Duet 3 demo at TCT

A Former User

One you won't have heard of because Trinamic hasn't announced it yet. Supports all the usual features including stealthchop, stall detection, interpolation to x256 microstepping from any lower value etc. Not sure of the maximum peak current until we do thermal tests but expected to be between 4 and 4.5A. In the demo we're running the Nema 34 motors at 3A and although we are fan cooling the board, we probably don't need to.

Wow would this support full-step with *256 interpolation for a z-axis-stepper to use most energy-efficient the "natural" magnetic field of full-step + combining it with the least possibility for a step-loss since the angle for the "next stable position" is the biggest in that driving-mode (with the risk of step-loss because of ringing is gone because of the interpolation while moving)? (yeah I know this is a theoretical question but as long as the printer-axis are not closed-loop this is a "black-out-scenario" proof setup because if power is off the stepper is already at a stable position assuming the mechanics is built in a way the z-axis can´t move by it´s own weight)

dc42

@lb said in Duet 3 demo at TCT:

Wow would this support full-step with *256 interpolation for a z-axis-stepper to use most energy-efficient the "natural" magnetic field of full-step + combining it with the least possibility for a step-loss since the angle for the "next stable position" is the biggest in that driving-mode (with the risk of step-loss because of ringing is gone because of the interpolation while moving)? (yeah I know this is a theoretical question but as long as the printer-axis are not closed-loop this is a "black-out-scenario" proof setup because if power is off the stepper is already at a stable position assuming the mechanics is built in a way the z-axis can´t move by it´s own weight)

No, because the driver will still use microstepping.

The only reason that full steps give more torque is that when using full stepping, both phases are always driven at the full current.

NoSkillzEngineer

Can I please get my hands on this? Can I be a BETA tester or overpay for an early prototype board? I need this in my life!

I am a CNC machinist and I am pushing to truly combine thermoplastic Additive Manufacturing with industrial manufacturing equipment such as Haas, Mazak, Fanuc, CNC mills and lathes. There is no denying that the Duet has reigned supreme as far as the most advanced 3D printer controller.

In recent months/years mills and laser cutters have been easier to run with the Duet boards.

The more I learn about manufacturing, robotics, CNC programming, and I'm just starting to take an interest in PLC programming because the company I work for builds machines for other companies and is a big integrator for ABB Robotics, the more I realize just how similar so many industrial machines really are, as far as electronic control is concerned (oversimplified, of course). Steppers, brushless, brushed, geared down for specific speed, with and without encoders, et cetera, et cetera. Even seeing and controlling motors with encoders as individual "steps" so it's controlled nearly identically as a stepper (over simplified, I know). It's fascinating just how similar things become the deeper you go.

Are there hardware and firmware files for this? I REALLY want to play with this. :]

TLAS

Any chance we could get more details on that SBC interface? Also, Wifi and an Ethernet port (ideally with that extendable antenna) would be amazing and solve the vast majority of the problems I've been having with the Duet.

Also, I'd love to have a REST API interface for the Duet for future Duet Web Control expansion. It would also enable a lot more in the IoT world. It's possible the Duet Web Control already has this - if so, can you share some details?

T3P3Tony

We will be able to give more details about the Duet 3 to SBC interface in the next month or too. Most of what is requested is easy to implement on the SBC (e.g. REST API, all the network interface choices)

We are a fairly long way to having a beta. What we showed at the TCT was a concept. Once we get closer to prototype production we will be announcing more details.

brunofporto

@t3p3tony I am planning to use the Duet3 with a really large scale FarmBot as my younger brother plans to work with it as his final engineering project - how Duet3 will handle "exotic" (non FDM/CNC/Laser) systems?

T3P3Tony

@brunofporto sounds good, however it's likely that a farm bot would work great with Duet 2 unless you planned on having lots of heads!

brunofporto

@t3p3tony The issue is the size. We would like to design a polar system, with a Delta as "fine" tool manipulator to compensate for the imprecision of a 50m radius woobly thing

So a duet3 main would control the big polar system, pumps, feeders, etc. Then a add-on card would control the local precision tool.

sigxcpu

@phaedrux said in Duet 3 demo at TCT:

@deckingman

Currently the DWC runs on the same CPU on the Duet that also handles everything else the printer has to control. It used to run on the even slower wifi chip.

Duet 2 = 120MHz 32-bit, ESP8266 = 160 MHz 32-bit.
I think moving the web task to the main Duet 2 chip was because there is no ESP8266 in Duet 2 Ethernet.
And in terms of performance, that is a mistake, because the main chip has realtime tasks to do while ESP8266 is mostly idle now.

dc42

No, the main reason we moved the web server to the main processor is because it was too hard to debug the web server on the ESP, and because of the closed source SDK for the ESP we could never be sure whether CPU time used by the web server was impacting on the WiFi performance. Also it was taking too long to upload DWC to the ESP during manufacturing.

Like most users, we run the ESP at 80MHz, not 160MHz.

percar

Sounds really exciting. Do you have a timeline for when beta or first retail will be available?
I would like to be on the list of Beta Testers if it is possible

T3P3Tony

@percar we want to have some initial production boards in Q2 2019.

fcwilt

@phaedrux said in Duet 3 demo at TCT:

modern Linux operating system

You have a great sense of humor!

Frederick

fcwilt

Hi,

The new design looks very well thought out.

It's a good thing it is not going to be around until next year - gives me time to come up with the reason why I have to have it - it's a "wife" thing.

Frederick

NoSkillzEngineer

@t3p3tony Hey, so how close are you guys to that Q2 2019 goal for early production boards? Can you take my money for it yet?

Surgikill

Would it be possible to make an expansion board that mounts directly to the extruder? Say it has a single stepper driver, some PWN fan controls, Z probe input, heater control and a thermistor input? Would be really nice if all you had to run to the extruder is power and data, instead of having a mess of wires like normal. Would also make tool changing much easier.

Phaedrux

@surgikill said in Duet 3 demo at TCT:

Would it be possible to make an expansion board that mounts directly to the extruder? Say it has a single stepper driver, some PWN fan controls, Z probe input, heater control and a thermistor input? Would be really nice if all you had to run to the extruder is power and data, instead of having a mess of wires like normal. Would also make tool changing much easier.

I think they've actually talked about a board exactly like that.

dc42

It will be a smart tool board, handling at least an extruder motor, heater, temperature sensor, 2 fans and a Z probe.

wilriker

I do have a Duet 2 - I don't need a Duet 3 - I do have a Duet 2 - I don't need a Duet 3...

Just practicing. I need to get this mandra working until Duet 3 is available.

dc42

I was testing the Duet 3 second prototypes earlier today.