Owl AFC-TC Expansion Board

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The Owl AFC-TC is an open-source expansion board for advanced multi-toolhead 3D printers running Klipper firmware. It is designed to support high-performance, modular printing systems with automatic filament changers and CAN-connected toolheads.

This board was inspired by the AFC-Lite project by xbst and builds upon its foundation with a broader feature set, more I/O, and support for complex toolchanger configurations. It is also compatible with the AFC Klipper Add-On, allowing seamless integration into Klipper-controlled systems.

The Owl AFC-TC board is built to control up to 4 toolheads and 4 independent filament changers, each capable of handling 2 spools, for a total of 8 spools in a fully automated, multi-material 3D printer.

Type:

The Owl AFC-TC is an open-source expansion board for advanced multi-toolhead 3D printers running Klipper firmware. It is designed to support high-performance, modular printing systems with automatic filament changers and CAN-connected toolheads.

This board was inspired by the AFC-Lite project by xbst and builds upon its foundation with a broader feature set, more I/O, and support for complex toolchanger configurations. It is also compatible with the AFC Klipper Add-On, allowing seamless integration into Klipper-controlled systems.

The Owl AFC-TC board is built to control up to 4 toolheads and 4 independent filament changers, each capable of handling 2 spools, for a total of 8 spools in a fully automated, multi-material 3D printer.

Feature Highlights

  • Powerful MCU
    Utilizes a high-performance 32-bit ARM Cortex-M7 STM32H723ZET6 microcontroller running at 550 MHz

  • Powerful 5V buck converter
    On-board 5V buck converter allowing up to 12A output

  • Stepper and DC Motor Support

    • 8× TMC2209 stepperstick headers (24V) in UART mode for additional extruder steppers

    • 8× DRV8837 DC motor drivers (5V) for rewind motors

  • Sensor Inputs
    The board features 32 dedicated endstop-style inputs, each with external pull-up resistors and an individual indicator LED for real-time debugging. These inputs are purpose-built for AFC system integration and can be used as follows:

    • 8× AFC Buffer Sensors (4 units × 2 signals: advance_pin + trailing_pin)

    • 16× AFC Stepper Sensors (8 units × 2 signals: prep + load)

    • 4× AFC Hub Sensors (switch_pin for 4 hubs)

    • 4× AFC Bypass Sensors (bypass signal for 4 units)

  • PWM Outputs

    • 3× PWM-controlled outputs (3A each), can be used for fans or heaters

      • Two with selectable voltage (5V or 24V)

      • One fixed to 24V

  • Temperature Sensing

    • 2× Thermistor inputs with optional PT1000 support, selectable via jumper.

  • RGB & Neopixel Outputs

    • 4× Buffered RGB/Neopixel connections

  • Connectivity Options

    • USB connection

    • CANbus support (also functions as a U2C interface for Klipper)

    • 4× main CANbus headers for toolhead connections

    • 2× additional CANbus expansion headers

    • Onboard selectable termination resistor for proper CAN line termination

License

This project is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
You may use, modify, and share the design for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution and under the same license terms.

For more information, see:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/