Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options

Diamondback

@dc42 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 Any updated timeline for a more complete "Mini 5 as an expansion board" featureset? I'm planning to use a combination of 6HC and Mini in the future to replace my Duet Wifi + Duex 5 combination on a toolchanger. For me, that would be the most space efficient way of doing things since my toolheads are a little too small to nicely fit toolboards and I don't really mind the large-ish cabling loom.

Possibly in RRF 3.4, but definitely in RRF 3.5.

I presume you need support for heaters and fans on the Mini5+. Do you also need to support filament monitors?

Lovely

Current plan is to connect XY and all 4 extruders to the 6HC, coupler and 3xZ goes to the Mini. The heaters/thermistors need to be shared across them of course. (pending actual research about whether or not it's smart to split up extruders and heaters across different boards and such)

I'm currently not running filament sensors, however, still undecided how useful a magnetic sensor would be long ways away from the DD extruder (again, not enough space on my toolhead to place it there directly...)

But yea, I will have sensors of some sort in the future again, even if only microswitches.

dc42

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

Current plan is to connect XY and all 4 extruders to the 6HC, coupler and 3xZ goes to the Mini.

There is currently a limitation on the connection of Z motors when a Z probe is used. So it would be better to connect the Z motors to the 6HC and the extruders to the 3 Mini.

Diamondback

@dc42 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

Current plan is to connect XY and all 4 extruders to the 6HC, coupler and 3xZ goes to the Mini.

There is currently a limitation on the connection of Z motors when a Z probe is used. So it would be better to connect the Z motors to the 6HC and the extruders to the 3 Mini.

Is that something that you plan to fix along with the heaters and other missing things? I'm not overly concerned with how long it takes, my upgrade plans are for like in half a year to a full year or so.
But even if not, not really a big problem.

dc42

@diamondback yes it's scheduled to be implemented, but probably not until RRF 3.5 now.

peter247

@dc42 at this time you just can't get the Mini 2+ in the UK , will you be ever selling them direct .
At this time you can get From Filafarm Germany https://www.filafarm.de/collections/elektronik/products/duet-3-mini-2-dual-stepper-expansion-board
But the postage is as most as the board !!!

Diamondback

@dc42 Thanks, that's perfectly fine for me then!

dc42

@peter247 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 at this time you just can't get the Mini 2+ in the UK , will you be ever selling them direct .
At this time you can get From Filafarm Germany https://www.filafarm.de/collections/elektronik/products/duet-3-mini-2-dual-stepper-expansion-board
But the postage is as most as the board !!!

Please send an email to info@duet3d.com explaining your predicament. For Duet3D parts that are not stocked by UK-based resellers, we are shipping limited quantities to UK-based users.

peter247

@dc42 E-mail sent !!!!

Diamondback

@dc42 Nice to see further work on this happening! What's the current state of things? Have any of the mentioned things above implemented by now? Do you think Mini5 as an expansion board is usable as a daily yet?

dc42

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 Nice to see further work on this happening! What's the current state of things? Have any of the mentioned things above implemented by now? Do you think Mini5 as an expansion board is usable as a daily yet?

I've recently fixed a number of issues with using Duet 3 MB6HC boards as expansion boards. These fixes apply to Duet 3 Mini used as an expansion board too. They will be included in the next RRF 3.4.2rc build of RRF. So I think we are very close now.

The limitation on the connection of Z motors to expansion boards when a Z probe is used was fixed in RRF 3.4.0.

Diamondback

@dc42 Lovely! Just to make sure after reading the changes concerning CAN firmware updates, it's possible to fully update a 6HC + Mini5 via ethernet connected to the 6HC? I don't plan to use an SBC, so standalone it will be.

dc42

@diamondback updating a main board used as an expansion board over CAN is the last major piece of work to be completed. The code is written but not yet working.