¶ Introduction
This section of the guide will step you correctly wiring all of the components used in the V-Core 4.1.
¶ Step 1 - Tools for this guide
- The following tools are required for this guide:
- Allen key / hex wrenches in the following sizes: 1.5mm & 2mm
- Cross slot / Phillips and Flat Head screwdrivers
- The following tools are recommended for this guide:
- Masking / painters tape
¶ Step 2 - Prepare the 24V DC wiring
- 4x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Positive - 270mm (SKU: HW4287EC)
- These premade cables can also be identified by the "DC V+" label on each end
- 4x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Negative - 270mm (SKU: HW4288EC)
- These premade cables can also be identified by the "DC V-" label on each end
¶ Step 3 - Wire the 24V DC circuit - Part 1
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Positive - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the rightmost of the three terminals marked by the [ +V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the second terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Negative - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the rightmost of the three terminals marked by the [ -V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the first terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- After tightening the screws at each end, gently pull the wire to make sure it is firmly connected. If the fork terminal is loose, or comes out of the terminal, reinsert it and tighten the screw again
- Route both wires as shown
¶ Step 4 - Wire the 24V DC circuit - Part 2
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Positive - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the middle of the three terminals marked by the [ +V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the forth terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Negative - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the middle of the three terminals marked by the [ -V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the third terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- After tightening the screws at each end, gently pull the wire to make sure it is firmly connected. If the fork terminal is loose, or comes out of the terminal, reinsert it and tighten the screw again
- Route both wires as shown
¶ Step 5 - Wire the 24V DC circuit - Part 3
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Positive - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the leftmost of the three terminals marked by the [ +V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the sixth terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Negative - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the leftmost of the three terminals marked by the [ -V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the fifth terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- After tightening the screws at each end, gently pull the wire to make sure it is firmly connected. If the fork terminal is loose, or comes out of the terminal, reinsert it and tighten the screw again
- Route both wires as shown
¶ Step 6 - Wire the 24V DC solid state relay circuit - Part 1
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Positive - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the top terminal on the Solid State Relay. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the seventh terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - DC Negative - 270mm
- Insert the fork terminal on one end of the wire into the bottom terminal on the Solid State Relay. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the other end of the wire into the eighth terminal from the left on the Octopus motherboard. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- It is crucial to verify that the Solid State Relay is wired correctly. Incorrect wiring will result in severe damage of the Solid State Relay. Double and triple check all of the connections before proceeding.
- After tightening the screws at each end, gently pull the wire to make sure it is firmly connected. If the fork terminal is loose, or comes out of the terminal, reinsert it and tighten the screw again
¶ Step 7 - Verify all 24V DC connections
- Before proceeding any further, double check that all of the 24V DC wiring matches the provided image
- Incorrect wiring will cause irreparable damage to components
¶ Step 8 - Prepare the printed 3030 wire clips
- 32x vc4_wire_clip (SKU: PP000337)
- Due to their small size, the vc4_wire_clips are provided on a printed raft and must be carefully separated before use
¶ Step 9 - Tutorial: Installing a 3030 wire clip
- 1x Example 3030 extrusion
- 1x vc4_wire_clip
- To install a wire clip into the extrusion slot, insert one end and then rotate the clip until it clicks into place
- These clips are used to retain wires within the extrusion slot for cable management
- In some cases, such as working on the underside of an extrusion, it can be helpful to use masking / painters tape to temporarily hold the wires inside the extrusion slot whilst installing the clips
¶ Step 10 - Prepare the Y-axis endstop cable
- 1x Cable 2000mm - 3 Conductor 24AWG - JST-XH to JST-XH (Endstop pin out) (SKU: HW3030EC)
¶ Step 11 - Wire the Y-axis endstop - Part 1
- 1x Y-axis endstop assembly
- 1x Cable 2000mm - 3 Conductor 24AWG - JST-XH to JST-XH (Endstop pin out)
- Connect one end of the endstop cable to the Y-axis endstop as shown
- Make sure that you are using the correct cable and connect the correct end to the endstop. The wire colours and order should match the image. Incorrect wiring can damage the endstop module and Octopus motherboard
- Route the cable as shown, passing it behind the stepper motor
- Secure the cable within the extrusion slot using four of the 3030 wire clips
- Do not fit any 3030 wire clips to the rear extrusion yet, they will be installed in a future step
¶ Step 12 - Wire the Y-axis endstop - Part 2
- Route the cable as shown
- Do not fit any 3030 wire clips to the rear extrusion yet, they will be installed in a future step
- Pass the connector through the marked hole
- Route the cable as shown
- Connect the other end of the endstop cable to the marked socket on the Octopus motherboard
- Make sure that you are using the correct cable and connect the correct end to the Octopus motherboard. The wire colours and order should match the image. Incorrect wiring can damage the endstop module and Octopus motherboard
¶ Step 13 - Prepare the Z-axis stepper cables
- The lengths and SKUs of the Z-axis stepper cables depend on which size of V-Core 4.1 is being assembled:
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 300 or 400:
- 2x Cable 1500mm - 4 Conductor 24AWG - JST XH2.54 to JST PH6P (SKU: HW3026EC)
- 1x Cable 1000mm - 4 Conductor 24AWG - JST XH2.54 to JST PH6P (SKU: HW3025EC)
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 500:
- 2x Cable 2000mm - 4 Conductor 24AWG - JST XH2.54 to JST PH6P (SKU: HW3027EC)
- 1x Cable 1500mm - 4 Conductor 24AWG - JST XH2.54 to JST PH6P (SKU: HW3026EC)
¶ Step 14 - Tutorial: Connecting a stepper motor cable
- This step shows how to correctly connect a stepper motor cable to the stepper motor
- 1x Stepper motor cable
- The stepper motor cable has a different connector on each end:
- 1x Stepper motor connector - JST PH6P
- 1x Motherboard connector - JST XH4P
- 1x Example NEMA17 stepper motor
- Make sure the connector is oriented correctly with the socket on the stepper motor. The key on the connector should align with the gap on the socket
¶ Step 15 - Wire the Z-axis stepper motors - Part 1
- It is recommended to temporarily remove the bed assembly and lay the machine assembly on its front to make installation of the Z-axis stepper cables easier
- It may be helpful to label the stepper motor cables to make it easier to keep track of which is which during the following steps
- Connect a stepper motor cable to each front stepper motor
- 1500mm for a Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 300 or 400
- 2000mm for a Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 500
- Connect a stepper motor cable to the rear stepper motor
- 1000mm for a Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 300 or 400
- 1500mm for a Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 500
¶ Step 16 - Wire the Z-axis stepper motors - Part 2
- The three Z-axis stepper motors are labelled Z0, Z1 and Z2
- Z0 is the front left stepper motor, when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- Z1 is the rear stepper motor
- Z2 is the front right stepper motor, when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- Route each stepper motor cable as shown
- Pass all three connectors through the grommet in the base panel
- Secure the cables within the extrusion slot using fourteen of the 3030 wire clips in the marked locations
¶ Step 17 - Wire the Z-axis stepper motors - Part 3
- Stand the machine assembly back on its feet at this point, there should be no further need to access the underside
- Route all three stepper motor cables upwards, inside the extrusion channel as shown
- Z0 stepper motor cable
- Z1 stepper motor cable
- Z2 stepper motor cable
- Pass all three connectors through the marked hole in the back panel
- Secure the cables within the extrusion slot using four of the 3030 wire clips in the marked locations
¶ Step 18 - Wire the Z-axis stepper motors - Part 4
- Route all three stepper motor cables inside the electronics enclosure, as shown
- Z0 stepper motor cable
- Z1 stepper motor cable
- Z2 stepper motor cable
- Connect each stepper motor cable to the Octopus motherboard
- Z0 connects to driver 5, which is the third socket from the top
- Z1 connects to driver 6, which is the second socket from the top
- Z2 connects to driver 7, which is the top socket
¶ Step 19 - Verify the Z-axis stepper motor wiring
- It is important to check the three Z-axis stepper motors are connected to the correct drivers on the Octopus motherboard. Failure to do so will cause issues with Z-tilt adjustment
- Stepper Z0 is the front left stepper motor, when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 5 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the third socket from the top
- Stepper Z1 is the rear stepper motor
- It must be connected to driver 6 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the second socket from the top
- Stepper Z2 is the front right stepper motor, when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 7 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the top socket
¶ Step 20 - Next steps
- If you are building a CoreXY variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please continue following the next steps
- If you are building a Hybrid or IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please skip to step 25
¶ Step 21 - Wire the CoreXY stepper motors - Part 1
- In the CoreXY configuration, there are only two stepper motors, simply labelled left and right
- The left CoreXY stepper motor is on the left when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- Route the left stepper motor cable as shown
- Pass the connector and excess cable through the marked hole in the back panel
- The right CoreXY stepper motor is on the right when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- Route the right stepper motor cable as shown
- Pass the connector and excess cable through the marked hole in the back panel
- Secure the cables within the extrusion slot using six of the 3030 wire clips in the marked locations. On the left side, secure the Y-axis endstop cable along with the left stepper motor cable
¶ Step 22 - Wire the CoreXY stepper motors - Part 2
- Route both stepper motor cables inside the electronics enclosure, as shown
- Left CoreXY stepper motor cable
- Right CoreXY stepper motor cable
- Connect each stepper motor cable to the Octopus motherboard
- The left CoreXY stepper motor cable connects to driver 0, which is the bottom socket
- The right CoreXY stepper motor cable connects to driver 1, which is the second socket from the bottom
¶ Step 23 - Verify the CoreXY stepper motor wiring
- It is important to check that both CoreXY stepper motors are connected to the correct drivers on the Octopus motherboard. Failure to do so will cause significant issues
- The left stepper motor is on the left when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 0 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the bottom socket
- The right stepper motor is on the right when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 1 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the second socket from the bottom
- The next few steps are specific to the Hybrid and IDEX variants. If you are building the CoreXY variant, please skip to step 31
¶ Step 24 - Identify the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motors
- The Hybrid and IDEX variants of the V-Core 4.1 have four stepper motors:
- The left stepper motor is on the bottom left when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- The right stepper motor is on the bottom right when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- The Y1 stepper motor is on the top left when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- The Y2 stepper motor is on the top right when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
¶ Step 25 - Wire the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motors - Part 1
- It may be helpful to label the stepper motor cables to make it easier to keep track of which is which during the following steps
- Route the left stepper motor cable as shown
- Pass the connector and excess cable through the marked hole in the back panel
- Route the right stepper motor cable as shown
- Pass the connector and excess cable through the marked hole in the back panel
- Secure the cables within the extrusion slot using six of the 3030 wire clips in the marked locations. On the left side, secure the Y-axis endstop cable along with the left stepper motor cable
¶ Step 26 - Wire the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motors - Part 2
- Route the Y1 stepper motor cable as shown
- Route the Y2 stepper motor cable as shown
- Route both stepper motor cables behind the umbilical mount, as shown
- Pass both connectors and all excess cable through the marked hole in the back panel
- Secure the cables within the extrusion slot using four of the 3030 wire clips in the marked locations
¶ Step 27 - Wire the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motors - Part 3
- Route the left and right stepper motor cables inside the electronics enclosure, as shown
- Left CoreXY stepper motor cable
- Right CoreXY stepper motor cable
- Connect each stepper motor cable to the Octopus motherboard
- The left stepper motor cable connects to driver 0, which is the bottom socket
- The right CoreXY stepper motor cable connects to driver 3, which is the forth socket from the top
¶ Step 28 - Wire the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motors - Part 4
- Route the Y1 and Y2 stepper motor cables inside the electronics enclosure, as shown
- Y1 stepper motor cable
- Y2 stepper motor cable
- Connect each stepper motor cable to the Octopus motherboard
- The Y1 stepper motor cable connects to driver 1, which is the second socket from the bottom
- The Y2 stepper motor cable connects to driver 3, which is the fifth socket from the top
¶ Step 29 - Verify the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motor wiring - Part 1
- It is important to check that all four stepper motors are connected to the correct drivers on the Octopus motherboard. Failure to do so will cause significant issues
- The left stepper motor is on the bottom left when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 0 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the bottom socket
- The right stepper motor is on the bottom right when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 3 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the forth socket from the top
¶ Step 30 - Verify the Hybrid / IDEX stepper motor wiring - Part 2
- It is important to check that all four stepper motors are connected to the correct drivers on the Octopus motherboard. Failure to do so will cause significant issues
- The Y1 stepper motor is on the top left when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 1 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the second socket from the bottom
- The Y2 stepper motor is on the top right when looking at the V-Core 4.1 from the front
- It must be connected to driver 3 on the Octopus motherboard, which is the fifth socket from the top
¶ Step 31 - Prepare the LED strip wiring
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - Dayspring LED to Octopus - 1300mm (SKU: HW4309EC)
- This premade cable can also be identified by the "LED STRIP" label on one end and the "OCTOPUS" label on the other
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - Dayspring LED to Dayspring LED - 1300mm (SKU: HW4310EC)
- This premade cable can also be identified by the "LED STRIP" label on each end
¶ Step 32 - Wire the LED strips together - Part 1
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 LED strip assembly - Left side
- Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - Dayspring LED to Dayspring LED - 1300mm
- Connect one end of the LED-to-LED cable to the front JST connector on the left LED strip, as shown
¶ Step 33 - Wire the LED strips together - Part 2
- Route the LED-to-LED power cable around the inside of the V-Core 4.1 frame, within the extrusion slot, as shown
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 LED strip assembly - Right side
- Connect the other end of the LED-to-LED cable to the front JST connector on the right LED strip, as shown
¶ Step 34 - Wire the LED strips to the Octopus - Part 1
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 LED strip assembly - Left side
- LED-to-Octopus cable
- Connect one end of the LED-to-Octopus cable to the back JST connector on the left LED strip, as shown
- Make sure that the black wire is on the left and the red wire is on the right, as shown
¶ Step 35 - Wire the LED strips to the Octopus - Part 2
- Route the LED-to-Octopus power cable around the inside of the V-Core 4.1 frame, within the extrusion slot, as shown
- Pass the end of the cable through the hole in the panel and into the electronics enclosure
- Use the 3030 cable clips to secure the cable to the extrusions
¶ Step 36 - Wire the LED strips to the Octopus - Part 3
- Route the LED-to-Octopus power cable as shown
- Locate the marked wire terminal on the Octopus
- Loosen the two marked screws
- Insert the ferrule on the black wire into the top slot of the connector
- Insert the ferrule on the red wire into the bottom slot of the connector
- Tighten both screws to secure the wire into the terminal
- After tightening the screws, gently pull each wire to make sure they are fully secured in the terminal
- If the cable comes out, loosen the screw, reinsert the cable and tighten the screw before trying again
¶ Step 37 - Wire the LED strips to the Octopus - Part 4
- Prepared wire terminal on the Octopus from the previous step
- Insert the ferrule on the black wire into the top slot of the terminal
- Insert the ferrule on the red wire into the bottom slot of the terminal
- Tighten both screws to secure the wire into the terminal
- After tightening the screws, gently pull each wire to make sure they are fully secured in the terminal
- If the cable comes out, loosen the screw, reinsert the cable and tighten the screw before trying again
¶ Step 38 - Prepare the Raspberry Pi wiring
- 1x Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - Octopus to Raspberry Pi - 500mm (SKU: HW4289EC)
- This premade cable can also be identified by the "RASPBERRY PI" label on one end and the "OCTOPUS" label on the other
- 1x USB-A to USB-C cable from step 40 of the Electronics guide
¶ Step 39 - Wire the Raspberry Pi - Part 1
- Locate the marked 2x5 pin header on the Octopus motherboard
- Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - Octopus to Raspberry Pi - 500mm
- Connect the OCTOPUS end of the cable to the Octopus motherboard as shown
- Make sure that the cable is oriented as shown
- All four wires should be on the left
- All six empty connections should be on the right
- Before continuing, verify that the Octopus to Raspberry Pi cable is correctly connected. Failure to do so will cause irreparable damage to components
¶ Step 40 - Wire the Raspberry Pi - Part 2
- Route the Octopus to Raspberry Pi cable as shown
¶ Step 41 - Wire the Raspberry Pi - Part 3
- Locate the marked GPIO header on the Raspberry Pi
- Premade Cable - V-Core 4.1 - Octopus to Raspberry Pi - 500mm
- Connect the RASPBERRY PI end of the cable to the Raspberry Pi GPIO header as shown
- Make sure that the cable is oriented as shown
- Three wires should be on the right
- Three empty connections should be in the middle
- One wire should be on the left
- Before continuing, verify that the Octopus to Raspberry Pi cable is correctly connected. Failure to do so will cause irreparable damage to components
¶ Step 42 - Wire the Raspberry Pi - Part 4
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Connect the USB-C end of the cable to the Octopus motherboard
- Route the USB-A to USB-C cable as shown
- Connect the USB-A end of the cable to any available port of the Raspberry Pi
¶ Step 43 - Prepare the Orbitool O2S USB adapter wiring
- The following cables are included in the Orbitool O2S box (SKU: HW4308EC)
- 1x Orbitool O2S USB adapter power cable
- 1x USB-A to USB-C cable
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, you need two of each of the above cables
¶ Step 44 - Wire the Orbitool O2S USB adapter - Part 1
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Connect the USB-C end of the cable to the Orbitool O2S USB adapter
- Route the USB-A to USB-C cable as shown
- Connect the USB-A end of the cable to any available port of the Raspberry Pi
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, connect both Orbitool O2S USB adapters to the Raspberry Pi, and route both USB-A to USB-C cables as shown
¶ Step 45 - Tutorial: Connecting two fork terminals to the power supply
- Due to the limited number of available PSU terminals, it is required to "double up" some of the connections
- Fork terminals
- Orient the fork terminals "back to back" as shown
- Power supply terminal
- Loosen the screw on the power supply terminal and insert the two fork terminals as shown
- Fasten the screw on the power supply terminal to secure the fork terminals
- After tightening the screws, gently pull fork terminals to make sure they are fully secured to the power supply
- If either fork terminal comes out, loosen the screw, reinsert the terminals, and try again after tightening
¶ Step 46 - Wire the Orbitool O2S USB adapter - Part 2
- Orbitool O2S USB adapter power cable
- Insert the fork terminal on the red wire into any of the three terminals marked by the [ +V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Insert the fork terminal on the black wire into any of the three terminals marked by the [ -V ] symbol on the power supply. Secure the fork terminal by tightening the screw
- Route the Orbitool O2S USB adapter power cable as shown
- Connect the other end of the Orbitool O2S USB adapter power cable to the two terminal connector on the Orbitool O2S USB adapter as shown
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, connect both Orbitool O2S USB adapters to the power supply, and route both Orbitool O2S USB adapter power cables as shown
¶ Step 47 - Prepare the toolhead umbilical wiring
- The following cable is included in the Orbitool O2S box (SKU: HW4308EC)
- 1x Orbitool O2S toolhead cable
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, you need two of these cables
¶ Step 48 - Wire the toolhead - Part 1
- Orbitool O2S toolhead cable
- Pass the 6-pin connector of the Orbitool O2S toolhead cable through the hole at the back of the V-Core 4.1, and into the electronics enclosure
- Route the Orbitool O2S toolhead cable as shown
- Connect the Orbitool O2S toolhead cable to the six terminal connector on the Orbitool O2S USB adapter as shown
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, connect the left toolhead to the left Orbitool O2S adapter, and the right toolhead to the right Orbitool O2S adapter
¶ Step 49 - Wire the toolhead - Part 2
- V-Core 4.1 toolhead
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, this is the left toolhead when viewed from the front
- Orbitool O2S toolhead cable
- Connect the black connector on the Orbitool O2S toolhead cable to the large black connector on the Orbitool O2S toolboard as shown
- Make sure the Orbitool O2S toolhead cable is fully inserted
- The toolhead cable relief has been hidden in the image to show the connector on the Orbitool O2S toolboard
- Do not use excessive force when installing the toolhead cable as you could damage the toolboard
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, repeat both the previous step and this step to wire the right toolhead before proceeding
¶ Step 50 - Prepare the toolhead cable management parts
- 1 metre of Cable Sleeve - Black 10mm split braided sleeve (SKU: HW2088EC)
- 2x Piano Wire for Umbilical - 200mm x 1.00mm (SKU: HW4421GC)
- 2x 250mm Lengths of PTFE Tube Generic - OD 4mm ID 2.5mm from step 2 of the Accessories chapter
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, you need two lengths of cable sleeve, four lengths of piano wire, and four lengths of PTFE
¶ Step 51 - Manage the toolhead cabling - Part 1
- V-Core 4.1 toolhead
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, this is the left toolhead when viewed from the front
- Piano Wire for Umbilical - 200mm x 1.00mm
- Insert one end of the piano wire into the notch on the printed part
- The piano wire may require a little force to insert, but make sure it does not leave the bottom of the printed part
- Fully tighten both marked M3 Cap Head Screws to secure both the Orbitool O2S toolhead cable, and the piano wire, to the toolhead
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, repeat the above steps to install the piano wire on the right toolhead
¶ Step 52 - Manage the toolhead cabling - Part 2
- V-Core 4.1 umbilical guide
- Loosen the M3 set screw in the umbilical guide
- Piano Wire for Umbilical - 200mm x 1.00mm
- Insert one end of the piano wire into the slot on the printed part
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, insert a second piano wire into the umbilical mount, alongside the first
- The piano wire may require a little force to insert, but make sure it is fully inserted into the printed part
- Tighten the M3 set screw to secure the piano wire into the umbilical mount
- Do not overtighten the M3 set screw as you can damage the printed part
¶ Step 53 - Manage the toolhead cabling - Part 3
- 250mm Length of PTFE Tube
- Slip a length of PTFE tube over each piano wire
- If you are building a CoreXY or Hybrid variant of the V-Core 4.1, this will be two piano wires. One on the toolhead and one on the umbilical guide
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, this will be four piano wires. One on each toolhead and two on the umbilical guide
¶ Step 54 - Manage the toolhead cabling - Part 4
- It is recommended to perform the next steps with the toolhead moved to the the front left corner, as this ensures all toolhead wiring will be long enough to reach the whole print area
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, move one toolhead to the front left and the other to the front right
- Wrap the cable sleeve around the toolhead cable and the PTFE covered piano wire, starting at the toolhead end and leading all the way back to the electronics enclosure
- Make sure to wrap the PTFE covered piano wire on the umbilical mount as well
- You may wish to add some cable ties to the wire wrap where the piano wire is, to add additional support
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, repeat the above steps to wrap the toolhead cable for the right toolhead
¶ Step 55 - Manage the toolhead cabling - Part 5
- V-Core 4.1 umbilical guide
- Secure the toolhead umbilical to the umbilical guide with cable ties
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, secure both of the umbilicals to the mount
- Move the toolhead(s) back to the middle of the print area
¶ Step 56 - Optional - Add sleeving to the PTFE tube
- 1.2 metre of Cable Sleeve - Black 5mm split braided sleeve (SKU: HW3884EC)
- The V-Core 4.1 kit is provided with some smaller cable sleeve that can optionally be used to sleeve the white PTFE tube from the toolhead
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, make sure to sleeve both PTFE tubes
¶ Step 57 - Next steps
- If you are building a CoreXY or Hybrid variant of the V-Core 4.1, you can now skip to step 62
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please continue following the next steps
¶ Step 58 - Prepare the VAOC wiring parts
- 1x Cable - USB-A to Rat Rig VAOC Camera (SKU: HW4003EC)
- 1x Cable 1000mm - 3 Conductor 24AWG - JST PH2.0 to Dupont 2.54 (VAOC LED) (SKU: HW4094EC)
- 1x Cable 1500mm - 3 Conductor 24AWG - JST XH2.54 to JST XH2.54 (Endstop pin out) (SKU: HW3029EC)
- 1x Fan - 40mm Axial Brushless 24V DC - 1500mm Cable - GDSTime High Quality (Double Ball Bearing) (SKU: HW2815EC)
¶ Step 59 - Pre-install the VAOC wiring - Part 1
- The necessary VAOC wiring will be performed in the next steps so that it is ready for the assembly and installation of the VAOC module in a later chapter
- Connect the USB-A end of the USB-A to Rat Rig VAOC Camera cable to any available USB port on the Raspberry Pi (or USB hub hat) and route the cable as shown
- Pass the other end of the cable through the marked hole
- Connect one end of the 1500mm - 3 Conductor 24AWG - JST XH2.54 to JST XH2.54 (Endstop pin out) cable to the marked connector on the Octopus motherboard
- Route the remainder of the cable as shown
- Pass the other end of the cable through the marked hole
¶ Step 60 - Pre-install the VAOC wiring - Part 2
- Locate the marked 1x3 pin header on the Octopus motherboard
- Cable 1000mm - 3 Conductor 24AWG - JST PH2.0 to Dupont 2.54 (VAOC LED)
- Connect the Dupont end of the cable to the Octopus motherboard, as shown
- Make sure that the Dupont connector is oriented as shown. The red wire should be at the top, white in the middle and black at the bottom
- Route the remainder of the cable as shown
- Pass the other end of the cable through the marked hole
¶ Step 61 - Pre-install the VAOC wiring - Part 3
- Fan - 40mm Axial Brushless 24V DC - 1500mm Cable - GDSTime High Quality (Double Ball Bearing)
- Sit the fan on the baseplate of the V-Core 4.1 assembly for now
- Route the fan wiring as shown
- Pass the connector on the fan wiring through the hole in the back panel and into the electronics enclosure
- Route the VAOC fan cable as shown
- Connect the end of the cable to the marked socket on the Octopus motherboard
- Optional: It is recommended, but not required, to assemble the IDEX VAOC Module at this point
- Follow the IDEX VAOC Module guide, then return to complete the remaining steps here
¶ Step 62 - Install the electronics wire guide clips
- 21x Electronics Wire Guide Clip - Nylon Injection Part (SKU: HW3847GC)
- The electronics wire guide clips hook on to one side of the wire guide printed parts
- Then rotate and click into place
- Install all 21 electronics wire guide clips to secure all of the wiring in place
- If you need to remove one, or all, of the electronics wire guide clips, insert a thin, flat object into the small pocket on the side of the clip, then gently pry that end to unclip it from the wire guide
- Be careful not to trap or pinch any cables when installing the wire guide clips
¶ Step 63 - Temporarily connect the bed heater thermistor
- It is necessary, for initial testing and commissioning, to connect the the bed heater thermistor to the Octopus motherboard. Do not install the bed heater, or the magnetic print sheet to the bed at this point, they will be installed during the commissioning guide
- Keenovo Silicone Heater Bed Pad w/ NTC 100K Thermistor and Thermal Fuse (Note: The SKU varies based on voltage and size)
- 110V Variants (300, 400, 500): HW2766EK, HW2767EK, HW2768EK
- 220V Variants (300, 400, 500): HW2349EC, HW2350EC, HW2351EC
- Set the bed heater on the baseplate, inside the V-Core 4.1 assembly
- Feed the bed heater thermistor cable through the marked hole in the back panel and into the electronics enclosure, leaving the other 2 wires coming from the bed heater where they are
- Route the bed heater thermistor cable as shown. Do not worry about cable managing it at this point
- Connect the 2 pin JST connector on the bed heater thermistor, to the marked connector on the Octopus motherboard
¶ Step 64 - Line voltage (110V / 220V AC) Wiring
- Before proceeding with any of the line voltage (110V / 220V AC) wiring, it is crucial to understand the risks involved
- Line voltage wiring is dangerous and should always be performed by a competent person. This is a crucial safety measure to prevent electrical hazards and ensure the work is carried out safely and correctly. Line voltage can cause significant injury, or even death if handled improperly
- Always make sure the machine is unplugged and that any capacitors (such as inside the power supply) have had time to discharge before performing any maintenance. NEVER work on the machine whilst it is plugged in
- Additional warning for counties with 110V line voltage:
- Ensure the power cable you are using is certified and rated for a continuous current of 15A or higher. If you are unsure which power cable to use, consult a professional or certified electrician
- The V-Core 4.1 line voltage wiring guide is available here
- Note: Do not connect the silicone bed heater to the power supply or solid state relay at this point. It will be wired during the commissioning guide
- Continue to the next step once the line voltage wiring is complete
¶ Step 65 - Prepare the electronics enclosure cover parts
- 1x Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Electronics AC Cover v1.0 (SKU: HW3788GC)
- 9x M3x6 Button Head Screw (SKU: HW1337SC)
- 1x Prepared Electronics Enclosure Lid Assembly from step 54 of the Electronics guide
¶ Step 66 - Install the AC cover
- Rat Rig V-Core 4.1 - Electronics AC Cover v1.0
- Position the AC cover over the AC wiring, aligning the holes in the cover with the hex standoffs
- Be careful not to trap or pinch any cables when installing the AC cover
- 5x M3x6 Button Head Screw
- Insert an M3x6 Button Head Screw into each of the five holes shown on the cover, threading and tightening them into the hex standoffs beneath
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the AC cover
¶ Step 67 - Install the electronics enclosure lid - Part 1
- Prepared Electronics Enclosure Lid Assembly from step 54 of the Electronics guide
- Fan - 120x15 Axial 24V - JST-2 Power Connector
- Connect the fan connector to the marked socket on the Octopus motherboard
¶ Step 68 - Install the electronics enclosure lid - Part 2
- Align the lid with the electronics enclosure
- Make sure the cable for the 120x15mm fan is clear of the fan blades
- 4x M3x6 Button Head Screw
- Insert an M3x6 Button Head Screw into each of the four marked holes on the cover, threading and tightening them into the electronics enclosure
- Be careful not to overtighten the screws as you can damage the printed parts
¶ Step 69 - Next guide
- The next guide to follow will depend on your specific V-Core 4.1 configuration:
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1:
- Firstly follow the IDEX VAOC Module guide, (If not already completed in step 61)
- Then follow the instructions below depending on whether you are enclosing your IDEX V-Core 4.1 or not
- If you are enclosing your V-Core 4.1, continue to the Enclosure guide
- If you are not enclosing your V-Core 4.1, continue to the V-Core 4.1 Commissioning guide