Others have soldered in Mouser part 44764-0601 and cut an access hole in the enclosure to add a BitRunner connector. Is it as simple as that to connect the VFD? I’m handy with a soldering iron, and this would beat paying $150 for a new controller board.
When I added the Bitrunner to my original board I bought the add on connector. I have 40+ years as a field engineer and can solder quite well. It was a disaster. The solder joints did not work too well but finally got it to work. Plus my usb connector was rather loose so in the end I ordered a new controller. I saved the old board as a back up but was glad I bought the new controller.
So you could likely solder the board but unless you are very experienced it will likely be a disaster. If you contact service you can buy a new board with the connector already on the board. That might help you future proof your machine.
I have an SO3 XXL with HDZ. I would like to have the spindle but frankly the SO3 is not the most rigid machine C3D ever made. So maybe you should consider selling your SO3 and buying a SO4 Pro or SO5. I had read that they are going to quit selling the Z-Plus for the SO3 and eventually the SO3 will be retired. Right now C3D still supports the SO3 but it is getting rather long in the tooth. Since it is your money and not mine it is easy to suggest you spend money but as much as I love my SO3 time marches forward and my machine is getting older and more obsolete everyday. Just a thought.
Steve, I’d run that board and connector to an electronics repair shop for the soldering job. The amount of pressure it takes to connect the harness to that connector is fairly substantial. If the solder joint isn’t 100% secure it can easily fail when making that connection.
BTW, We spend several days in Scottsdale a few weeks ago, beautiful city and really nice weather this time of year.
Like you, I have an SO3 (XL) with HDZ. I love this machine. Sad to think its getting “long in the tooth” after 5 years when half of my shop is Delta and Powermatic beasts from the early 1980’s that’ll be going strong long after I’m gone.
I’ve never had issues with the rigidity of my SO3 - 99% of the time I work with wood. What draws me to the spindle is the NOISE of the screaming banshee trim router. Common sense doesn’t support plunking down the $ to add a spindle to this machine, but common sense doesn’t always drive my workshop purchases
@WillAdams, the current SO3 controller board is offered for sale by C3D with or without enclosure. If I buy the current controller board without an enclosure, will it fit in my existing enclosure that currently holds my 2.4e board? (assuming I cut a hole where shown below for the bitrunner/VFD molex connector). Seems silly to pay $50 more for an enclosure if I can just modify mine.
@WillAdams will answer but my original SO3 controller had a big aluminum block that the controller mounted to. The later boards eliminate the heat sink and the enclosure is different. Plus the newer enclosure has the hole cut out already. So take your cover off and if you have a large aluminum block you would likely need the new enclosure. If I remember the original enclosure is not compatible with the newer boards.
So…I decided to buy the 65mm VFD and a new control board on the first day of the Black Friday sale. Unfortunately, the new control board (version 2.4g) was DOA. While waiting for a replacement from C3D, I ordered (and received) a Molex connector from Mouser for $9.70 shipped (part number 44764-0601).
It was super easy to solder it to my 2.4e control board. I cut an access hole in the existing enclosure, put everything back together, and the new VFD works perfect. I’ll keep the new 2.4g board as a spare.
