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Cinebot Nano — Duco Software Update and Payload Calibration

CONFIRMED CINEBOT NANO FLAIR 7

Why This Matters

The Cinebot Nano is a robotic arm that constantly calculates how to move based on the weight it is carrying. If it doesn't know your exact camera build weight, those calculations are approximate — and approximate kinematics means your moves are less accurate, less repeatable, and can feel slightly off between different camera configurations.

Proper payload calibration fixes this. Once calibrated, the arm knows precisely how heavy your camera and lens combination is, and compensates accordingly. The result is:

  • More accurate and repeatable moves, particularly on close-focus work or tight CGI-tracked shots
  • Consistent performance across different camera builds — if you swap bodies or lenses between setups, you recalibrate and the arm adapts correctly each time
  • Better high-speed performance — at faster acceleration the difference between calibrated and uncalibrated is most noticeable

Flair Lite includes a simplified payload entry — you type in an estimated weight. The Duco Load Calibration method is different: the robot physically moves itself through a series of positions and measures the actual load on each axis. It produces real measured values rather than an estimate.

This procedure requires Duco v4.3.1 or later. If your Nano is running an older version, this guide covers the update first, then the calibration procedure.

Summary

This guide covers:

  1. Updating the Duco software to v4.3.1+ (required for Load Calibration)
  2. Running the Load Calibration procedure via the Duco web interface
  3. Transferring the resulting values correctly into Flair Lite

What Is Duco?

Duco is the Nano's own built-in web-based configuration interface — separate from Flair. It runs on the Nano's controller and is accessible from any browser on the same network:

  • Address: http://192.168.1.18:7000
  • Password: 123

Duco provides configuration options not available in Flair Lite, including precise tool calibration, mount orientation (underslung/ceiling), and advanced kinematics.

Duco vs Flair Lite

Flair Lite communicates with the robot arm but does not expose all of the arm's built-in configuration options. Duco gives you direct access to the arm controller's own interface. Some settings you change in Duco will be overwritten by Flair Lite when it connects — see the payload note below.

When You Need This

  • You want to perform precise payload (tool) calibration on the Cinebot Nano
  • Your Duco version is below 4.3.1 (the Load Calibration feature is not present)
  • You need to configure underslung (ceiling) mount mode
  • You need the update file (download link below)

Download

The update file includes the Duco software update and a video showing the installation procedure. The original MRMC cloud link is now offline.

Download Duco-software-update.zip

The zip is approximately 65 MB and includes the update file and installation guide video.

Part 1 — Updating Duco Software

USB service port required

The update is applied via the USB service port on the back of the Cinebot Nano controller, not over the network. Follow the included installation video for the exact steps.

  1. Extract Duco-software-update.zip.
  2. Watch the included video for the precise installation steps — the process uses the USB service port at the back of the Nano controller.
  3. After the update, confirm the version by opening Duco in a browser at http://192.168.1.18:7000.
  4. The Load Calibration option should now be visible under Settings > Tool.

Part 2 — Precise Payload Calibration via Duco

Flair Lite includes a simplified payload calibration covered in the Getting Started videos. The Duco method is more precise and uses the arm's built-in calibration routine.

The robot will move during this procedure

The Load Calibration routine causes the robot arm to move through a series of positions automatically. Ensure the workspace is clear before starting. Switch to manual mode before beginning.

Step 1 — Switch to Manual Mode

Use the manual override button on the Cinebot Nano control Peli case to switch to manual mode. The robot must be in manual mode for this procedure.

Step 2 — Open Duco

On the Flair PC, open a web browser and navigate to:

http://192.168.1.18:7000

Password: 123

Step 3 — Create a New Tool

Go to Settings > Tool and press ADD to create a new tool. Give it any name.

Step 4 — Run Load Calibration

Press Load calibration. Then press Start and wait for the process to complete.

The robot arm will begin moving automatically through calibration positions. Watch for possible collisions and be ready to stop if needed.

Step 5 — Record the Values

Once calibration is complete, the estimated payload values will be displayed. Take note of all values before continuing — you will need to enter these manually into Flair Lite.

You can then press Finish and save the tool, or press Cancel if you only needed to read the values.

Step 6 — Return to Auto Mode

Switch the control Peli case back to auto mode and re-engage the robot from Flair Lite.

Part 3 — Entering Values into Flair Lite

Flair Lite will overwrite Duco tool values

When Flair Lite connects to the robot arm, it overwrites the tool values with whatever is configured in Flair Lite. The new Duco tool calibration will not be used unless you manually enter the values into Flair Lite.

Open Flair Lite and navigate to the camera mount / payload setup. Enter the values from the Duco calibration manually.

Axis Mapping Difference: Duco vs Flair Lite

The XYZ axis labels in Duco do not correspond directly to the XYZ axes in Flair Lite. The coordinate systems are different.

  • Check the Flair Lite coordinate axes in camera mount setup before entering values.
  • Map the Duco XYZ values to the correct Flair Lite axes — do not copy them directly by label.

Entering values in the wrong axes will result in incorrect payload compensation and degraded arm performance.

Additional: Underslung / Ceiling Mount Mode

If you are using the Cinebot Nano mounted upside-down (ceiling/underslung), Flair 7 does not yet officially support this mode. A workaround is available:

  1. Leave the Flair Lite kinematics set to floor mount (do not change it in Flair).
  2. Change the mount orientation only in Duco — in the Duco web interface, change the mount setting to ceiling/underslung.
  3. The kinematics model will be correct, but XYZ will be reversed with respect to the room coordinate system.

Extra caution required for underslung use

Ceiling-mounted use is not officially supported in Flair 7 yet. Practice extra caution when using this configuration.

Official Documentation Reference

Cinebot Nano Quick Start Guide — Payload Calibration (p.29)

Sources: talk.mrmoco.com topics 1899 (Cinebot Nano Payload Calibration) and 1919 (Cinebot Nano Underslung Use — Updated); MRMC forum posts by @gordon_admin, January–March 2026