Anet A8 - How Hard is the Hardware Conversion?

dc42

@veti said in Anet A8 - How Hard is the Hardware Conversion?:

The Anet A8 Board uses 2.54XH connectors.

Thanks. In that case, it's possible to plug the motor and thermistor connectors directly into the Duet, at least for testing purposes. They only fit one way round, but that doesn't matter - the motors may run backwards, but that can be corrected in the firmware configuration.

The endstops will need to be rewired, because Duets use the two outer pins of the endstop connector for typical microswitch endstops.

jrwaters2

@dc42 This is shaping up to be more and more do-able (he says knowing he will regret)

MegaAndy

I went to the Duet from AM8 too. For the wiring, I re crimped all the connectors with the supplied crimps but I just sat and took my time and matched all the wires up one connector at a time, was easy to follow the wiring diagram for the Duet maestro with everything seeming easy to work out where it goes.

texmextech

Anet A8 comes with 12v fans and 12 psu configuring this is not easy since board only supply's 5v I haven't found a wiring diagram for this in the forums.

OBELIKS

Actually, you have an option on supplying the fans with your PSU voltage or with 5V. The jumper for selection is located under the fan connectors (V FAN JUMPER SELECT).
https://d17kynu4zpq5hy.cloudfront.net/igi/duet3d/4k56ZjaaAHrTJI6Z.huge

jrwaters2

@veti - ok, I have finally completed my AM8 conversion. Yes, it took me this long! But, I double and triple checked everything, printed extra parts, etc. Wow, what a huge difference. It's a different beast now - fast, quiet, stable. I've just ordered my Duet and I'll be trying out all the advice and tips you guys provided . . . hopefully within a couple of weeks (traveling at the moment). Anway, I wanted to post here because others reading may want to know how impactful the AM8 upgrade is.

jrwaters2

I got my first print with my Duet AM8 (thats what I call it now that my Anet A8 is an AM8 with a Duet processor). Thanks everyone for your advice and help. Especially, @nhof , your basic guide was so helpful. It may seem simplistic to you but topics of polarity are helpful to the novice.

It took me a loooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggg time but I took it slow as suggested. Also, I converted over to 24 volts in the process which meant new power supply, hot end, heated bed. Never thought I'd be Googling about Ohm's Law.

Learned a lot of things during the process and I hope to be able to help some others with the same conversion. Mostly, thank you all!

Jack

Veti

congratulation on building your own printer.

it does not matter that it took long. it matters that you stuck with it and learned new things on the way.

zapta

This thread outlines a fascinated journey. A picture will make it even more awesome.

jrwaters2

@zapta and @veti - thanks guys. I'm so glad you asked :-). I can't believe this was my Anet A8 when I was first posting here.

zapta

Looks very clean, I mean the printer, not the desk, and I like your choice of color.

It uses a bowden extruder. I switch recently my printer (non Anet) to a direct extruder and got significant improvement in print quality.

DocTrucker

@zapta said in Anet A8 - How Hard is the Hardware Conversion?:

Looks very clean, I mean the printer, not the desk,

So I won't be showing too much of my desks anytime soon if that is messy!

T3P3Tony

@jrwaters2 nice! Thanks for sharing your journey here (and also thanks to those on the forum that helped!).

jrwaters2

@zapta hahaha - yes, my wife's patience has been amazing. Maybe over the holidays I'll get it cleaned up. Let's see

Want to to a little wiring clean up as well!

jrwaters2

@T3P3Tony Roger that. What a great group!