Using a 9 connection circuit plug for hot end

[ramai]

I'm about to wire up my hot end, and I thought I'd like to make a plug out of all of the 8 wires coming from the hot end loom. Does anyone forsee an issue using a 9 circuit molex connecter to join all the wires? It would be nice to just unplug all of the hot end business if I ever want to swap hot ends.
I know about the yellow jacket productions solution but that good looking thing is 30 bucks and this is 3.
I'm running the prometheus hot end, but I might want to swap in the stock one now and again.

[IMBoring25]

I've crimped several 6-circuit Molex connectors for the hot ends on my Mendel (which I now need to redo, for quality issues and wire length changes) and I've since crimped some replacement (longer) JST motor looms for it and some Dupont connectors for the heated bed.

Micro-connector crimping, in general, is much more fiddly and difficult to get right than the type of crimping used in the Rostock Max kit. It would be a very convenient mod for hot-end swapping, but without experience in this type of crimping or a high tolerance for trial and error, it may be very frustrating.

[precisionpete]

You could consider using what I used on my orion. Computer power supply connector for hot end. Already wired just cut the wire and soldered together then heat shrink tubing over. I used the smaller connectors for the thermistor and the fans. Not as clean as 1 connector but still easy to remove the hot end. Cable tie everything in place.

[gestalt73]

That's the exact connector that I ended up using for my hotends. Makes it a snap to swap them out.

I already had a crimp tool, which I'd definitely recommend.
They fit kinda snug, so usually resort to pliers when I need to unplug it.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/6ZoEMbw.jpg[/img]

[ramai]

Wow that looks really clean! Can I see what it looks like from underneath? It looks like you mounted it to the head mount?

[gestalt73]

Sure thing. Here's a shot of my Cyclops effector that's "undergoing maintenance".

The plug is integrated into the effector.
The effector end of the plug is trapped between a two piece top, here's a render of how I trimmed down the connector.

I was able to keep things pretty tidy.
Actually I had intended for the wiring to be a bit looser.


http://i.imgur.com/opjJ6nd.jpg
[img]http://i.imgur.com/opjJ6nd.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/8cW5UEEm.jpg[/img]

[ramai]

This is perfect, thank you very much for validating this idea. I'm going to put mine together tonight. Do you regret not having the layer fan on a separate circuit, or are there any drawbacks to consider?

[Tincho85]

That looks sick!!!
LOVE IT.

Thanks for sharing.

[Captain Starfish]

FWIW I use the 8 pin connector block (long rectangle) equivalent of the OP's photo to carry thermistor (2), cartridge (2), PEEK fan (2) and layer fan (2) wires down to the head and it works perfectly. Only criticism is that the thing looks a bit big and clunky.

gestalt, that rig is durned sexy. Nice work!

[gestalt73]

This is perfect, thank you very much for validating this idea. I'm going to put mine together tonight. Do you regret not having the layer fan on a separate circuit, or are there any drawbacks to consider?

I think if I were to do it again, which is likely, I'd feed the layer fan out to a 2 pin connector for a bit more freedom in swapping out cooling strategies.

When I switched to the single squirrel fan from the triplet fans I was using previously, I hadn't considered the benefits of having all around air current for some types of parts and overhangs.
The squirrel fan blows an insane amount of air, but only for about 1/3 to 1/2 of the printing area, so when printing things like worm gears and other items with crazy overhangs, the far side ends up sloppy compared to the fan side.

I think I'd like the freedom to swap out the layer fan for a different type for those types of prints.

gestalt, that rig is durned sexy. Nice work!

Thanks!

That looks sick!!!

Thanks!

[626Pilot]

I have some 12-conductor robotics cable (designed to be able to withstand constant motion and vibration). At first, I crimped two six-pin headers onto it. Eventually, I realized it was more sensible to break it out into more connectors.

I recommend four-pin connectors for hot ends, and two-pin connectors for fans. That way, if your fan goes bad, or if you're using an E3D Chimera/Cyclops and want to turn it into a Cyclops/Chimera, you don't have to cut off your existing connector and re-crimp everything.

For the platform accessories (LED rings, part cooling fans, Z-probes) I've been using a six-pin connector that has GND, +5V, +12V, fan PWM, probe signal, and the last one is unused. I might have liked this better if I had broken this out to more connectors so that I could, for example, use an LED ring without the part cooling fans (e.g. for when I'm using a Z-probe).

I have seen a circuit board that you bolt to the effector (there's a thread about it here somewhere) and it basically serves as a power distribution center. It's a nice design. Supposedly useful as a hot end mount, but I would not use a PCB for that purpose. Seems like it would snap if the hot end ran into something with enough force.

[ramai]

Thanks for that input 626,
I noticed you like to ride your hot end quite low! Any significant benefits I should know about?

[626Pilot]

If you mean that I mount my hot ends under the platform, yes. It looks cooler, it makes it way easier to see what it's doing for myself and guests, it looks cooler, and also it looks cooler.