Summary of A 32-BIT BOOST FOR YOUR 3D PRINTER
This article describes a 32-bit drop-in replacement controller board for 8-bit desktop 3D printers. Designed by [Robert] for the Hackaday Prize, it aims to provide an affordable, easy upgrade path using the STM32F103 chip and Marlin firmware. The board features Trinamic TMC2208 drivers for silent operation, an automatic cooling fan, and an XT60 connector for portable power via RC batteries.
Parts used in the 32-BIT BOOST FOR YOUR 3D PRINTER:
- STM32F103 chip
- Trinamic TMC2208 stepper drivers
- Automatic cooling fan
- XT60 connector
It might not be the kind of thing you’ve given much thought to, but if you’ve ever used a desktop 3D printer, it was almost certainly being controlled by an 8-bit CPU. In fact, the common RAMPS controller is essentially just a motor driver shield for the Arduino Mega. Surely we can do a bit better than that in 2019?
For his entry into this year’s Hackaday Prize, [Robert] is working on a 32-bit drop-in replacement board which would allow 3D printer owners to easily upgrade the “brain” of their machines. Of course, there are already a few 32-bit control boards available on the market, but these are almost exclusively high-end boards which can be tricky to retrofit into an older machine. It should also go without saying that they aren’t cheap.
With this board, [Robert] is hoping to create a simpler upgrade path for 8-bit printer owners. Being small and cheap is already a pretty big deal, but perhaps equally importantly, his board is running the open source Marlin firmware. Marlin powers the majority of 8-bit desktop 3D printers (even if their owners don’t necessarily realize it) so sticking with it means that users shouldn’t have to change their software configuration or workflow just because they’ve upgraded their controller.
The board is powered by a 72 MHz STM32F103 chip, and uses state-of-the-art Trinamic TMC2208 stepper drivers to achieve near silent operation. The board has an automatic cooling fan to help keep itself cool, and with an XT60 connector for power, it should even be relatively easy to take your printer on the go with suitably beefy RC batteries.
Source: A 32-BIT BOOST FOR YOUR 3D PRINTER
- What is the main purpose of this new board?
To serve as a simple, cheap, 32-bit drop-in replacement for the 8-bit brains of older 3D printers. - Does this board require users to change their software configuration?
No, it runs open source Marlin firmware so users do not need to change their workflow. - What microcontroller chip powers this board?
The board is powered by a 72 MHz STM32F103 chip. - How does this board achieve near silent operation?
It uses state-of-the-art Trinamic TMC2208 stepper drivers. - Can this printer be taken on the go with batteries?
Yes, the XT60 connector allows it to work with suitably beefy RC batteries. - Why are existing high-end boards less suitable for older machines?
They are often tricky to retrofit into older machines and are not cheap.
