amicus robots, the height
of the robot head can be adjusted as fol-
lows: Loosen the hand screw on the back of
the tube which holds the projection head.
The tube can be moved up and down as
required. (Fig. 8) Finally adjust to the desi-
red height ensuring that the top of the outer
tube lines up with one of the markings on
the inner tube then tighten the hand screw
(Fig. 9)
Ball Placement
1. Ball delivery to a specific point on the table
After turning on of the robot, the first yel-
low light is flashing and the control unit will
automatically switch-to the basic setting.
The parameters of this ball (Trajectory, Si-
despin, Speed and Spin) can be changed
with the help of the buttons for setting the
trajectory, sidespin, speed and spin. The
landing spot can be continuously set using
the rotary switch for left/right placement.
Pushing the “Sample” button the machine
gives an actual ball (one that is set moment-
ly) during the setting procedure.
2. Programmed ball delivery to various
points on the table
With Button B „→“, at least two balls (max.
6) must be selected. Then various targets
can be chosen by means of the correspon-
ding left/right switches. The flashing LEDs
indicate which ball will be delivered next.
By pressing Button A „←“ the number of
balls can be reduced. After the end of each
“round” the ball delivery will commence
again from the beginning.
3. “rnd” Random ball delivery to various
points around a specific point
In case the rnd is switched on with the But-
ton for random function (RND) then the ro-
bot plays the set rally (described above) but
not exactly to the set places, but to 20 cm
big surrounding of those, which is closer to
the real game. Do not set the ball pla-
cing to the edge of the table when using
the „rnd”, because the machine can throw
the balls near the table by reason of the ball
spread! (It is enough the assigned one ball
to this finction.)
4. “RND” Random ball delivery to various
points on the table
In case switching on the Rnd (pushing once
more the RND button) the machine doesn’t
throw anymore the set balls in their set or-
der, but in random way, jumping here and
there among the designated balls. Therefo-
re it can not be foreseen where the robot
throws the next ball. It is sure only the fact
that the balls are thrown to one of the set
places. (It needs at least 2 assigned balls to
use this function.)
5. Combining ”Trnd” and ”rnd”
The “Trnd” and “rnd” functions can be com-
bined by pressing Button RND for a third
time. In this case the set points are chosen
at random (RND) and the balls will be de-
livered randomly within a 20cm diameter
circle of the set points, simulating a real
match situation.
AFC function
The new “AFC” (Automatic Frequency Con-
trol) function can be selected if there are
different types of balls selected within an
exercise. When the AFC function has been
Fig. 9
Fig. 8
Buttons for regulating
sidespin and display
Buttons for regulating spin
and display
Buttons for regulating
speed and display
Button for AFC and
display LED
Help buttons for
the settings
Button for 3 Random
function and display LEDs
Rotary switch for setting
ball frequency
Rotary switch for
selecting memory place
Up and down button for
setting ball trajectory
Button A
1 - 6 yellow LEDs for showing
the selected balls
1 - 6 rotary switches
left/right
Button B
button for selecting
memory and for saving

4. Maintenance and Repair
Important:
Always unplug from the mains before carry-
ing out any maintenance or repairs.
Ensure that whilst operating the robot small
objects such as hair and broken balls etc
do not find their way into the collection
net and subsequently into the machine, be-
cause this can lead to ball jams.
The ball projection wheels are very durable
and will last for at least 500 hours. Never-
theless, these wheels will finally wear off af-
ter intense use. One sign for a worn wheel
is that the machine releases the balls at ir-
regular lengths at high speed. This means
that the surface of the wheels does not have
enough grip on the balls. For that reason,
the distance of the wheels has to be adjus-
ted. To do this first remove the adjustable
plastic tube from its holder which can be
found between the projection wheels (Fig.
10). First loosen the black adjusting screw
next to the protective cover of the lower mo-
tor (Fig. 11) with the bigger allen key pro-
vided with the accessories. Push the motor
up towards the adjustable tube, gripping its
cover, until the wheels touch the tube. (Fig.
12) Repeat this for the two upper motors.
1. If the distance can no longer be adjusted,
the ball projection wheels have to be repla-
ced. You should therefore loosen the screws
(Fig.13) located in the wheel mounts using
the smaller allen key provided with the ac-
cessories; this applies to all three wheels.
Now remove the “adjusting screws” on the
two upper motors (it is not sufficient just to
loosen them) (Fig. 14) Then rotate the two
upper motors away from the projection
hole. Grip the outer casing to enable the
removal of the projection wheels from the
axis of the motor. (Fig. 15) The plastic disc
can now be removed from the motor shaft.
(Fig. 16.a, b,) Remove the plastic disc from
the projection wheel (which is held together
by three screws) and replace it with a new
one. Slide the new wheel onto the end of
the axis (Fig. 16), and tighten the screw.
Then adjust the correct distance between
the wheels with the help of the adjustable
tube as described above.
2. If a ball jam should occur, the machine
will try to remove the jam automatically by
turning the motor and the projection wheels
backwards and forwards (7 - 8 times).
Should for any reason the feeding motor
and both projection motors jam at the same
time, the machine will stop to prevent any
damage to the motors. In this case, all six
yellow lights will start to flash on the control
unit. You will have no alternative but to re-
move the head from the machine together
with any damaged balls located in the bot-
tom section of the robot with the aid of a
pencil or screwdriver, etc. (Fig. 17)
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 16a
Fig. 16b
selected the ADVANCE automatically ad-
justs the time intervals between individual
balls with varied spin. This function takes
into consideration whether the previous ball
was delivered fast or slow and with back-
spin or topspin. It can therefore simulate a
real match situation by delivering the next
ball earlier or later accordingly.
Note: This function was developed based
on the fact that fast balls are generally re-
turned quickly whilst returns of slow and
shorter balls require more time.
Memory
The settings described in the Control Panel
Quick Reference Guide enable a ball se-
quence or rather exercise to be program-
med. All exercises will, however, be lost
once the machine is switched off. As the
programming of exercises can be quite
time-consuming, the AMICUS ADVANCE
offers the option of saving them, enabling
them to be called upon at any time.
Saving exercises in the memory
Turn the “MEMORY place” rotary switch
to the position where you want to save the
exercise on the control unit (places 0-10).
Hold down the “MEMORY Select/save“
button (approx. 2 secs) until the light starts
to flash. The flashing LED means that the
exercise has been saved in the memory.
Retrieving the saved exercise from
the memory
First select the program you require by tur-
ning the “MEMORY place” button accor-
dingly. By quickly pressing the “MEMORY
Select/save“ button, the program number
will now appear on the control unit to
which the switch is currently pointing.
All the lights will now start flashing, indica-
ting that the robot is operating in memory
mode and is now ready to play the exer-
cise from the memory. Turn the „Ball/min”
rotary switch to start the exercise. The only
settings which can now be adjusted are:
“Ball placement”, „Ball/min”, „AFC” and
„RND”. It is not possible to change the pa-
rameters of the other ball settings.
Changing programs in the Memory
It is possible to change the ball sequences
in the programs which have previously
been saved by using the „Backstep” button.
This should be activated for the specific
ball which you would like to adjust within
the program which has just been retrieved
from the memory.. After changing a ball´s
settings, the program can now be saved
again in the memory by pressing the „ME-
MORY select/save” button.
Ball characteristics
The set Spin, Speed, Side-Spin and trajec-
tory apply for each programmed ball in the
same way.
Ball-frequency
By turning the „rotary switch for ball-fre-
quency“ you can adjust the quantity of ejec-
ted balls per minute. The AMICUS throws
more balls out if the frequency is set higher.
Switch off
Disconnect the power supply when the ro-
bot is not used for a longer period of time;
the AMICUS should never be left alone swit-
ched on.
Fig. 17

6. List of Replacement Parts
List of Replacement Parts
mobil-100 Base unit with collection net
mobil -101 Robot head
ADVANCE 102 Control unit
mobil -103 Holder for control unit
mobil -104 DC adapter (24V, 2.5A)
mobil -105 Extension cable
mobil -106 Projection motor
mobil -107 Feeding motor
mobil -108 Oscillating head motor
mobil -109 Motor for height adjustment
mobil -110 Projection wheel
mobil -111 Axis for projection wheel
mobil -112 Ball placement mechanism
mobil -113 Motor casing (3 part)
Further replacement parts upon request!
7. Technical Data
Mains Power Supply: 100-230V, 50-60 Hz
transformer, approximately 40 W
The robot should only be operated indoors
within a temperature range of 0-40°C.
Weight: 6 kg (with net)
Overall dimensions (with net): Height
0.75m; Width 0.28 m; Depth 0.25 m
The electrical adapter device was sub-
ject to a test for the approval of electrical
appliances and was found to conform to
the standard outlined below:
Conformity with the Low Voltage directive
73/23/EEC
As last amended by EEC Directive
93/68/EEC
Registration No.: AN 50091861 0001
Report No.: 17004848 001
As is evident from Test Report
Nos. NTEK-2010NT1115351E
and NTEK-2010NT1115353SS
The robot AMICUSADVANCE is permitted
to bear the CE trademark.
Further product information and the pro-
duct video are available on
butterfly.tt/amicus
5. Error Management
Problem Solution
The robot does not function once
assembled
a) No power supply?
b) Blown fuse → replace the fuse in the control unit
c) Check whether the cable plugs on the bottom of the control unit have been plugged
in correctly.
When the small green control light found on the adapter is not lit, despite being con-
nected to the mains, this means that the adapter is damaged and has to be replaced.
Is Rotary Switch V for ball frequency set to „0“? → Turn it up.
Length of ball delivery is irregular
a) Check distance between the projection wheels, are the wheels worn?
b) Incorrect assembly: Are the tubes and the robot head securely in place?
c) The pin for regulating the length “is stuck” → lubricate it with some silicone.
The balls are suddenly being delivered
irregularly and with varying length
a) Restart
b) A damaged ball or other foreign body is obstructing the transport of balls to the
projection wheels → remove.
The silver sign found on the tube of the robot head was not put exactly to the top mar-
gin of the body tube. Put of the signs exactly to the top margin of the tube!
Ball jam; the yellow light is flashing on
the control unit
A damaged ball or foreign body is obstructing the transport of balls to the projection
wheels → remove.
Random function (RND) on the control
unit cannot be activated; green indicator
light does not light up
At least two balls must be activated and at least two yellow indicator lights must be on.
Balls are stuck between the ball projection
wheels, the control unit switches itself off.
Pull out the adapter from the mains, remove all balls from between the projection
wheels, set the Ball/min button to the “0” position, then resume play.
Attention:
If you are not able to resolve the problems
with the help of this checklist, a specialist
must be consulted! Please contact your
specialist supplier or the Butterfly service
centre (address is located on the side).
Always contact a competent specialist
if the power cable is defective or if the
fuse blows again immediately after being
replaced. Failure to do so will invalidate
your claim for a refund during the two
year guarantee period.
Pin for regula-
ting ball
placement
Tamasu Butterfly Europa GmbH · Am Schürmannshütt 30h
GERMANY · 47441 Moers · Tel: [phone]
amicus@butterfly.tt · www.butterfly.tt www.facebook.com/butterfly.europe Amicus Video