From: blockedofcourse@foo.invalid   
      
   On 1/7/2026 5:42 PM, DJ Delorie wrote:   
   > Don Y  writes:   
   >> You might also consider mechanizing the mating of the connectors   
   >> as you likely have "programmed" the head to move to the "pick up   
   >> tool" location.   
   >   
   > My plan was to make a custom tool fork (it holds the tool holder) with a   
   > tapered slot in it for the "arm" of the connector.  The arm would have a   
   > matching geometry, so when the machine moves Y- to insert the tool into   
   > the fork, it also slots the arm into the tapered slots and mostly locks   
   > it in place.  At that point, the Z motion of the cnc is enough to   
   > mate/unmate the connectors.  Or destroy them.   
   >   
   > The side of the connector that moves with the tool would have some   
   > wiggle allowance which should be enough to allow the connectors to line   
   > up, I just need the connectors to want to line up.   
      
   To be ATTRACTED to each other! (see below)   
      
   >> A lot, of course, depends on what is passing through those   
   >> contact pairs... current, voltage, "content".  Can you reduce   
   >> the number of conductors (power, gnd, bidir data) my putting   
   >> an MCU on the toolhead?   
   >   
   > I could reduce it to four, I suppose - power, ground, sense, and probe.   
   > Nothing excessive.  I chose eight because I put extra cat5's in the   
   > cable run when I built it ;-)   
      
   What about repurposing a "magnetic PHONE connector" (no idea what they   
   are called -- USB connector that magnetically couples to its mate   
   when brought in close proximity.   
      
   [I looked into this when I wanted to make my "control panels" portable   
   (remove them from the wall and carry them around with you).  At the time,   
   I was intending to run PoE to the panels so the connectors didn't fit   
   the bill.  But, I have since changed the architecture so the smarts   
   are no longer in the panel -- it is just a "display" so 4 conductors   
   could work]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)