A daughter board that mounts on a 3D printer hotend assembly to enable wiring over RJ45.
This document provides a quick guide to get started using this module.
DISCLAIMER: We are not responsible for accidents or problems caused by your use or misuse of these modules.
There are currently five (5) starter tutorials.
This PCB and documentation was created by aw. If you find or have any bugs, issues, or feature requests, please create an issue.
You can also join the discussion on channel #eva-contrib on the RatRig Discord.
If you haven't purchased the PCB kit already, now's your chance:
Note: Please use lead-free solder for all components.
Note: Before soldering, please ensure there is proper ventilation, and wear a mask or use a fume extractor if possible.
Before soldering, test-fit all the JST-XH and JST-VH connectors to confirm their final location and placement. This step is very difficult to get wrong.
- Start with the smaller JST-XH connectors. Insert all the connectors and cover them with masking tape or kapton tape so they don’t move, then flip the board and solder them carefully.
- Solder the larger JST-VH connectors next. Again, cover them with tape so they don't move.
- Finally, solder the RJ-45 connectors. Insert the RJ-45 connectors then bend the two side pins for stability.
It's always a good idea to verify each solder connection's continuity with a multimeter, and ensure there are no bridges with nearby pins.
See the Testing Connections howto to learn more about testing the solder connections.
Crimping connectors can be time consuming and error-prone. For the best results, it's recommended to have a good crimp tool such as an Engineer PA-21 and Engineer PA-20 for larger crimps.
Also ensure you have the correct size wires:
- JST-XH crimps support wires 30AWG to 22AWG.
- JST-VH crimps support wires 22AWG to 16AWG.
Lower gauge (ex: 16AWG) can support higher currents compared to higher gauge (ex: 22AWG).
Note: Make sure you don't shorten wires too much, leave some room for mistakes and future changes.
The PCB kit includes one extra crimp per PCB. That means you're free to make a mistake, but only one ;)
Wiring devices, such as the thermistor, fans, probe, etc, can be irreversible. If a mistake was made during crimping or soldering, it could destroy your devices.
Note: Make sure the 3D printer is off before connecting devices for the first time.
Connect the RJ45 cables between the two PCBs.
Note: Please use high-end stranded and shielded 24AWG RJ45 cables for safety and reliability.
Make sure to mount the PCBs to your electronics panel and hotend using the grounded M3 mounting holes.
Congratulations! If you've made it this far, then you're almost ready to start 3D printing.
Turn on your 3D printer, and make some final verifications:
Ensure the wires and cabling aren't getting hot. They should not feel hot after simply turning on the printer. If they do, you might have incorrect wiring and this could be dangerous.
Ensure the voltages to each device are correct (ex: 24V for the thermistor, 12V for the fan, etc).
Make a test print, while checking the temperatures of all wiring during printing. Everything should feel normal. Smoke is a bad sign, fire is a really bad sign. It's a good idea to avoid those.
See the Safety remarks explanation to read more safety recommendations.
Now that you've completed all the tutorials, you're ready to read the other documents below:
- EXPLAIN: learn the story behind this PCB, safety information, and OSHW
- HOWTO: more detailed information on testing and wiring patterns
- REFERENCE: learn about the pinouts, trace widths, and other technical information
μ3D: RatRig V-Core 3 EVA wiring over RJ45 and documentation © 2021 by Alexander Williams is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International).