Cartographer3D Mount for Qidi Plus 4

Cartographer3D Mount for Qidi Plus 4

⚠This was a fun proof of concept to get Cartographer working on the Plus 4, but Stew's Beacon mount will serve you much better, please use that instead.⚠ 

I am leaving this page up as a resource to the community. 
 

Software guide available here

A Beacon version is in the works

I wanted to make mount that fits with all stock parts and only requires removal of the inductive probe. This design is simple but strong and rigid. The coil high is 2.8 mm from the nozzle, so Touch will work. 

This design is open source and STEP files are included on this page. You are encouraged to remix and adapt so the community gets as many options as possible.

There are two different options for mounts.

• Side mount - Where the inductive probe is 
• Front Mount - Just under the front plastic shell

Side mount

Pros: 

• Most rigid version
• No loss of XY travel
• Easy to print
• MCU Board is away from heated bed, this means a cooler MCU board.
• Does not obstruct nozzle view

Cons:

• The coil and the MCU board need to have wires soldered between them and extended upwards. Due to space constrains on the Y axis. 
• Slightly obstructs hotend airflow. Testing as show this isn't a problem, no heat creep whatsoever. Actually the air blowing over the hotend heat sink helps cool the MCU. 
• More involved installed process

Front Mount

Pros: 

• Easy to print
• No loss of XY travel
• Easy to install, plug and play. No soldering
• Can use standard version of Carto, everything fits, no extra soldering.

Cons:

• Flexes more than side version, less rigid. 
• Blocks view of nozzle
• MCU board within 4-5 mm of the hotend. 
• MCU board close to heated bed
• Risk for MCU board to get too hot (Carto rated to 85C)

If you are comfortable soldering, I would recommend the side mount version. Front mount is not tested long term. 

Printing

• Print standing up
• Paint supports outlined in screenshot.
• Print with heat resistant material +110C. 

Hardware

• 2 M3 x 6 mm or 8 mm BHSCS
• 2 Square or Hex M3 nuts
• (Side version) 0.14 mm2 / 26 AWG wire (old USB cable will work)

Assembly

Side Version

X Offset: 21.6

Y Offset: -16.3

You need the Flat Pack version of Carto, or to desolder if you have an assembled version. 

• Print Mount
• Insert M3 nuts into the two slots
• Solder wires onto the coil board. Length should be around 10cm
  • It's helpful to use colored wires so you can keep track of the pin position. An old USB cable is great for this. 
  • ⚠Note pin position!
• Gather the wires into a bundle and gently press them into the cable channel

• Pull the wires through the hole
• Install pin headers into holes onto bracket. Should be press fit, glue if needed.
• Mount the MCU Board to the bracket and measure the wire length. Cut to length. 
  • ⚠ The length of the wires would be as equal as possible, this is critical ⚠
• Solder wires from coil to MCU board
  • Check each wire is in the correct position
• ⚠Check work⚠
• Screw coil PCB to mount
• Screw mount to printer
• Place MCU board onto pin headers on mount. A bit of hot glue can hold the MCU board in place on the pin headers.
• Plug in USB cable and route cable back to mainboard
  • Avoid routing the cable behind the filament cutter

Front Version

X Offset: 0

Y Offset: -33.5

• Print Mount
• Insert M3 nuts into the two slots
• Screw Cartographer to mount
• Screw mount to printer
• Plug in USB cable and route cable back to mainboard
  • Avoid routing the cable behind the filament cutter