Overview
Taking the Toybox Alpha V1 — a toy-grade 3D printer from Toybox Labs — and turning it into a capable machine. The stock electronics and firmware hold back solid mechanical bones. Project I.M.P strips out the limitations and replaces them with real capability.
Why This Printer
The Toybox Alpha V1 has a solid mechanical base but terrible electronics and firmware. The frame is rigid enough. The motion system works. But the stock board and software treat it like a toy — locked-down slicing, no temperature control, no real configuration. The hardware deserves better software.
What's Being Done
Klipper Firmware
Running Klipper instead of stock firmware. Full control over motion, temperature, and print parameters. Input shaping, pressure advance — everything the stock firmware locks out.
Electronics Replacement
Swapping the stock control board for a capable MCU. Proper stepper drivers, thermistor inputs, and fan control that the stock board doesn't provide.
Component Upgrades
Hotend upgrades, improved cooling, better bed adhesion solutions. Taking each subsystem and bringing it up to a functional standard.
Open Source
All mods, configs, and documentation shared with the community. If someone else has a Toybox collecting dust, these mods give it a second life.
The Approach
- Document everything — stock pinouts, board traces, mechanical dimensions
- Replace electronics first — new brain before new body parts
- Klipper config tuning — input shaping, pressure advance, PID tuning
- Iterative upgrades — one subsystem at a time, verify before moving on
- Share with the community — every mod documented on the wiki
$ cat /etc/klipper/printer.cfg [mcu] serial: /dev/serial/by-id/usb-Klipper_* [printer] kinematics: cartesian max_velocity: 200 max_accel: 3000 [stepper_x] step_pin: ... dir_pin: ... enable_pin: ... $ systemctl status klipper klipper.service - Klipper 3D Printer Firmware Active: active (running) Status: "Printer is ready"
Links
Technologies
Related
- 3D Printing — the broader printing and modification work
- Custom PC Builds — hardware building background
Status
Active. Electronics replacement in progress. Community contributions welcome — check the GitHub issues and wiki to get involved.