Want your Bambu Lab X1C to do even more? The The X1Plus Expander can do that.
The X1Plus Expander is a special add-on board that provides a number of extra functions for the 3D printer. These go well beyond the existing features of the printer and address needs often requested by 3D printer operators.
What functions does the new board provide? It adds the following to an X1C:
- Ethernet port
- 2 USB ports
- STEMMA-compatible I²C connector
- 4 interchangeable GPIO headers
As you can see, these are all various types of input / output methods. They can be used for a number of purposes determined by the operator. The project lists a few that can provoke your imagination:
- Use a G-code trigger in the middle of a print to beep when you’ve reached a certain layer
- Trigger on a button press to jog the Z-axis of the bed up and down
- Pause without shutting down the motion system at a certain layer of the print, then command a GPIO to trigger an external device. The action can then wait for another GPIO to indicate that the external device is ready before continuing
- Build a cold-pull macro that heats the nozzle, sounds the buzzer to indicate that the nozzle has reached the right temperature, waits for you to press a button to confirm that you’re pulling on the filament, then extrudes backwards
- Use a G-code trigger to fire an external camera shutter release on every layer after moving the nozzle to a certain position to get a beautiful, smooth time lapse
You get the idea: there are an infinite number of possibilities. These are not normally possible because the X1C does not provide the same kind of electronic accessibility to the 3D printer.
That’s not surprising. Only a percentage of X1C operators would have an interest in doing so, so Bambu Lab hasn’t designed the X1C to allow for this type of connection. The X1Plus Expander does that for you.
How does the new board integrate with the X1C? Well, there’s a bit of complexity here, but nothing that someone intending to use the features can’t handle.
Physically, the board sits between the normal X1C control panel and the X1C itself, a simple install. The board includes the I/O features mentioned earlier, and a wiring harness to connect the board to the X1C’s power supply and circuits.
There are also optional modules for specific functions, such as a shutter release system, LED shifter system, and a real-time signalling system.
Installation requires replacement of the firmware on the X1C, which has been complicated by Bambu Lab’s recent security update. You’ll have to put the machine into unsupported mode, then downgrade the firmware, then root it, then install the X1Plus Expander firmware.
If all that works, you have yourself an X1C that can integrate into almost anything.
The X1Plus Expander is available for US$129, but you will probably want some of the accessories, such as the mounting bracket, Andon module, etc.
Via CrowdSupply
