3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?

jens55

Crimp connections are more reliable if done correctly. If you can't do them right then soldering is likely better for you.

hackinistrator

properly crimped connectors are better then soldered , specially on high speed moving parts like 3d printer .

i use molex and AMP connectors . for high current heaters (no longer use them , moved to mains powered) i used RC soldered connectors like XT60 and XT30 .

taconite

I personally hate dupont but e.g. for stepper wires its super conveniant because you can change direction.
On heaters I use Molex Micro fit or Mini fit Jr.

Veti

i use Molex Micro fit for heaters as well.

for other i use jst locking ones
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32856368582.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dyysxU1

zapta

@hackinistrator said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

i used RC soldered connectors like XT60 and XT30

I got recently this version of XT60 with the black covers and like it more than the older shrink tube version.

Other interesting high current connector are Anderson Powerpole https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Powerpole which are modular and genderless.

Apropos connectors, WhamBam came recently with an interesting 3D printer gantry connector system https://whambamsystems.com/mutant

theruttmeister

@zapta said in [3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?](/post

Apropos connectors, WhamBam came recently with an interesting 3D printer gantry connector system https://whambamsystems.com/mutant

Shame they can't design a belt drive correctly...

sebkritikel

And if you don't want to crimp...

https://www.amphenol-industrial.com/images/catalogs/PT.pdf

https://www.peigenesis.com/en/shop/part-information/PT01E84PSR/APH/EACH/69387.html#mates
https://www.peigenesis.com/en/shop/part-information/PT06A84SSR/APH/EACH/72221.html

Could get worse!

jens55

I know this is an old topic but I have a relevant update:
I started with Dupont style connections for the hot end heater for my 12V based printer. That caused all kinds of grief fairly quickly due to overheating of the connector (40W heater). I then went to a JST style interlocking connector. That worked for a while but is again causing failures due to overheating of the connector.
Up to now, these connectors where sourced from China .... and are costing me way more in frustration and spoiled prints than they are worth.

My next and hopefully final connector style will be a genuine Molex Microfit 3.0 connection system sourced from Digikey. I just had a print abort after about 4 hours of printing and it just isn't worth the pain and suffering any more.
Even at ten times the price of the China product, it's worth it if it fixes this mess!

o_lampe

@jens55
dc42 also suggested to use the MicroFit 3.0, but I couldn't find a reseller (accepting paypal) with all the required parts in Stock. I guess, the German/EU components-market is empty, due to the well known issues. (and the supercontainership blocking Suez-channel forever)

PaulHew

@o_lampe All my printers use Microfit 3.
In the UK I can get them from CPC, Farnell and if I have a big enough order Mouser.

I use DuPont for things like accelerator where it is not a permanent fixture.

DIY-O-Sphere

@o_lampe
Reichelt....

zapta

@o_lampe said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

... supercontainership blocking Suez-channel forever

Now it's the canal that blocks the ship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FESrIXpsQJc

There is a general shortage of electronic components to a point that car manufacturer dropped features or stopped production because they can't get the chips they need.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=car+chip+shortage

Did it affected Duet3D in any way?

dc42

@o_lampe said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

@jens55
dc42 also suggested to use the MicroFit 3.0, but I couldn't find a reseller (accepting paypal) with all the required parts in Stock. I guess, the German/EU components-market is empty, due to the well known issues. (and the supercontainership blocking Suez-channel forever)

There appear to be plenty on eBay. https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_nkw=molex+microfit

o_lampe

@dc42
That's where I was looking. The problem was the crimp connectors for both housings. I'd have had to buy from here and there to scratch everything together.

CNCModeller

Hi All,
I've been thinking about these for allowing me to make my printer more modular. A single connection to the radial axis that holds both the radial and extruder motors and all of the hot end connections. That way I could remove it for transportation, assuming I created locating features for easy realignment.

I use an SSR for the hotend heater cartridge so power could be run separately if the connector isn't up to it, although the listing does suggest high power capacity but i haven't found a comprehensive data sheet yet.

https://cpc.farnell.com/c/cable-leads-connectors/connectors/circular-multipole-connectors/industrial-circular-connectors?brand=amp-te-connectivity

Any thoughts?
Cheers
Barry M

o_lampe

@cncmodeller
Those AMP connectors are huge compared to MicroFit. Doesn't matter, if they don't sit in the cable-chain.

dc42

@o_lampe said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

@dc42
That's where I was looking. The problem was the crimp connectors for both housings. I'd have had to buy from here and there to scratch everything together.

Have you tried https://de.farnell.com/search?st=molex microfit ?

CNCModeller

@o_lampe yeah they were intended as a single bulkhead connection mounted on the structure of my radial axis assembly.