The SmartPrintCoreH7x is an open-source 3D printer mainboard developed by Boltz R&D, comes with STM32H7 microcontroller and is compatible with well-known 3D printers such as Creality, Anet, and Voron. This mainboard is packed with advanced features, offering both flexibility and great performance, making it a top choice for 3D printing enthusiasts and professionals.
This mainboard supports up to six stepper drivers (five standard and one dedicated stepper drivers), with the option to expand further using the “SmartPrintCore Extravaganza” module. Its user-friendly design eliminates the need for jumpers and supports automatic power source switching and is compatible with both 12V and 24V power supplies. The board also uses different high-quality connectors like Molex Ultra-Fit, Mini-Lock, and JST-GH to support power, motors, and various components. The board is made to work with BeaglePlay and BeagleBone SBCs, offering better performance and more flexibility.
Specifications:
Microcontroller –
- STM32H723 Arm Cortex-M7 32-bit (at 550 MHz)
- 1MB Flash, 564KB RAM, FPU, DSP
- Integrated Ethernet, USB OTG HS/FS, CAN FD
Storage - MicroSD Card
Stepper Drivers
- 5 standard and 1 dedicated stepper driver: Expandable in sets of 5 with the “SmartPrintCore Extravaganza” module
- Closed-Loop Ports: 5 dedicated for precision
- Buffered signals for SPI and UART
Heaters
- 3 High-Power Heater Ports: Each port supports up to 15A (with locking connectors)
- 1 Heated Bed Port: Supports up to 15A (with locking connector)
Fan Support
- 4x PWM-controlled ports
- 2x always-on ports
- Configurable voltages: 12V, 5V, or POWER_IN
- 2A per port, 4A total for fans
Peripheral Ports
- 4x Servo Ports (2A each, 4A total)
- 4x Temperature Sensor Ports
- 6x Endstop Ports
- 2x Filament Sensor Ports
- NeoPixel RGB LED Port (Operates at 1A, with a maximum of 2A)
- USB-C with auto power switching
- BLTouch and LCD connector ports
Expansion Options
- 3x SPI, 2x I2C, 1x CAN Bus
- 2x UART ports
Power Capabilities
- Input Voltage: Can work with either 12V or 24V power sources (automatically switches between USB or main power supply).
- Power Input: Uses a 6-in-1 Molex MegaFit connector (self-locking).
- Power Outputs:
- 5V @ 10A (For supplying power to SBC (Single Board Computer), with a locking connector and USB Type-C)
- 5V @ 5A (For powering fans and other peripherals)
- 12V @ 5A (For additional fans and peripherals.)
- 3.3V @ 1A (For powering Wi-Fi modules and small devices)
- 15A for bed heater (With locking connector for the bed heater)
Additional Features
- 3x onboard accelerometers
- ESP01 UART Port and PT100 SPI port
- Sensorless homing (configurable via DIP switches)
- Pre-configured micro-stepping for stepper motors
- Onboard slow-burning fuse (with optional external inline fuses)
Dimensions: 297 x 210 mm dimensions
The SmartPrintCoreH7x works with both Marlin and Klipper open-source firmware, making it compatible with many 3D printers. The Marlin setup is still in development, but users can ask for faster help through the company’s Discord. Klipper configuration files are included, but you might need to make a few small changes depending on your specific setup.
Boltz R&D is dedicated to open-source development. On Github, you can find more information about the mainboard and also for KiCad schematics and PCB layouts. However, component libraries are not included due to licensing rules. The custom 3D-printed case for the mainboard is still under development and should be ready by May 2024.
The SmartPrintCoreH7x mainboard is priced at $134.99 and can be bought from Tindie or the Boltz R&D store. The SmartPrintCoreH7x is a great alternative because it's flexible and supported by the community. Some other options for affordable 3D printer control boards include the Recore A8, which uses an Allwinner A64 chip and TMC2209 stepper drivers, as well as ESP32-based boards like the Phi MainBoard 5LC and PandaZhu. These options offer budget-friendly solutions for 3D printer users.
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