NightOwl: Integrated Dual Spool Filament Switching System

NightOwl is an enclosure that integrates multiple projects' technologies into a dual-spool filament switching system.

Summary

The goal of the NightOwl enclosure is to create a simple, universal filament switching solution that accommodates two primary usage styles: standalone units with integrated rewinding filament spool holders, or backpack-style units mountable to a printer, fed from separate spool rollers. A secondary objective was to design a mostly self-contained setup requiring only a 24V power supply and either a USB or CAN connection.

To achieve this, NightOwl integrates the following projects:

• Hartk's Dual Nightwatch: a compact dual Bowden extruder based on the Voron Nightwatch
• Hartk's Bowden Y-Splitter
• Filamentalist Rewinder - 80mm Axle from the Enraged Rabbit Community
• Fysetc ERB 2.0 MCU
• ArmoredTurtle's TurtleNeck syncing toolhead buffer

Besides these parts you'll also want an extruder that has both a toolhead and an entry sensor. Some options for this are:

• Clockwork 2
• WristWatch G2

Printing

Print the following components for the NightOwl.

• 1x Base plate
• 3x Blank Corner
• 1x Connector Corner
• 1x Connector Insert for your choice of connectors
• 1x Top Plate of choice (80mm Filamentalist or Backpack )
• 1x Y-Splitter Mount
• 4x Skirts
  • Front
  • Back
  • Left
  • Right
• 4x Feet (if using the Filamentalist top)
• 4x Knobs (if using the Backpack top)

Other parts to print

• Dual Nightwatch
  • Use the 2-part guidler, it has proven more reliable than the single piece guidler
  • Prefer the mid body with collets for improved reliability
• Y-Splitter
  • Only print the mid body and the rear cover
• Filamentalist
  • Please use the files provided in this repository, they are adjusted to fit slightly wider spools. Files in the directory are following the naming conventions in the manual and will yield the required two rewinders.

Print Settings

All parts have been pre-oriented for support-free printing or include integrated supports. Print using the recommended Voron settings:

• Layer height: 0.2mm.
• Extrusion width: 0.4mm, forced.
• Infill percentage: 40%
• Infill type: grid, gyroid, honeycomb, triangle, or cubic.
• Wall count: 4
• Solid top/bottom layers: 5
• Supports: NONE

The skirts have been provided as 3MF files with the correct settings applied for PrusaSlicer. However, if your slicer does not support importing these settings, open the 3MF in geometry-only mode and change the type of the inlay/mesh modifier part to 'Modifier'. Then, configure the modifier settings as follows for optimal print results:

Assembly

Bill of Materials

Please refer to the Bill of Materials for a list of parts needed for the enclosure. Additionally, check the projects listed in the summary for specific parts requirements.

Assembly Instructions

The Assembly Manual provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for assembling your NightOwl.

Images

Soon(tm)

Acknowledgements

The NightOwl project builds upon open-source innovations, drawing inspiration from the BoxTurtle project. While influenced by BoxTurtle's design philosophy, NightOwl distinguishes itself through deliberate design choices: minimal footprint, dual-channel limitation and leveraging off-the-shelf components.

Changelog

• 2024-11-29 NightOwl RC.1 (Derpy Dingo)
  • Included customized Filamentalist Parts
    • Parameters adjusted to allow for up to 74mm wide spools (instead of 68mm) with identical hardware.
  • Updated top panel to match the Filamentalist rewinders
  • Correctly tagged connector inserts with accent color
  • Fixed undersized hole in bottom panel
  • Fixed various quantities in the BOM
  • Made dual Micro-Fit connectors the recommended option
  • TurtleNeck is the default recommended filament tension sensor
• 2024-10-18 NightOwl Beta.1 (Crafty Crow)
  • Simplified the corners
    • Switch to an insert base approach for connectors
    • Single blank corner with universal mounting holes
    • Moved all connectors to the "back"
  • Added markers to the bottom plate where the various corners go
  • Added hints to parts printing for Nightwatch and Y-Splitter
  • Updated Bill of Materials with more sourcing links
• 2024-10-07 NightOwl Alpha.2 (Brawny Beaver)
  • Bill of Materials added
  • Increased height of enclosure by 4mm
  • Revised MCU mount to add support for BTT MMB 1.0 MCU
  • Added the option to use compressor feet
  • Updated to the latest dual nightwatch release (v16)
  • Moved MCU connectors to the back by default
    • Optional corners are provided to use XT30 2+2 or MicroFit 3.0 for the MCU connection
    • Optional corners to keep the MCU connection in the front corner (for backpack style use)
• 2024-09-25 NightOwl Alpha.1 (Ambitious Alpaca)

License

This work is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0, for more details check the LICENSE.