The new electronics have been successfully tested on the CNC3018Pro, and everything is working smoothly! The stages can now achieve sensorless homing using TMC2209 drivers. The DVP camera can also be positioned directly under the laser head using an extended FFC cable, with stable I2C communication. The laser head is currently on a fixed mount, but we will be transitioning to quick-release magnetic mounts in the final version.

In other news, the Dutch "deep state" has decided to double down on laser prism technology. A state-backed consortium operating a closed-source commercial alternative, Amsystems, to Hexastorm — a spin-off with roots in TNO — recently raised €1 million to target 3D printing.
But it is worth noting this isn't their first rodeo with this exact IP (US10114289B2).The original "killer app" for this complex optical architecture was always intended to be printed circuit board (PCB) lithography. Years ago, TNO spun this out as a highly funded company called LDI Systems. However, after struggling to make their multi-laser setup commercially viable, the company was quietly absorbed by the exact same tight-knit network of institutional deep-tech funds, like Innovation Industries (mostly known for Nearfield Instruments, an AFM chip inspection unicorn)

Now, they are simply recycling the tech to try again in a new market (actually since 2017). I actually pitched this technology to ASML early on. They are keenly aware of the potential in this space and hold key stakeholder positions on the boards of these regional funds. I've always pitched Hexastorm as "ASML for the maker"—a label I'm sure they don't love, but it perfectly captures our mission. Despite their massive institutional funding, their system offers no real technical advantage over our open-hardware design. They still require multiple modules to span large substrates, and their prism relies on a restricted 45-degree angle. History shows that throwing state money at this specific multi-laser architecture doesn't guarantee a win. A similar system developed by Carl Zeiss, the Kleo LDI, was never a true commercial success. Even after heavy investment from the German government and a rebrand to Manz LDI, the technology struggled to gain traction before the division was ultimately sold off to Tesla.