I recently preordered Snapmaker 2.0 and then started to wonder what stepper motor drivers are used in the device since it affects how noisy it will be during exploitation. Does anyone know the name/code of the drivers used?
Second, how looks the controller PCB? Does it allow to change stepper motor controllers to quieter ones? For example to TMC2208? Or are are driveres soldered to controller board and not exchangeable?
Third, if axis controll is based on Marlin, is there a possibility to modify it to set-up system after stepper motor drivers change?
I believe the SM2 has the driver chip located in the linear module. Don’t know what chip it is. I tried talking them into the TMC chip but I suspect they were too far along in the development cycle to change. I believe they did consider it.
Someone on Facebook did swap out the chip with some success but I don’t think it was a real clean hack. I’ll see if I can find the link. The source code is going to be released as soon as the Kickstarter campaign is done delivering.
Probably for CNC they required more powerful motor and decided to go for 42V option. TMC22xx allow driving voltage output to be up to 36V. This is why they, perhaps, decided for TB67S109AFTG. Result of compromise.
Will wait for SM2.0 and see whether noise will bother me or not. If it will, I will try to build isolated compartment and if it won’t help, then a custom PCB it is. Maybe at that time there will be ready solutions available.
My personal opinion: Snapmaker is not a quiet printer when it comes to steppers, but it is not particularly noisy either. Compared to my older printer it is much more silent on steppers, but compared to other modern 3D printers its loud. I emphasize the steppers - the by far most noisy bit of Snapmaker is the power supply. Snapmaker engineers decided on a rediculously loud (cheap?) fan there, and several users have replaced it already, and most likey I’ll do also at some point.
As far as I understand they indeed needed the extra power of the steppers/drivers for CNC milling, and if so, I don’t mind the extra noise - I personally find milling the workload the device shows most potential, and that’s fine if it is loud then. Milling will never be a silent affair anyhow
But I can’t say this often enough: The PSU fan choice was very stupid.
I just had a complaint from a neighbour downstairs regarding my printer so had to pause my 8 day print. I think the stepper motors are the noisiest along with the fan. Trying to put it on a piece of foam but the room acts as an amplifier not sure what to do as I only received it a week ago.
Also sorry to jump in on your post but can’t see an obvious way to start a thread on here.
Thank you, Brent. I’ve ordered a photography tent, bubble wrap and high-density furniture foam for the base. I hope this will sort it out. I’d love to make a nice thought out cabinet for it but I’m an apartment dweller and don’t have access to a workshop but might eventually have a look at getting parts made and putting it together. This will have to do, for now. I hope the place doesn’t burn down, will leave the PSU outside along with the controller.
I’ve also ordered a silent fan and a voltage converter for it. I hope that does the job.
I love the way the Snapmaker looks, the ease of use and the construction quality but my god the noise.
I’m like you living in a little apartment, so not much space to go around with.
I’m actually using earplugs while SM A350 is working!
Right now i’m printing a silencer for the fan in PSU… Next step is to make silencer feet!
SM2 is really noisy. Sounds like an whole factory. I have 8 other printers and this one is the most loud one. I hope they’ll start selling a silent. Module, my good its noisy.
Best solution would be a PCB upgrade on the linear modules. Everything else would be a lot of waste. I like my Snapmaker, but would love TMC Drivers on it, they are magic. With TMC it would be my one and only.
During the Kickstarter TMC was mentioned by the community and I guess most of us would have paid 30 bucks extra for TMC. An official statement would be highly appreciated. Otherwise maybe we should start a community to build our own Upgrade PCB for the linear modules.
Since the other topic @Geared has started has another focus from what I have read… has anyone tried any Trinamic driver on the SM linear module. Maybe it is not the holy grail we think it is. I will do testing when I am back at home, but maybe someone has already?
I have. I tried the tmc2209 worked but couldn’t keep it cool enough and eventually cooked it during a rewire. I ordered a tmc5161 to do some testing with, but it hasn’t shown up yet…
