Printhead controller

Current revision: 0 - preview

3D printer parts and enhancements

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Description

This is a printhead controller which integrates temperature, heater cartridge and fan control directly into the printhead. It is controlled via I2C, allowing many printheads to be connected to an electronics mainboard via one simple two-wire interface.

The main goals are to:
- improve electronics performance
- reduce number of wires between electronics mainboard and printhead
- facilitate multi-extrusion with more than two extruders

The current prototype PCB measures only 24 x 14 mm, making it small and lightweight enough to put it somewhere on the printhead.

Project state:
- Hardware design at Revision 0 (Prototype)
- Prototype ordered. Assembly and testing pending
- Firmware development started

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Important: This module is part of the Nemesis 3D printer, which will be released to the public soon. Support for Marlin or other platform is not planned, but integration will be possible easily enough (contact me if you wish to do this!).

Stay tuned for more information to be released! This module is far from finished...

Do you want to contribute? Get in touch here: https://ultimaker.com/en/community/view/16431-printhead-controller
(link fixed)

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To do list:
- Write firmware
- Test prototype
- Make a comprehensive user manual
...

Materials and methods

BOM will be published with Revision 1 under the documents section.

Documents

  • Placeholder
    Block Diagram
    PDF  –  110 kb
    Version 1 - Jun 17, 2015
  • Placeholder
    PCB 3D View Bottom
    PDF  –  3.1 mb
    Version 1 - Jun 17, 2015
  • Placeholder
    PCB 3D View Top
    PDF  –  2.1 mb
    Version 1 - Jun 17, 2015
  • Placeholder
    PCBA Layout Overview
    PDF  –  520 kb
    Version 1 - Jun 17, 2015
  • Placeholder
    Schematics
    PDF  –  290 kb
    Version 1 - Jun 17, 2015
  • Placeholder
    Wiring
    PDF  –  200 kb
    Version 1 - Jun 17, 2015

Issues

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Comments

Mini amayahoyleAmayaHoyle added this to the amayahoyle collection ago
Mini dianehaungDianeHuang added this to the DianeHuang collection ago
F4e4a5c51ecbb19b10db001d30023fed?default=blank&size=40Strange Tiger added this to the controller collection ago
92bec5c8830ef9a558901eb6e3bc39a2?default=blank&size=40TokarenkoYaroslav added this to the 1 collection ago
Mini hd 1280x1024 abstract 3d medaltations 13580José Ramón Tezanos added this to the Electronico collection ago
0713fc717563d0668167c27ade52f10c?default=blank&size=40Roy Prawira added this to the 3D Printer collection ago
Mini sheepJonathan Bischof published this design ago