Add a Serial UART Connection to a Snapmaker 2.0 Controller

[seppo]

Pimp My Snapmaker 2.0 - Mod No. 1: Add a Serial UART Connection to a Snapmaker 2.0 Controller

You ask, why should I do this?
So you can control your Snapmaker 2.0 with G-Code via Arduino or other microcontrollers. Use joysticks, buttons, rotary controllers or what you prefer for customized actions like for instance move to center for cnc or laser, …

**Attention! **

Note that this modification will void your warranty. Your controller or your Snapmaker may be damaged.
Only recreate it at your own risk! I accept no liability for damage!
I bought a second controller for 80 euros so that I wouldn’t destroy my original.

You need:

a good soldering station
3D printer (you obviously have one)
1.6 mm hex screw driver
Metal drill bits 1.6mm, 2.5mm
Thread cutter M2
pin header and sockets
experimental pcb
2x M2 countersunk screws
Micro Controller like Arduino
Your skills:

you have to be very good at soldering
Arduino coding
Maker skills at all

You can find my detailed instructions here:

https://www.instructables.com/Pimp-My-Snapmaker-20-Mod-No-1-Add-a-Serial-UART-Co/
https://youtu.be/jiHJPO704r0

[brvdboss]

Cool mod. And the answer may be: “just because you can”. But I have one question: why not use the usb connector? (which is how for example octoprint etc connect to it)

[seppo]

For example, I can control the axes using a joystick , rotary encoder or fader . ↔:arrow_up_down:

I can start functions such as tool centering, homing or home setting with a key .

All without a computer or touchscreen.

For my Snapmaker 1 (original) I had built a small terminal with a joystick for XYZ control and a rotary knob for adjusting the speed and switching to extra small microsteps for setting CNC tools (positioning the milling cutter on the material surface). I also used the knob to retrofit filament load and unload on the SM1. That wasn’t the case with the original Snapmaker.

Then I assigned buttons for homing and setting the zero point and for center alignment of the CNC and laser head. At Laser Center, the laser also moves to the optimal focus height.

I will soon be building a terminal like this for my 2.0.

[brvdboss]

Yes, I understand all that. However you do all the conversions to gcode on your arduino and then send that to the controller uart.

You could use the USB port of the arduino to send those as well on the USB port of the controller. Exactly same functionality, but no soldering. You could even do it wireless with an esp32. You can send gcode commands over api.

[astromedia]

Is there somewhere example of controlling Snapmaker with arduino trough USB port? That seems rather usefull (and very clean) if possible

[Hauke]

Here are forum posts that cover Snapmaker control via external controllers:

A350 control with gamepad

I’ve been thinking about ways to control my A350 in a more “natural” way, rather than using the touchscreen. I whipped up a quick prototype where I’m using an Xbox controller connect to my computer, which is running an application that sends movement commands to the printer over the serial port. Still thinking of a good way to perform movements with more precision. My end goal is to ditch the Xbox controller and create a custom control panel to fit my needs.

Got Bored waiting for the Quick Release Kit ..... Tried to make an MPG

I have been thinking about doing this project for quite some time and finally got around to it. [20230905_144408] [20230905_144645] [20230905_144833] [20230905_144652] I wanted an easier way to control movement and set datums whilst using the CNC. The design of the pendant is not my own, I found a YouTube Channel who created this and was selling the plans for $5. It Basically acts like a HID (Human Interface Device). The Pendant is linked via CNCJS (which Luban is based off) which ive hard…

Admittedly, I never looked deeper (yet?) - so no idea how the actually connect.

[Mayco]

Some time ago I made a rotary encoder unit:

Future addon updates - Rotary Encoder

I went the DIY route and put together a simple rotary encoder unit myself: Unfortunately I cannot connect it directly through to the serial port on the Snapmaker, since no 5V is provided on the USB connector. I have to bridge the two serial ports on my PC.

Biggest issue with this approach (as is mentioned in the post) is that I have to create a “serial bridge” on my PC to forward the serial data from the encoder unit to the Snapmaker. The Snapmaker will not initiate a serial connection on its own, and the board I used to make it (RPi Pico I think) did not have a USB host capabilities at the time, it could only act as a USB device.

With the right microcontroller it should be possible to initiate a serial connection over USB. Not sure if Arduino will work though, from a quick glance at the Arduino website you’ll need either an Arduino Due board or a USB host shield.

[astromedia]

I thought something like this will be the case. USB host shield seems straightforward enough, I will give it a try later - I was thinking about manual control of the rotary module and adding “space mouse” type of device for x,y,z axis could be also fun … thanks for the info

[belle]

impressive. Did you modify any part of the firmware? If so, I would like to know which part you modified. I am also curious as to how the snapmaker receives the signal sent from the Arduino and processes the G-code.

[cgrantmccool]

Could you load custom firmware to the controller this way? This might solve the Klipper issue for some that have been looking into it. We can easily find all the pinouts and other specs but without a bootloader option we’ve been out of luck on that development.