Parametric Neato D7 ESP32 Board Mount

Motivation

I wanted to securely mount my Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 to my Neato D7 so I could install OpenNeato and route the UART Dupont cables cleanly without interference.

Solution

Design and print a custom mount that achieves the following objectives:

• Fully parametric providing customization of all dimensions

• Utilize existing PCB mount screws and holes

• Clean separation from existing hardware and electronics

• Secure

• Looks good

Design

I started by templating a keepout zone and then designed the mount from that reference. You will see the blue template sketch, body, and canvas in the Fusion file only.

After templating, I determined the best course of action was to only solder pins to the board along the side of the ESP32 toward the front of the vacuum since there is only adequate space in the cavity in front of the brush housing. Of course, this side should correspond to the one with the 3V3 and GND pins. This also means that the TX and/or RX pins may have to be changed in the firmware from the defaults depending on your board. In the image below, you can see the test fit of my board with the pins clearing the front side of the brush housing and that I used pins D10 and D9.

Customization

The Fusion file is included. You can customize the parameters (DESIGN | SOLID | MODIFY | Change Parameters) as necessary. When you open the Parameters dialog, first sort by name. The parameters most optimized for customization are favorited and commented in detail to help you. The non-favorited parameters should work as well but may require more tinkering to repair broken downstream features.

If you cannot get Fusion to work for you, please send me a message (see below) and I will post your requested model files at my earliest convenience.

Materials

• ESP32 – I used this Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 which includes an external antenna, and it works great!

• Small piece of VHB tape or similar to mount the ESP32 to the underside of the mount.

Printing

See the attached .3mf for my settings and model orientation. I printed with Prusament PETG Clear.

I prototyped on a Prusa CORE One.

Post-Processing

1. Clean up the mount and ensure the screws fit

2. Confirm the mount holes line up with the holes on the vacuum

Installation

1. (optional) Attach the external antenna and route the U.FL cable. I chose to adhere mine to the inside along the front of the vacuum in a vertical orientation for better signal strength. You can also see I routed the U.FL cable under the wrapped cable.

   

2. Attach the ESP32 to the underside of the mount with the pins toward the front and facing down. Note that the front pins will intentionally extend off the front edge of the mount.

   

3. Route and connect the UART Dupont cables from the D7 UART port to the appropriate pins on the ESP32

   

   

   

4. (optional) Attach the U.FL cable to the ESP32

5. Screw the mount to the vacuum

   

Questions

Please let me know if you have any questions (Messenger | Printables.com).

Shameless Plug

If this model helped you solve a problem, save some time, or in any way made your life a little easier then please consider clicking the Like button and posting your Makes! If it fell short after clicking on the title of the model, please let me know (Messenger | Printables.com). Either way, Thank you!