AFC-Lite Box Turtle Multi Filament Controller PCB

Solid electronics, but size can be an issue

Alright, so I don't always do reviews and I don't want to discourage anyone from getting one of these for the BT build (seeing as there are only a handful of options on the market for that particular setup) but I wanted to at least write this up. It has a solid architecture. 723 series processor is an awesome decision. It has just enough inputs and outputs for the sensors, steppers, and motors on a standard BT build, plus 3 extra Pixel/RGB/whatever you want to call addressable RGB LEDs. That being said, header placement could have been better. If you put this in the BT with BT spec lengths, it will be a tight squeeze between it and lane 1's extruder section. Ways to alleviate that? move the headers to the edges, make the board longer and shallower, change the headers to a one or two piece header with an adapter cable that makes routing easier, things like that. Also relocate the stepsticks. REALLY tight in there with wires and had to glue several heatsinks back on. Another option to manage this is to have a brief instruction modification to the standard BT manual and the wiring guide, specifically the length of the wires to route half of them a different direction to have some of the wires come from the opposite side. Positives, again, I had no trouble flashing this (using standard USB.) and has run well since then. I did have some problems with CAN, but I just switched to USB to make my life easier. Would (and have) buy this again, but a V2 with some minor size and shape revisions would be awesome.

Perfect for BoxTurtle DIY build (get the BT-IO board too)

I had enough miscellaneous parts to self source a BoxTurtle build instead of purchasing the kit. I was going to cobble together a controller option too (which I am still convinced would have worked), but this controller was worth every penny. Physically, mechanically and electronically, everything fits. Makes wiring much easier and preset firmware configuration makes life so much easier. Includes everything you need - even though I did manage to loose the 4P Molex CAN connector. I would say that having an auxiliary 24V barrel jack power port for power would be a little more convenient than having it on the CAN port when you run in USB mode, but had I not lost the Molex connector, it would have been a trivial crimp. The BT-IO board was out of stock when I ordered, but I can see big value in that too - it adds the barrel jack I was referring to. simplifies wiring even further and has a very nice physical connection interface on the skirt. The AFC is very specific to the BoxTurtle - unless you are doing something else with it I suggest bundling the BT-IO board with it for sure.