4 ms·

It is, but I mean: Many of us do just exactly that with 3D printers. We get a new 3D-printing machine and install our own build of Marlin on it, or move it al

by ssl-3 2mo ago

It is, but I mean: Many of us do just exactly that with 3D printers. We get a new 3D-printing machine and install our own build of Marlin on it, or move it all over to Klipper. Sometimes that involves replacing the entirety of the brain-box controls and that's just par for the course. At its root, it's only some stepper motors, fans (more motors), sensors, and heaters that are used in very particular ways. That's pretty similar to a Cricut machine, isn't it?

kennywinker 2mo ago
Because closed source 3d printers grew out of an open source community, it's pretty easy to do this, and you get a pretty similar experience on most printers. Unfortunately, cricuts are not like that. There are a couple projects attempting this but afaik they offer a pretty rough experience.
- ssl-3 2mo ago
  So a Cricut machine has more than some motors and sensors and stuff? How much more?
  - Joel_Mckay 2mo ago
    Replacing the hardware with GRBL/FluidNC controller + bCNC + Inkscape migtyscape laser/engraver CAM plugin kit would be trivial. However, modifying DMCA protected hardware is a crime in some places. Best of luck, =3
    - ssl-3 2mo ago
      Eh, I mean: I've done some work with GRBL in the pre-bot days. I can probably do more work with it in these post-bot days. That doesn't sound so bad. I just don't have a Cricut or the willingness to get one (or several; stuff will break) to hack on. :)
      - Joel_Mckay 2mo ago
        The FluidNC ESP32 Rodent Motherboards seem a bit more modern. May grab one unless I find something better over the weekend. https://biqu.equipment/products/bigtreetech-rodent https://biqu.equipment/products/bigtreetech-rodent The firmware configuration tools are now apparently trivial for users: https://mitchbradley.github.io/FluidNC-config-wizard/?board=btt_rodent_v1_1 https://mitchbradley.github.io/FluidNC-config-wizard/?board=... bCNC has surface probing so is probably also better than Circut for blade wear... good use for an old laptop or Pi =3
        ssl-3 2mo ago
        Nice! I've had very good luck with most (not all!) of the Biqu boards I've used, at least in printing space. I've also had great (100%) luck with warranty claims. If you're really launching into this thing, then: I came across a set of ifixit sorta-teardowns[1] on a Cricut machine earlier today. It showed what appeared to be relatively-small 4-wire motors (often with gear trains shown, which does matter), which strongly suggests that 2-pole steppers are being used. That's easy enough. The TMC5160 on the Biqu Rodent seems like a strange choice for this job: The 5160 is a high-current dude that's meant more for grunt than precision. The availability of grunt doesn't necessarily outlaw the ability to be precise, but it may not necessarily represent an ideal set of tradeoffs. Perhaps a board with smaller stepper drivers may be better-suited. After all, if the motors are small and they've got gear reduction on their outputs, then: They don't need much grunt to make the bits move move in predictable ways. The photos also showed that some/many/all of these motors have optical encoder wheels. Perhaps they're optional in a build with a custom brainbox (we do usually get along fine without that kind of feedback in printing), but their presence is certainly interesting. And: There were nowhere near enough connector pins shown on what was described as the motherboard for all of this stuff to happen. That's concerning. It all combined to strongly suggest to me at that time that the ICs that drive the motors might be located elsewhere in the machine, and that there may also be some servo feedback that happens in stock form. --- That concludes my brain-dump on what I think I know about Cricut machines. Take it as you will. :) And: The FluidNC Board Mapping Wizard is an amazing tool. I will save this for future use. Thanks! [1]: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Cricut_Maker https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Cricut_Maker

by ssl-3 2mo ago

kennywinker 2mo ago

Because closed source 3d printers grew out of an open source community, it's pretty easy to do this, and you get a pretty similar experience on most printers. Unfortunately, cricuts are not like that. There are a couple projects attempting this but afaik they offer a pretty rough experience.

ssl-3 2mo ago
So a Cricut machine has more than some motors and sensors and stuff? How much more?
- Joel_Mckay 2mo ago
  Replacing the hardware with GRBL/FluidNC controller + bCNC + Inkscape migtyscape laser/engraver CAM plugin kit would be trivial. However, modifying DMCA protected hardware is a crime in some places. Best of luck, =3
  - ssl-3 2mo ago
    Eh, I mean: I've done some work with GRBL in the pre-bot days. I can probably do more work with it in these post-bot days. That doesn't sound so bad. I just don't have a Cricut or the willingness to get one (or several; stuff will break) to hack on. :)
    - Joel_Mckay 2mo ago
      The FluidNC ESP32 Rodent Motherboards seem a bit more modern. May grab one unless I find something better over the weekend. https://biqu.equipment/products/bigtreetech-rodent https://biqu.equipment/products/bigtreetech-rodent The firmware configuration tools are now apparently trivial for users: https://mitchbradley.github.io/FluidNC-config-wizard/?board=btt_rodent_v1_1 https://mitchbradley.github.io/FluidNC-config-wizard/?board=... bCNC has surface probing so is probably also better than Circut for blade wear... good use for an old laptop or Pi =3
      - ssl-3 2mo ago
        Nice! I've had very good luck with most (not all!) of the Biqu boards I've used, at least in printing space. I've also had great (100%) luck with warranty claims. If you're really launching into this thing, then: I came across a set of ifixit sorta-teardowns[1] on a Cricut machine earlier today. It showed what appeared to be relatively-small 4-wire motors (often with gear trains shown, which does matter), which strongly suggests that 2-pole steppers are being used. That's easy enough. The TMC5160 on the Biqu Rodent seems like a strange choice for this job: The 5160 is a high-current dude that's meant more for grunt than precision. The availability of grunt doesn't necessarily outlaw the ability to be precise, but it may not necessarily represent an ideal set of tradeoffs. Perhaps a board with smaller stepper drivers may be better-suited. After all, if the motors are small and they've got gear reduction on their outputs, then: They don't need much grunt to make the bits move move in predictable ways. The photos also showed that some/many/all of these motors have optical encoder wheels. Perhaps they're optional in a build with a custom brainbox (we do usually get along fine without that kind of feedback in printing), but their presence is certainly interesting. And: There were nowhere near enough connector pins shown on what was described as the motherboard for all of this stuff to happen. That's concerning. It all combined to strongly suggest to me at that time that the ICs that drive the motors might be located elsewhere in the machine, and that there may also be some servo feedback that happens in stock form. --- That concludes my brain-dump on what I think I know about Cricut machines. Take it as you will. :) And: The FluidNC Board Mapping Wizard is an amazing tool. I will save this for future use. Thanks! [1]: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Cricut_Maker https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Cricut_Maker