"The Plugg.ee Labs Cortex-M3 based “JuicyBoard” robotics kit is designed for building stepper motor controlled devices like 3D printers or CNC routers."
JuicyBoard is the foundation of a modular, open source platform that makes it easy for you to build a custom 3D printer, CNC router, or any other device driven by stepper motors. The idea is simple, unlike other control boards, JuicyBoard is not pre-populated with any drivers, switches, or other functions. Instead, it includes only the components for common, core functions (e.g., microcontroller, USB port, SD card, etc.), so you have control over adding just the necessary functional modules for your application. This modular approach gives the platform a number of advantages over static board designs, as we explain below. There two models of the base board:
The JuicyBoard R1000A and R1000AX include the following features:
125 mm x 65.5mm
175 mm x 65.5 mm
Quick Comparison between R1000A and R1000AX
R1000AX | R1000A | |
---|---|---|
Number of Feature Slots | 15 | 10 |
On-board Precision Power Monitoring | YES | NO |
Electronic Fuse, Kill Switch | YES | NO |
Undervoltage/Overvoltage/Overcurrent System Protection | YES | NO |
Can Support Ethernet PHY Modules | YES | NO |
Dimensions | 175 mm x 65.5 mm | 125 mm x 65.5 mm |
###Available Modules
####R1001: Smart Stepper Motor Driver
This is a NEMA stepper motor driver based on TI’s DRV8825 chip. It’s a high-performance stepper driver capable of micro-stepping at 1/32” resolution. Current can be digitally set for every driver in 10 mA increments. The R1001 includes temperature/voltage/current monitors for realtime performance measurement and fault detection.
####R1002: Quad 1A DC Low Side NFET Control Switches
This module can control four small functions (e.g., fans, LEDs) that consume less than 1 A and run at the high input voltage.
####R1003: Quad Analog/Digital I/Os
This module connects four microcontroller signals to any external component (such as a thermistor or end-stop switch). It can be used for analog and digital signals.
####R1005: General Purpose Breakout/Extension
This breakout board allows for use of a 20-pin ribbon cable to connect all power, I2C, and microcontroller signals to external modules that don’t fit in a slot. It’s necessary for modules like the R1007.
####R1007: Quad 20A DC Low Side NFET Control Switches
This module can drive four heaters with strong 100A PSMN1R2-30YLC,115 NFETs from NXP, which allows it to run cool, steady 300+ watt heat beds. The R1007 must be powered through its own auxiliary supply input. It is optically isolated from JuicyBoard (meaning, it can have its own separate power and ground, and can be powered by up to 24 V).
####R1008: Dual Channel Platinum RTD PT100 Temperature Sensors
This module provides an interface to two PT100 platinum resistor temperature detectors (RTDs) for precision temperature sensing (as accurate as less than 0.2° C error). It can work in 2-wire, 3-wire or 4-wire configurations.
###Other Modules In the Pipeline
We’d like to hear your feedback and suggestions for new modules. This is our current wish list:
We’re very open to working with other people who have cool modules that can work nicely with JuicyBoard, lately we spoke with ODrive team, a very interesting brushless motor driver with postion control that can interface with JuicyBoard through CAN. We’re planning to write Juicyware drivers that allows using brushless DC servos in your application! Check out this cool video of ODrive actuating XY axes of a router.
###Use Cases
So far, we’ve used JuicyBoard to build a couple of 3D printers and a CNC machine. Here’s a case where we used it to build a system for controlling a triple extruder, triple-head 3D printer (using polystroooder) that can print three different materials. Here is how we configured a 10-slot prototype JuicyBoard to drive this printer:
R1008 is still new, we’re planning to upgrade the machine with PT100 sensors instead of thermistors. It will take some extra machining as well.
Check out our video above for more applications. We’ll be releasing updates illustrating other applications as well, so make sure you’re signed up.
Quick Start: https://juicyboard.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JUIC/pages/2789264/Getting+Started
Documentation: https://juicyboard.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JUIC/overview
Open Source Software and Hardware Files: https://github.com/pluggee
Forum: https://community.plugg.ee/
Slack: http://slack.plugg.ee:3000/
Creator Website: https://plugg.ee/
The idea first came up after we attempted to build a custom 3D printer. At first, we tried several off-the-shelf boards, but these caused several points of frustration:
Hacking an off-the-shelf board
To solve these problems, we came up with a completely different architecture and approach
We created a platform that has a base board (JuicyBoard) that includes all the essential basic functions of every system (the main processor, power supplies, communication port and flash storage). Then we arranged a set of sockets that allow users to plug in modules that perform only the features they need in a given application.
We designed the system to be as flexible as possible. For example, a stepper motor driver can be plugged into any slot. However, some special function modules (like the R1005 Analog Inputs) must be plugged into specific slots that connect to the CPU’s analog pins.
We added a full suite of telemetry functions (measuring voltage, current, and temperature) to the base board and to some modules. That lets users monitor the health of the system in real time, so they can detect and isolate failures. It’s easy to replace the faulty modules without reworking the system.
We also added in a hot swap controller, which acts like an electronic fuse that detects abnormal power supply conditions (like over-voltage, under-voltage or current overloading) and shuts down the system. The controller has an input for attaching a mechanical kill switch, which is the most reliable way to shut down the system in case of emergencies.
Another benefit we figured out afer working with JuicyBoard for awhile is the ability to upgrade the system with minimum reworking of hardware and firmware. For example, say we build a 3D printer with NEMA 17 motors and we later want to make a mega-size of the same 3D printer (say with NEMA 34 steppers). With JuicyBoard, we only need to design a larger motor driver module that accepts the same input control as R1001, then we can upgrade the system with the new motors with minimal revisions to firmware. Similarly, users could upgrade their system with a later revision of JuicyBoard that has an updated CPU or power capabilities, while keeping their add-on modules largely unchanged.
We love open source. A fundamental tenet of our philosophy is a belief in the power of the community to drive improvements of any designs or products out there. We’re exclusively using open source PCB design tools to create our boards. And, we’ve decided to open source all JuicyBoard and module hardware and firmware under GPL v3.0, so others can further evolve the platform and possibly enrich it with modules we’ve never thought of before. To that end, we have created a template KiCAD PCB project that’s an easy starting point for anyone who wants to design and build their own module.
JuicyBoard runs Juicyware, which is a fork of Smoothieware and is open sourced under GPL v3.0. Similar to our hardware architecture, Smoothieware is modularly structured firmware that allows adding and modifying functions easily and efficiently. It’s based on ARM’s mbed library, which means it has a path to portability to other microcontrollers in the future. Juicyware can be found in GitHub.
We have been through several design iterations of JuicyBoard, since we started working on it in December 2015. The first revision was shown in the Bay Area 2016 Makerfaire, where it successfully ran a couple of 3D printers.
Early prototype
We’ve learned a lot since then and incorporated all the feedback we’ve gotten over four design cycles until we reached a point where all the problems are addressed (mechanical, thermal, and electrical). We will be releasing the final revision gerber files (which include very minor tweaking and final silkscreen art) in a couple of weeks and will verify the revision before pushing the button on production.
We have manufacturing partners in Shenzen, China through which we have been prototyping all our boards. Testing will be done locally in California, where we will inspect all the boards and load them with the latest version of Juicyware (and other firmware needed by modules). We’ve developed an automated fixture to make the testing procedure fast and improve test coverage. Here’s our projected schedule:
Finished boards will be shipped from Crowd Supply’s warehouse in Portland, Oregon, USA. For international backers, shipping costs will not include any extra taxes or fees; these will need to be paid by the backer (see CrowdSupply’s guide for details on ordering and shipping policies).
####1. We have concern about long term reliability of PCB edge contacts, any possibility of having a M+F mating connector instead of PCB edge connector?
The short answer is no, here’s why
When we were planning how to connect modules to the board these were the factors that we considered:
We looked at different connectors and we reached the conclusion that PCIe is pretty much the most used connector on the planet. There are lots of manufacturers and reliability much better than it used to be. All other M+F connecting pairs we’ve seen were either large (the system will be much bigger for the same configuration) or expensive, and some were mechanically fragile.
There’s also another advantage for using PCIe connectors, the mating of the PCB and the connector provide enough vertical mechanical support without the need for adding extra support structures per module. To make the whole system rigid we designed a bracket the secures all modules in place and prevents them from wiggling horizontally.
There are a couple of drawbacks using PCB edge connector
1- Limited number of insertions: after 500 insertions the contact rating starts to degrade. In the case of JuicyBoard we are assuming that the number of module inserts typically won’t exceed 10 (including lifetime maintenance), if you’re experimenting maybe 50~100. The connector reliability should be enough to cover these use cases. If the application case requires more insertions then the design is not suitable.
2- Degradation of contacts over time due to oxidation: if the module PCBs are HASL finished there’s a chance that the surface of the exposed metal becomes oxidized over time and causes open circuit failures. The typical solution for this problem is to finish the PCB with a metal or alloy that doesn’t oxidize. We’re planning to PCB finish all our modules with ENIG.
####2. I have been looking at the juicy and I have been wondering if there are any plans of producing a module to control a closed loop system? instead of just something like a open loop stepper driver.
There are a couple of ways to implement closed loop stepper motor control
1- With JuicyBoard modules available today you can implement stepper motor closed loop control, you can use the main host to read position from rotary encoders (like this one). Ever R1003 board can read the output of 2 encoders. So for 4 motors you will need to mount 4 x R1001 and 2 x R1003 for closed loop control.
2- Or we can make a new R1001 (v2) with the ability to read encoder input for every driver. Note that in this case we need to come together (+community) and define how it will be used, like what’s the interface, is it still going to be step/dir pins or something else. We’re planning to use a forum where people can propose and define new modules
Lastly, you can use ODrive as a closed loop brushless DC motor controller, it interfaces through CAN and can be accessed using an R1003 module.
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