Alexander Williams' μ3D Board Simplifies EVA 3D Printer Hot-End Wiring Using RJ45 Connections
Passive add-on board makes wiring up, and swapping over, hot-end low-current parts as easy as disconnecting a couple of plugs.
Engineer Alexander Williams is working on a project to simplify wiring runs to 3D printer hot-ends, by replacing looms of wire with a single RJ45-terminated network cable: the μ3D board.
"Rather than wiring all devices directly from the 3D printer electronics panel to the hot-end assembly, this board allows you to connect two simple RJ45 wires between the boards, and then wire the devices directly using the JST-XH connectors," Williams explains. "One board mounts to the hot-end, the other mounts on the electronics panel."
"It then makes it simple to swap out a hot-end without rewiring everything. It significantly cleans up the wiring and reduces maintenance and upgrading headache."
Designed as an add-on board for the EVA 3D project, which promotes an open standard meant to allow 3D printers to accept modular hot-end assemblies, the μ3D doesn't take care of everything you need: "The board is not designed to route wiring for the hot-end heater cartridge or the hot-end thermistor," Williams admits.
"It is only for low current electronics such as fans, accelerometer, e-step motor, etc."
The open-hardware design is entirely passive, drawing zero additional current, and mounts using just two screws without the need for any additional mounting hardware. It has yet, however, to be proven: Williams has confirmed he has ordered initial physical prototypes for testing, which will take place before any design files are released.
"I plan on selling the first few batches of these boards on Tindie (populated/unpopulated) as well," Williams adds, "before publishing the Gerbers on GitHub."
You can follow along with Williams' work on the Hackaday.io project page.