Combined Smart Effector and tool board for delta printers

[dc42]

We've been considering designing this for a while now, however it's hard to justify embarking on it because we don't expect sufficient sales volume. That could change if we have enough interest from potential customers, which we would probably look for in the form of advance orders if the project goes ahead. So if you would buy one (or more) of these, please indicate your interest by replying to this thread, and indicate which extruder(s) you would want to use with it.

The specification I have in mind is:

• Size: larger than the current Smart Effector, perhaps 70mm between ball centres (current SE is 55mm). This is to accommodate direct-drive extruders.
• Extruder compatibility: one or more of: Revo Roto, Orbiter 2.0, Mini Sherpa.
• Support for both 5V and VIN-voltage hot end fans, optional tacho (no support for 12V fans when VIN is 24V)
• Support for one VIN-voltage print cooling fan, optional tacho, optional 4-wire PWM control
• Illumination LEDs as on current Smart Effector
• Sufficient 5V power to drive a few Neopixel LEDs
• Support for thermistors and PT1000 sensors
• Nozzle contact Z probe as on current Smart Effector
• TMC2240 stepper driver for extruder motor
• Accelerometer
• XT30 2+2 connector for power and CAN-FD

[demonio669]

@dc42 I'm interested

Can you add accelerometer to the list and that the connectors where compatible with e3d Revo micro?

[Snimax]

I would be interested in getting one. Currently, I'm using this mod thingiverse to be able to mount an orbiter on top but a can enabled smart effector would cut down on a lot of cabling and be more reliable

[dc42]

@demonio669 said in Combined Smart Effector and tool board for delta printers:

@dc42 I'm interested

Can you add accelerometer to the list and that the connectors where compatible with e3d Revo micro?

I forgot the accelerometer - I've added it now. Whether we used E3D Revo compatible connectors would depend on which extruders we support. The Molex ones used by E3D are worse than all the others we have used (except ZH) if you need to crimp them by hand.

[jay_s_uk]

@dc42 it would be good if voron style hotend mounting was supported.

[oliof]

I'd be interested in a Sherpa mini variant.

[Edkirk]

I am a go, I support all of your specifications. Although I am sold on the E3D rapid change nozzles.
Thanks, Ed

[o_lampe]

@dc42 Since the user has to assemble the kit anyway (crimping wire loom) it would be nice to have both connectors available as option.
I think everyone re-buildinging a delta with different rod-distance can solder a few connectors?

[achrn]

@dc42 A definite yes please from me (but only for one).

I'd use Orbiter 2.0 extruder and revo hot end. The proposed spec looks good to me.

[o_lampe]

Delta-development was on the low burner for a few years. There wasn't much to improve if you use linear rails and magball rods.
Everyone interested to DIY printers has gone the IDEX or toolchanger route on a CoreXY frame.

IMHO, it would fuel up the interest for a new Delta effector, if it comes with tool changing options. ("thumb up" if you agree)

It could be an outer frame with the magballs, which connects to the smartEffector with a twist lock mechanism.
I have thought about details, how to park the tools (eg. one tool on every tower) but haven't made any drawings yet.
All wiring had to be done in a way that it doesn't interfere with the magball frame. Same goes for hotend and partcooling fans.
It would be best if they were placed on the outer frame.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but if there is enough interest, I start a separate one.

[MaxGyver]

With the release of the new Duet 3 Roto Toolboard I am not sure if a new smart effector is really needed. for me the main advantage of the smart effector was nozzle probing. But with the new Scanning Z-Probe Nozzle probing is already obsolete in my opinion. Of course you woul need to set the probe offset manually with a Scanning Z-Probe. To do this I use either a separate button style probe or I adjust the z height manually with baby stepping and run a simple macro to adjust the probe offset by the baby stepping amount and save the new probe offset in config-override.g.

I would still be interested in buying multiple smart effectors if they support the following points. some of them are obvious but for the sake of completeness...

• Scanning Z-Probe
• onboard accelerometer
• onboard motor driver
• Io input for filament monitor
• VZ style hotend mounting holes for Hotends like the Phaetus Rapido, VZ-Revo or Mellow Goliath Hotends.
• Enough space for direct drive extruders.

And lastly not necessarily a must but it is nice to have options.

• A hotend mosfest that can handle <100 W (Mellow Goliath Hotend)

Since I use CPAP style part cooling and watercooling for the hotend I do not require fanports on the tool board. But I recon This would be a no-go for most users.

[dc42]

@MaxGyver for delta printers I strongly recommend a nozzle contact probe. The reason is that it is very hard to prevent the effector from tilting slightly as it moves in X and Y; and with an offset Z probe any varying tilt will cause the relative heights of the nozzle and the probe to vary. Therefore, unless we can make the probe coil concentric with the nozzle, we can't use the scanning probe on a delta.

[MaxGyver]

@dc42

That's a very good point.
I am wondering if the effector tilt can be measured and actively compensated by software...but this is probably another topic...

Ball spacing of 70mm between the ball centers should be sufficient for a compact direct extruder. It would need to be raised tough in order to clear the hotend collet. I have also tried fitting other hotends like the Voron-Revo and Pheatus Rapido/Goliath. The Voron-Revo does not work, but the Pheatus Rapido/Goliath might just work. The M3 mounting holes just clear the center hole of the effector, but I recon it will mess with the placement of the strain gauges. The threaded E3D-V6 and E3D-Revo Micro support a large range of hotend combinations. Maybe we should stick with those for the sake of simplicity.

EDIT: and there is also the option to use an adapter like this

E3D Revo-Micro

Top View of the effektor with a sherpa mini

Bondtech LGX Lite

VZ-Hextrudort

EDIT: The Orbiter 2.0 was missing

[Bipotronic]

I'd be interested in an Orbiter V2.0 or Bondtech LGX Lite or Revo Roto version.

[T3P3Tony]

@MaxGyver those renders were very helpful. could you do one for the Revo Roto as well?

[MaxGyver]

@T3P3Tony said in Combined Smart Effector and tool board for delta printers:

@MaxGyver those renders were very helpful. could you do one for the Revo Roto as well?

Of course, I am happy to!

The Revo Roto is a bit longer, so it would have to be rotated by 60°

The setup would be extremely compact.

I have designed a Delta Printer a while back and was basically waiting for a CAN-Smart effector to emerge. So I took the chance to ckeck for any collision points between extruder the Arms (360mm Haydn Magball Arms).
And it looks like the Revo Roto will juuuust fit.

Unfortunately, there is no way to mount the Revo Roto from below trough the effector plate

[wbrokow1]

I would buy an updated effector and new extruder assembly if available.

[Exerqtor]

@MaxGyver said in Combined Smart Effector and tool board for delta printers:

@T3P3Tony said in Combined Smart Effector and tool board for delta printers:

@MaxGyver those renders were very helpful. could you do one for the Revo Roto as well?

Of course, I am happy to!

The Revo Roto is a bit longer, so it would have to be rotated by 60°

The setup would be extremely compact.

I have designed a Delta Printer a while back and was basically waiting for a CAN-Smart effector to emerge. So I took the chance to ckeck for any collision points between extruder the Arms (360mm Haydn Magball Arms).
And it looks like the Revo Roto will juuuust fit.

Unfortunately, there is no way to mount the Revo Roto from below trough the effector plate

Wouldn't the tight clearance be solved by rising the balls ever so slightly from the PCB? I mean just 1-2mm would have alot of effect, if it don't play very negstively into the kinematics (I have no experience with Deltas).

[o_lampe]

@MaxGyver @T3P3Tony I wonder if the Revo Roto could be placed directly on the PCB?
Aren't there any electronic parts or headers?

[T3P3Tony]

@o_lampe there will be electronic components and the headers for fans, heaters, the stepper motor etc however we may be able to provide a clear area to allow this sort of mounting, won't know until we start the design. Each extruder will need a different shape and amount of clear area however we may get a lot of overlap. Same with mounting holes. In the end we may need an interface bracket or brackets for all or some extruder options.