Materials and Tools

File:AthenaII wiring materials.JPG
Necessary materials for wiring.
Materials
Description Count
Printed Athena Board mount 1
M3 x 6mm socket head cap screw 4
#6 x 1/2" sheet metal screw 4
Necessary tools
Necessary tools for wiring.
Screwdriver
Small screwdriver
Precision knife

Note

  • Polarity refers to DC power - one of the conductors is positive (+) one is negative (- or 'gnd' or 'ground' on the controller board). Steps where polarity is a consideration are noted - pay close attention and make sure that the positive and negative conductors are in the correct locations before applying power to the printer! Consequences of failing to observe polarity are expensive.
  • There are three motors that control the movement of the printer. The motors are identified as U, V and W. When looking at the front, the extruder drive (with the fourth motor) is at the back of the printer. The U motor is on the left front, the V motor is on the right front and the W motor is in the back center on the apex with the extruder drive.
  • The Athena Board has motor controllers and limit switches labeled for both Cartesian (x, y, z) and Delta (u, v, w) printers.

Procedure

Mounting Electronics

  1. Loosen all of the screw terminals on the Athena Board and insert a small screwdriver into each terminal and wiggle it around to insure that it is fully open. This will greatly ease insertion of wires in later steps.
  2. File:Athena board location.JPG
    Using the four 1/2" X #6 sheet metal screws, attach the mount to the base.
  3. File:Athena board mount.JPG
    Using the four 1/2" X #6 sheet metal screws, attach the mount to the base.
    .
  4. Position Beaglebone so that the network jack is accessible.
    Position the electronics on the base so that network jack is accessible from outside the printer (see picture). Secure the electronics to the interior of the base with three #6 x 1/2" sheet metal screws.
  5. Secure the power entry.
    Push the barrel connector into its printed housing, position so that it is accessible from outside the printer and secure to the base with two #6 x 1/2" sheet metal screws.

Controller Power and Jumper Settings

  1. Mark the POSITIVE terminal on the Melzi.
    Locate the supply power terminals in the center Melzi board (marked POWER). Clearly mark the POSITIVE terminal (the terminal nearest the E-MOTOR terminal) with a permanent marker.
  2. The Melzi power source jumper is in the middle of the board.
    Set the shorting block so the VREG pins are shorted as shown in the picture.

Wiring

  1. Set the printer on a chair so that the motor end faces upwards. When looking down at the motors, W, U, and V are in clockwise rotation with W being the motor on the apex having the extruder drive and spool holder mounted to it.
  2. Wires can be tucked behind the controller board and secured to the standoffs with wire ties to keep things neat. Secured and well bundled wires are less likely to get entangled and pulled out of terminals.
  3. Follow the wiring carefully - click on picture to zoom in.
    Wire the motors as shown in the image, wiring the drive motors for U, V and W to X-MOTOR, Y-MOTOR and Z-MOTOR, respectively (see photo - note that connecting two motors to the wrong terminals will result in mirrored prints). The extruder motor is likewise connected to the controller to the terminal marked E-MOTOR. If motor leads are colored differently than shown, identify connected pairs of motor wires by touching the conductors together and noting if additional force is required to rotate the motor shaft. Wire pairs that increase resistance to rotation should occupy adjacent terminals (e.g. the pairs shown in the picture are red-green and blue-yellow).
  4. Connect limit switches.
    Connect the limit switch conductors to their respective axes e.g. the limit switch above the U motor is attached to the U limit switch (marked XSTOP), etc. There is no polarity concern.
  5. Wire hot end thermistor.
    Connect the hot end thermistor to its respective connectors on the controller board (marked ETEMP). There is no polarity concern.
  6. Wire hot end resistor.
    Connect the hot end power resistor to its respective connector (marked HOTEND) on the controller board. There is no polarity concern.
  7. Note the color of the 24ga wire soldered to the red (POSITIVE) wire of the fan - brown-white in this picture.
    Note the color of the 24ga wire soldered to the red (POSITIVE) wire of the end effector cooling fan.
  8. Attach fan - Polarity matters.
    Polarity matters! Connect the fan to its terminal on the controller board (marked FAN); red (POSITIVE) wire of the fan to the positive terminal. If the fan does not turn on when the extruder exceeds 50°C, you likely have the wires reversed. The fan can be damaged if this is left to continue for too long.
  9. Attach power cable to bridge board - POLARITY MATTERS!.
    Polarity matters! Reversing polarity at this step will likely result in destruction of the Beaglebone upon application of power. Attach the 15cm (6") long speaker cable to the bridge board screw terminal nearest the screw terminals on the Melzi (see photo) taking note of the markings on the conductors and which terminal (positive or negative) each conductor is attached to. Tighten the screws.
  10. Attach power from barrel connector socket to Melzi and bridge board. Melzi and bridge board are connected in parallel.
    Polarity matters! Reversing polarity at this step will likely cause destruction of both the Melzi and the Beaglebone upon application of power, producing about $100 worth of smelly, blue smoke. Connect both of the POSITIVE conductors from the barrel connector socket and the bridge board to the POSITIVE terminal on the Melzi. Connect both NEGATIVE conductors from the barrel connector socket and the bridge board to the NEGATIVE terminal on the Melzi. The Melzi and bridge board are connected to the barrel connector socket in parallel. Flattening the wires with pliers followed by trimming their widths greatly facilitates this step.
File:AthenaII completed wiring.JPG
Wiring complete.

Navigation

Preparatory Materials
Printer Primer
Overview
AthenaII Printed Parts Glossary
Non-Workshop Tasks
Assembling hot end
Soldering and tinning
Workshop Tasks
Track 1 Track 2 Track 3
Connecting Rods Frame Epoxying Magnets
Epoxying Magnets Connecting Rods End Effector
Extruder Drive and Spool Holder Epoxying Magnets Frame
End Effector Extruder Drive and Spool Holder Connecting Rods
Frame End Effector Extruder Drive and Spool Holder
Final Mechanical Assembly
Before 2019 Starting 2019
Wiring/Melzi + BB Wiring/Athena Board
Firmware and Calibration Firmware and Calibration - (Wireless Setup) - (Update Franklin)
Software and First Print
Follow-up information
Printing Basics
Maintenance
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