We get a new 3D-printing machine and install our own build of Marlin on it, or move it all over to Klipper. Sometimes that involves replacing the entirety of the brain-box controls and that's just par for the course.
At its root, it's only some stepper motors, fans (more motors), sensors, and heaters that are used in very particular ways.
That's pretty similar to a Cricut machine, isn't it?
How much more?
However, modifying DMCA protected hardware is a crime in some places.
Best of luck, =3
I just don't have a Cricut or the willingness to get one (or several; stuff will break) to hack on. :)
https://biqu.equipment/products/bigtreetech-rodent
The firmware configuration tools are now apparently trivial for users:
https://mitchbradley.github.io/FluidNC-config-wizard/?board=...
bCNC has surface probing so is probably also better than Circut for blade wear... good use for an old laptop or Pi =3
If you're really launching into this thing, then: I came across a set of ifixit sorta-teardowns[1] on a Cricut machine earlier today. It showed what appeared to be relatively-small 4-wire motors (often with gear trains shown, which does matter), which strongly suggests that 2-pole steppers are being used. That's easy enough.
The TMC5160 on the Biqu Rodent seems like a strange choice for this job: The 5160 is a high-current dude that's meant more for grunt than precision. The availability of grunt doesn't necessarily outlaw the ability to be precise, but it may not necessarily represent an ideal set of tradeoffs.
Perhaps a board with smaller stepper drivers may be better-suited. After all, if the motors are small and they've got gear reduction on their outputs, then: They don't need much grunt to make the bits move move in predictable ways.
The photos also showed that some/many/all of these motors have optical encoder wheels. Perhaps they're optional in a build with a custom brainbox (we do usually get along fine without that kind of feedback in printing), but their presence is certainly interesting.
And: There were nowhere near enough connector pins shown on what was described as the motherboard for all of this stuff to happen. That's concerning.
It all combined to strongly suggest to me at that time that the ICs that drive the motors might be located elsewhere in the machine, and that there may also be some servo feedback that happens in stock form.
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That concludes my brain-dump on what I think I know about Cricut machines. Take it as you will. :)
And: The FluidNC Board Mapping Wizard is an amazing tool. I will save this for future use. Thanks!
There is no longer any reason to put up with hardware like Cricut that doesn't do what you want, or that includes artificial dependencies on remote servers. If worst comes to worst, then yes, have the clanker write a new controller.