Controller board setup for custom 3D printer
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Hi,
I have a custom 3D printer machine, very similar to a CNC (600x450x400 mm) with a Mach3 Ethernet controller board. Sadly I've been experiencing problem since day one, from layer shifting to pc client crashes (due to Mach3 program), so I decided to move to a controller board designed for 3D printer.
I'd like to use Duet3D hardware, since everyone agrees they are the best, but I'd like to keep most of the hardware I already have, especially stepper drivers, which are very good, almost professional level.Here there are the main constrains:
-Main power line is 24V (shouldn't be a problem).
-Inductive edstops require 12 to 24 V power supply.
-Extruders and bed heaters are powerd by an external power supply, through SSRs (so I think I can connect the board to these relays)
-Fans are 24V powered.
-I'd like to have more IO (e.g. for a filament encoder and start/stop external buttons) but it's not essential.I've done some research and I think the main problem is having at least 3 (X, Y, Z) external stepper drivers as the majority of 3D printer controller board are designed to have them built-it. Alse very few boards support 12V or 24V for endstops and IO.
Thanks in advance
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what kind of steppers motors are they?
the duet can drive large stepper motors up to 6A
also the duet 3 endstop pins are 30v tolerant, so connect the endstops to the 24v line and the signal to the io pin.
in total 9 io ports
https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Duet_3_Mainboard_6HC_Hardware_Overview
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I don't think the endstops would be a problem.
Using the duet to switch an external SSR for for heaters is perfectly fine.
24v fans are no problem.
If you're wanting to use exclusively external motors there is a future Duet 3 planned that would have no internal drivers at all for just this case. That's a ways off though. In the meantime you can already control external drivers.
https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Using_external_stepper_motor_drivers
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I’m using NEMA 23 3Nm powered at 4Arms.
I’d like to use my existing drivers because they are pretty good and moreover they are powered by an external 36V AC line and the existing 24V line can’t provide enough power.
@Phaedrux said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
If you're wanting to use exclusively external motors there is a future Duet 3 planned that would have no internal drivers at all for just this case.
This seems very interesting, it would be nice to avoid having expansion boards. Can you give me more information?
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@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
Can you give me more information?
Not at this time. Look for more info in a month or two maybe.
In the meantime though, you can use external drivers.
Can you give some more information on your existing external drivers to see if they would be suitably driven by the Duet?
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@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
powered by an external 36V AC line and the existing 24V line can’t provide enough power.
you can run the duet 3 with up to 32V. If you are fine with that, you could power the motors directly.
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@Phaedrux said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
Can you give some more information on your existing external drivers to see if they would be suitably driven by the Duet?
My external drivers must be powered by AC anywhere from 18 to 36V, step/dir signals can be either differential or common anode/cathode from 3.3 to 28V and they can deliver up to 4Arms phase current. Max microstepping is 1/128.
I think the step/dir voltage range is not a problem but I’will need expansion boards.
With the Duet 2 the breakout board would be fine but I can’t use 12/24V endstops and IO.
The Duet 3 will instead need one 1XD board for esche external driver.
Am I right?@Veti said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
you can run the duet 3 with up to 32V. If you are fine with that, you could power the motors directly.
I have only 24V DC and 36V AC lines, with the AC one being the only one that can deliver enough power to drive the motors. I suppose I can’t power a Duet board with AC power supply.
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can you post the exact motor name?
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@Veti said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
can you post the exact motor name?
I don't have access to them right now and I don't remember the exact model number. However they are standard NEMA23 (3Nm, 4Arms max).
The problem is that I can drain enough power for the motors only from the AC line, with wich I can't power any Duet board I think.
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@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
My external drivers must be powered by AC anywhere from 18 to 36V, step/dir signals can be either differential or common anode/cathode from 3.3 to 28V
again i think you could remove the external stepper motors and power the nema23 motors directly if you are fine with 32V for the nema motors
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@Veti
Let's say I remove my external drivers and use Duet built-it ones. So I'll need a Duet 3 to deliver 4Arms.
I can't power the board with the 24V line because it can't provide enough Amps.
I can't power the board with the 36V line because is AC.If I don't go wrong the only option would be to buy another power supply in order to transform 36VAC to 24VDC or 32VDC.
Since I already need to buy a new controller board, I'd prefer buying one compatible with my existing system, but if there aren't any other chances I'll consider this option.
Moreover, without detracting Duet's TMC5160, I think my steppers are better. Just the size of one of them is half of a Duet board.
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@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
Just the size of one of them is half of a Duet board.
that could also mean they are inefficient and need a lot of cooling
anyway here is a link to the external stepper board for the duet 3
https://www.duet3d.com/Duet3Expansion1XD -
@Veti said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
Just the size of one of them is half of a Duet board.
that could also mean they are inefficient and need a lot of cooling
Yes, you're right, indeed their 36VAC line can provide way more power they need.
anyway here is a link to the external stepper board for the duet 3
https://www.duet3d.com/Duet3Expansion1XDI would need one of those for each eaxis right?
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@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
I would need one of those for each eaxis right?
one for each external stepper. a new power supply might be cheaper
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@Veti said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
one for each external stepper. a new power supply might be cheaper
Yes, I agree, I'll keep this option as a backup plan.
I'd like to know more about the board mentioned by @Phaedrux, if it's going to be released and purchasable in the next 2/3 months I'll wait for sure.
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@plasmino said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
@Veti said in Controller board setup for custom 3D printer:
one for each external stepper. a new power supply might be cheaper
Yes, I agree, I'll keep this option as a backup plan.
I'd like to know more about the board mentioned by @Phaedrux, if it's going to be released and purchasable in the next 2/3 months I'll wait for sure.
@T3P3Tony might have a better idea on availability.
