Fanotec Mecha Reference guide

Checking the Battery Level
Short-press the Pbutton when MECHA is idle. The battery level
is also displayed on the LEDs immediately after powering on
MECHA. To understand what MECHA shows on LEDs, see the table
below.
Set MECHA in AP, STA, AP+STA Mode
A few seconds after powering on, at splitting lights, -=-=-=-=:
press 1to set MECHA in AP mode,
press 2to set MECHA in STA mode,
press 3to set MECHA in AP+STA
mode.
When MECHA is in AP or AP+STA
mode, it broadcast a SSID to which
your smartphone can be connected.
! . : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 A B C D E F
!!! means that the Internet is not available for MECHA.
Access the UI with Your Smartphone
• Set MECHA in AP mode.
• Tap Settings icon on your device. Under Wireless and Networks,
make sure Wi-Fi is turned on, then tap Wi-Fi. Tap the nettwork
that contains MECHA in its name (MECHA-H-DAC in case of
DAC), to connect the smartphone to MECHA (or to DAC).
• The default password for MECHA’s network is 12345678.
• Access MECHA’s UI on the smartphone’s browser at:
192.168.8.1
This is the New page by default. At the top of this page, notice the
current firmware version.
The user and default password for the Configuration page are:
admin and Mecha, respectively.
Turning on IR Remote
Connect the receiver to the AUX port, then check the checkbox:
Use Nodal Ninja IR Remote.
Set the default mode
Enter AP, STA, or AP+STA in the
Default Mode field. This will be
the current mode for MECHA after powering on.
Change the SSID password
Enter the new password in the SSID Password field.
Disabling MECHA during charging
Select Turn OFF from the When Charging select list.
UI Tooltips
Tap the [info] button at the top of the Row page to find out more
details about the functions of the UI controls.
Running and saving Presets
Select a preset from the Presets list and tap the [Load] button to
load it in A(Advanced) display levels, or just select the preset, and
it will load automatically in S(Simple) display levels. To run the
preset, tap either the [RIGHT] or [LEFT] button.
Tap [Save 1],[Save 2], or [Save 3] button to assign a preset to
MECHA’s buttons. Tap [Save] for normal save.
Optional, add a preset power code to the beginning of the name, to
be able to run the preset using MECHA’s buttons. The first digit of
the code must be 0 (zero), and the next sequence of maximum six
digits must be a combination of the digits 1, 2, or 3, so that two
identical digits are not in consecutive positions (e.g: 01, 0123).
Focus and Shutter timing
In order to trigger camera, for some Sony cameras, you have to set
an AF (Auto-Focus) value greater than zero, even if the camera
focus is set to manual. Also, set a proper E(Exposure), and other
delays, like A(After delay), according to your preferences. Find the
AF,Eand Aon Row page.
The Configuration page: 192.168.8.1/config
Tap the [Apply] button to save the new settings.
The Row page: 192.168.8.1/row
The Rotator
The Controller
Left / Right
Buttons
Power / Status
LED Indicator
Power
Button
Programmable
Buttons
© 2020 FANOTEC | MECHA Quick Reference Card v.01.4
Quick Reference Card
MECHA is a wireless controlled motor that can rotate and trigger
a camera or other devices. Use the <and >buttons to specify
the direction of rotation to the left and to the right, respectively.
Firmware Update Using a Hot-spot
• First, set up a hot-spot with the name MECHA-UPDATE and
password 87654321.
• Power on MECHA (in case of DAC, MECHA-H first).
• When MECHA is idle, enter the code 312123<. In case of DAC,
enter the code in MECHA-H. When MECHA connects to the pre-
viously created hot-spot, you will hear two beeps. This code will
update the firmware of both DAC units.
Do not turn off MECHA while updating the firmware!
Update the firmware to the latest version available.

Codes to Set the Rotator Model
23131< to set E1 /23132< to set E2 /23121< to set P1.
Codes to Test Single MECHA
131<,131> and 132<,132> for 6 / 12 shots around.
Codes to Test DAC ‒ Dual Axis Combo
Enter the following codes on MECHA-H to execute a panorama to
the left or right, 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0, +/- 45 degrees ‒
plus zenith and nadir:
1313<,1313> for Level position.
1312<,1312> for Parked position.
1321<,1313> for Raised position.
Other Codes
21< toggles the Pause Mode.
23< disables / enables the motor’s movement.
232< disables / enables all LEDs, useful during night
photography.
321< shows the last part of the IP address (323<, full).
3212< shows the firmware version.
13< shows the battery percentage.
231< turns everything OFF, for faster battery charge.
2313< changes the sense of rotation when done using the
<and >buttons.
12321< for backlash compensation calibration.
When MECHA
units are paired,
the camera can
be connected to
any of them.
Level Parked Raised
Adjust the
position
using /\
buttons to
match the
preset
before
starting the
preset.
The naming conventions for
starting and ending positions
for MECHA DAC presets avail-
able via More from Server...
For more information, please see MECHA User’s Guide:
https://www.nodalninja.com/Manuals/mecha.pdf
For support and troubleshooting, please visit our forum:
https://forum.nodalninja.com/
Developed and manufactured by Fanotec International Limited.
https://www.fanotec.com
MECHA
SSID
Sticker
Using Buttons to Run a Preset
Presets assigned to MECHA’s buttons
Press 1, then, quickly, <or >. Similarly for 2and 3.
Preset name preceded by a preset power code
Enter the preset power code, then press <or >. Ex: to run
01 MyPreset, press P(to enter zero), then 1, then <or >.
MECHA’s Simple Scripting ‒ MSS
Enter the focal length (10mm to 200mm) in the Shoots field, on
Row page, and MECHA will produce the appropriate script, or
preset, for that focal length, for Level position. Tap the [LEFT] or
[RIGHT] button to run the preset. Save this preset for future use.
Automatic Shooting Pattern
For rectilinear lens from 10 to 200 mm (FF equiv).
• Position the vertical rail in Level position.
• Place a sheet of paper in front of MECHA to fill the frame.
• Set the camera and lens as for shooting the actual panorama.
• Enter the code 31< on MECHA (MECHA-H, in case of DAC) and
when Pstarts flashing:
◦ Press Pto trigger the camera.
◦ Press again Pafter the camera was triggered.
• While MECHA rotates slowly to the right, press Pright after
the sheet of paper is out of the camera's frame.
• While MECHA tilts down slowly, press again Pwhen the
sheet of paper is out of the camera's view.
• Press 1,2,or3when the LEDs 1, 2 and 3 ‒ under the
battery symbol ‒ start flashing, to assign the computed preset
to that particular button. To cancel, press Pinstead.
zLM2 ‒Automatic Pairing Using Two Buttons
• Power on only the horizontal MECHA and, at splitting lights,
press 1for 3 seconds (until multiple beeps are heard).
• Let the horizontal MECHA running, then power on the other
MECHA and, at splitting lights, press 2for 3 seconds (until
multiple beeps are heard).
On successful pairing, MECHA-H
has the middle LED on, and
MECHA-V has the two middle
LEDs on. Otherwise, power off
and on both MECHAs again, preferably MECHA-H first.
If a red LED is lit on MECHA-V, this indicates that it is not the
same firmware version in both units, and it is recommended to
update it.
Codes to Rotate to Level, Parked, Raised
>1,<1 a 45° rotation to the right and to the left, respectively.
>2,<2 a 90° rotation, e.g. to go from Parked to Level, and back.
>3,<3 a 180° rotation, e.g. to go from Parked to Raised, and
back. Enter >2, <2, >3, and <3 on MECHA-V. You can set other
values, and also the speed, on Configuration page, in Arrow
buttons interval... fields.
Enter codes when MECHA is idle. Before pressing the last
button, check the entered sequence on LEDs. Short-press
Pto cancel, and enter the code again, if necessary.
© 2020 FANOTEC | MECHA Quick Reference Card v.01.4
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