The Aether air purifier has some features, that are not common in air filters designed for 3D printers. These devices usually operate on a very simple principle: they can be turned on, or off. Some allow for runtime adjustments, but that’s usually it.
The Aether, on the other hand uses sensor feedback to determine the air quality, and operates accordingly. To achieve this, we designed a custom control board, based around the ATMEGA328p MCU. This is a maker friendly controller, as it has a large community support, as it is the core of the common arduino nano. This microcontroller is responsible for gathering air quality data, controlling the fan, while also monitoring for inputs, and outputs from a connected 3D printer. By default, it can be implemented like a limit switch (it outputs high, when the air quality is poor, and low when it is good), and can be controlled by a simple high/low signal.
The controller also stores runtime in EEPROM (don’t worry, it has wear leveling), so it can display alerts, when it is time to change the filters. Our implementation can be programmed via usb, without the need of an external programmer, or requiring disassembly of the housing. This also allows future firmware updates so the Aether can always evolve. It is also possible to upload an i2c enabled firmware version, where the 3D printer, and the filter can use i2c to communicate, allowing for more complex operation, for example outputting filter status to the printer, or reading the elapsed runtime. It is also possible for someone to write their own custom firmware, so the Aether 3D printer air filter suits their needs perfectly. Or just add some fancy RGB animations to it for fun.
The custom circuitry also includes all passive components necessary for the operation, and a 5V to 12V dc-dc boost converter to power the fan (this switches off, when filtration is not needed, so the Aether can conserve more energy).