New Standalone Vacuum Sensing Node for ZB3245TSS & OpenPnP Builds
Henrik Schack
Hi OpenPnP Community / @GroovyAndy,
I’m currently in the process of a full 7-axis overhaul of my ZB3245TSS machine. During this rebuild, I needed a reliable way to monitor vacuum levels directly in OpenPnP. Since the original factory controllers were closed-source and difficult to integrate, I developed this standalone, open-source vacuum sensing module as a core part of my project.
📍 The Module: VacSensor Only (v1.1)This is a streamlined, dedicated PCB designed for high-speed dual-nozzle feedback. It is a "Plug & Play" upgrade for anyone who wants reliable vacuum data without the complexity of a full machine rebuild.
MCU: ATtiny3224 (20MHz, non-blocking state machine).
Sensors: 2 x XGZP6847A Analog Pressure Sensors.
Connectivity: Uses a standard USART-to-USB (FTDI-style) interface. It’s recognized as a simple COM port in OpenPnP—no special drivers or complex wiring needed.
Performance: Optimized C++ code with EMA filtering for stable, instant readings via G-code (M800/M105).
Get the KiCad files, Firmware, and Source here: 👉 VacSensor Only Repository
🚀 The Bigger Picture: Full 7-Axis Overhaul
This node is just the beginning. I am currently replacing the entire brain of the ZB3245TSS with a SpiderV3 H723 running RepRapFirmware (RRF).
Follow the entire project and the roadmap here: 🔗 Full ZB3245TSS OpenPnP Project
I hope this module can help others get more reliable picks! Feedback and questions are more than welcome.
Francisco Herliczka
Francisco Herliczka
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenPnP" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to openpnp+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/openpnp/5cdb27f5-227f-45f1-bee5-f787007abee4n%40googlegroups.com.
Henrik Schack
Hi Francisco,
Regarding your question about why I didn't use a Duet driver, I don’t really have a definitive answer ;-) other than the fact that I had a Spider board lying around from another project where
I went with a different solution, and because it could handle 7 axes. How did you solve that part? (As I understand it, the two types you mentioned support a maximum of 5 axes).
I hope it’s okay if I ask you a few questions:
Cameras: Are you using the original ones, or have you swapped them for USB cameras?
Vacuum sensor PCB: Are you using the original one? (I managed to decode the data it sends, but I found it to be slow and unstable).
PC: Are you still using the original PC inside the machine?
I would be very grateful if I could get a copy of your machine.xml. Also, if you have any photos or links to videos of your setup, that would be awesome ;-)
My journey into this has been a bit of a steep learning curve since I’m completely new to OpenPnP. I’ve previously tried Marlin and Klipper, as I know them from other projects,
but after a "macro hell" in Klipper and endless compilations in Marlin, I gave up on them for this specific build.
I ended up with a Duet 3 solution ported to the SpiderV3 via https://teamgloomy.github.io/. I might eventually switch to an "original" Duet 3 and build a simple driver for the tape peelers,
but since I use STM32 for other tasks anyway, I just happen to like Fysetc and BigTreeTech boards.
It’s great to hear that others have succeeded in stripping that lousy "malware" (original software) out of a solid mechanical frame.
And finally, what do you think about my idea of using a LIS3DH three-axis linear accelerometer to let the Duet 3 use the data to tune and trim the movements (input shaping)?
Best regards,
Henrik Schack
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/openpnp/CAKNe73da9csy3Z9sfxGZp_OsXdwSCATBPxceLL%3DwjfPOhgX6Pw%40mail.gmail.com.
Francisco Herliczka
Hi Henrik,
Thanks for the detailed reply :-)
Actually, I have not started the conversion yet. My ZB3245TS is still completely original at the moment. I bought it second hand recently, but I have not even powered it up yet. For now I am still in the planning and hardware selection phase.
I already bought a Duet 3 6XD board because I would like to build the machine with some hardware which has been used by a lot of users before, and there are a lot of examples that I can use,to save me time, instead of trying to save money on a cheaper board, or even adapt the original electronics. I am still somewhat limited regarding some of the software side of things, especially deeper OpenPnP configuration and motion tuning, so I am trying to learn as much as possible before starting.
I first chose the Duet 3 6XD because, unless I am calculating something wrong, I think I only need around 5-6 axes:
X, Y, Z, RotHead1, RotHead2 and maybe Feeder1. So total around 5-6 axes depending on implementation.
Maybe I was just too impatient to make the decision, and should I just choose a different one?(I'm on time still I guess..)
In any case, I have also considered adding the CAN-FD toolboard/head extension board. That looks very interesting to me because it could remove a huge amount of cabling going to the head.
I already have another OpenPnP machine running. It is a PSE-3000. It works reasonably well, even for 0603 work, so I already went through most of the painful OpenPnP learning curve :-) The main limitation now is that the machine is too small for what I currently need, and the RAY T-2 feeders are unfortunately not reliable enough for unattended work.
That is one of the reasons I became interested in the ZB3245TSS platform. Mechanically it seems much more solid and capable once the original software/electronics are removed.
About your questions:
Cameras:
I have not decided yet. I am currently researching what would be the optimal camera setup. I am also considering whether coaxial lighting could be a good possibility for bottom vision.
Vacuum sensor PCB:
Not using anything yet :-) But honestly, I was thinking about doing something similar to your solution since you already decoded the protocol and seem much further ahead than me there :))
PC:
Yes, the original PC is still inside the machine, but like I said before, I have not even turned the machine on yet since buying it. I basically bought it and left it aside until I had time to properly plan the conversion.
The LIS3DH input shaping idea also sounds quite promising honestly.
Also, tell me exactly which files and pictures you think would be useful for me to preserve before I start disassembling/modifying things, and I will upload them here. Since my machine is still untouched, maybe I can help preserve some original information before it disappears :-)
Best regards,
Francisco
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/openpnp/CACQ57wSbC_MCpHBdozE%3D7H_3hWah7rQ8h--LEav7%3D6ncwi-3CA%40mail.gmail.com.
Henrik Schack
Hi Francisco,
I’ll find the list I made when I first opened up my machine and send it to you on Monday or Tuesday. I’m busy cooking tonight and tomorrow for my daughter’s confirmation party (60 guests), so time is a bit tight today ;-)
My machine is slightly different as it also has feeders on the right side (hence the 7 axes) and a dual camera setup.
Here is a link to a video of it running with the original software (from about 5 years ago): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiT6Qu-twEE
Best regards, Henrik Schack