New Nitehawk36 Revised Version

What we know so far?

The LDO Nitehawk36 (NH36) USB Toolhead board has received (finally) a revised version, the v1.4 also designated as revC, which addresses the issues present in earlier versions while maintaining its core features, including the integrated USB hub.

What is nitehawk 36?

Nitehawk-36 by LDO is a USB toolboard featuring RP2040 MCU, TMC2209 stepper drive, ADXL345 accelerometer, and built-in USB HUB.
Since it’s a USB based connection board it’s very simple and easy to setup compared to CAN toolboards.
The built-in USB Hub allows for a secondary USB device to be directly connect to the toolhead, such as your nozzle webcam or Beacon 3D surface scanner

Features

  • Convenient wiring, no more complicated and error prone breakout cables – nitehawk only requires 24V power and a USB connector to the RPI host.
  • USB Klipper connection, no additional software or hardware setup compared to CAN.
  • Secondary USB port, an onboard USB port allows you to connect a second USB device to your toolhead without running any additional umbilical cable (such as usb camera or beacon surface scanner)
  • Custom toolhead cable, a single combined USB data and power cable rated for drag chain use, but can also be used in umbilical configuration.
  • Convenient Input Shaping, run input shaper calibration at anytime with an onboard accelerometer.
  • Tacho enabled HEF, the hotend fan port is three pin tachometer compatible, allowing for additional diagnostics and safety.

Major Differences in v1.4 RevC versus previous version RevA

New Toolhead Board:

  • The toolhead board has been redesigned with improved functionality while maintaining a layout and size similar to the previous version.
  • The RESET and BOOT MODE buttons have been repositioned for easier access.
  • A right-angle stepper port connector has been introduced to simplify cable management and make installation more convenient.
  • The USB port has been relocated to the top-right corner for better accessibility, while all other connectors remain in their original locations for compatibility with existing setups.

New USB Breakout Board:

  • The USB breakout board has been updated with revised circuitry to enhance connection stability across a wider range of wiring setups. Its shape remains unchanged for compatibility.

Additional Always-On Fan Port:

  • To address cooling needs, an optional always-on fan port (24V) has been added. This port can be soldered by users to enable active cooling, ensuring better thermal management for demanding applications.

Better Thermal Management:

  • The new design features a larger board size, optimized component layout, and an additional heatsink. These improvements reduce operating temperatures, resulting in enhanced stability and prolonged durability under heavy use.

 

Real Pictures

New Layout

 

 

New Pinout schematics

Device/Port PCB Label Connector Type RP2040 Pin Description
 E Motor MOTOR JST-XH2.5 4P gpio23/24/25/0/1 (step/dir/ena/uart/tx) A stepper motor port for the extruder. Driven by a TMC2209 chip. The current sense resistor is 100 mΩ. Enable is active low
Filament Sensor JST-PH2.0 2P gpio3 Connects to the filament sensor. Supports switch based sensors only.
Probe PRB JST-PH2.0 3P gpio10 Probe for bed leveling and/or Z sensing.
X Endstop X-STOP JST-PH2.0 2P gpio13 Connects to the X endstop. Supports switch based endstops only.
Part Fan PCF JST-PH2.0 2P gpio6 Connects to part cooling fan.
Hotend Fan HEF JST-PH2.0 3P gpio5/16 (fan/tacho) Connects to hotend fan. The fan control pin is gpio5 and the tachometer sensor pin is gpio16.
Aux. Port (P12) JST-PH2.0 2P (unpopulated) This is an unpopulated port that can be optionally soldered with a PH2.0 connector. It can be used as an always-on 24V fan port.
PCF Voltage Selector 2.0mm Jumper Selects the supply voltage of the part fan. Selection of 24V or 5V.
HEF Voltage Selector 2.0mm Jumper Selects the supply voltage of the hotend fan. Selection of 24V or 5V.
Probe Votage Selector 2.0mm Jumper Selects the supply voltage of the probe port. Selection of 24V or 5V.
USB Expansion Port JST-ZH1.5 5P Connects to USB expansion board.
Neopixel JST-PH2.0 3P gpio7 Connects to neopixel LEDs.
Hotend Heater HE0 E0506 Ferrule gpio9 Connects to the hotend heater.
Hotend Thermistor TH0 JST-PH2.0 2P gpio29 Connects to the hotend thermistor. Uses a 2.2kΩ pull up resistor.
Activity LED ACT gpio8 A small software controlled onboard LED. Active low.
Accelerometer gpio27/18/20/19 (cs/clk/mosi/miso) ADXL345 accelerometer for input shaping. Controlled via software SPI.
Toolhead Cable XT30(2+2) A USB port for toolhead.

 Electrical Specifications

Parameter Symbol Minimum Typical Maximum Unit Comments
Power Supply Input Vin 20 24 28 V power input for the toolboard.
Temperature Tenv 65 °C operating ambient temperature
5V Current Irpi 5 A current output for the 5V buck converter.
Fan Current Ifan TBD A current rating for each fan port (HEF and PCF).

Note: The max wattage is 120W.

Note: If the rated current of your stepper motor is 1A, we recommend setting it at 0.5A klipper config and check if the motor is working fine. If you need more than 0.7A, please add extra heat dissipation for your board.

Nitehawk-36 has been tested to operate in enclosed printer environments with temperatures of up to 65°C. However, this is a nominal temperature rating of which many factors will influence the actual temperature on your toolboard:

  1. Stepper Motor Current. Setting the current of the onboard TMC2209 to above 0.5A can raise the temperature of your toolboard. Additionally, heat from stepper motors running high current can be transferred to your toolboard if they are mounted close together.
  2. High hotend Power. Using a high powered hotend and/or setting very high hotend temperatures in your prints can raise the temperature of your toolboard.
  3. Enclosures. Enclosing your toolboard can worsen air convection and cause your toolboard to heat up over the span of a print.
  4. Active Cooling. Using active cooling (i.e. fans) can help keep the temperature of your toolboard low. This can help conteract the other factors that heat up the toolboard.

Note that elevated operating temperatures can reduce the lifespan of components (mosfets, power supplies, microcontrollers) on your toolboard.

When will it be available?

Available right now in stock.

Benefits over CAN?

Nitehawk is a USB toolhead.
You plug it into the Raspberry Pi, and that’s it.
You don’t need CAN, U2C, CAN bridge mode, etc.
Since it works over the USB protocol, you will have better connectivity because CAN only communicates one way and sometimes it creates a mess.
Some of our clients report problems when using CAN, especially with the rapid fast bed probes and end switch accuracy and repeatability.
There is just one cable from this toolhead to the RPI. Forget about the old-fashioned cable chains with 14 cables.
It’s much easier to flash, just like a normal motherboard. Press boot and reset to enter DFU mode and flash it by uploading the klipper firmware.

Why nitehawk36 ?

It’s a direct replacement for the EBB36 with almost the same size and format.
It fits perfectly behind any round pancake stepper motor, making it compatible with Galileo 2, XOL, Stealthburner, Mini Stealthburner, and more.
It will work in almost any printer with a round pancake stepper motor on the extruder, especially the Voron V2, Voron Trident, and V0.2.
The parts cooling fan and hotend extruder fan can run at selected voltages: 5V or 24V.
Extruder fan accepts both 2 wires or 3 wires fan with tach (Detect when it stalls!)
Includes an ADXL345 accelerometer built-in.
Heater ferrules are normal size, not super thin.
Normal size JST-XH 2.54mm connectors.
The Nitehawk 36 also has an integrated USB expansion port, allowing you to connect Beacon 3D surface scanner or a nozzle cam directly to this toolhead.
There is a breakout board between Nitehawk and your Raspberry Pi to ensure smooth operation and protect against shorts, malfunctions, etc.
XT30 connector to connect the umbilical cable from the board to the RPI.

Does it protect my Raspberry Pi from shorts?

Yes. There is a breakout board between the NH36 and the Raspberry Pi specifically designed for this purpose (among others).

 

What is included in the package?

  • Nitehawk-36, this is the main PCB, which houses the MCU, stepper driver, fan drivers, and other circuits.
  • Umbilical Cable, this is a custom flex cable that is rated for drag chain use. It delivers 24V power to the main Nitehawk PCB while also carrying USB data.
  • USB Adapter, this simple PCB combines 24V power from the power supply and USB data from the Raspberry Pi into a unified connection to the main Nitehawk PCB via the Umbilical cable.
  • All connectors and terminal crimps

Detailed list:

What Included In Kit QTY
Toolhead PCB 1
USB Adapter PCB 1
USB Umbilical Cable 2.15m 1
USB-A to USB-C Data Cable, 0.4m 1
24V Power Cable 1
USB Hookup Cable 1
Self-Tapping Screw, M2x10 3
Screw, SHCS, M3x8 2
Screw, SHCS, M3x12 4
MicroFit3 style Male Connector, 3x2pin 1
MicroFit3 style Female Crimp Terminal 8
XH2.5 Female Connector, 4pin 1
XH2.5 Female Crimp Terminal 8
PH2.0 Female Connector, 2pin 5
PH2.0 Female Connector, 3pin 3
PH2.0 Female Crimp Terminal 30
Ferrule, 1008 4
Ferrule, 0508 4

What is NOT included in the package?

 

Does it need new printed parts?

Yes. You can download the custom printed parts for LDO Nitehawk36 here. 

I want to buy it right away

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