Duet 3 6HC + Expanders in multi tool printer.

Danal

@Red-Sand-Robot Interesting point, and the "proof is in the pudding" so to speak. I will keep an eye on it.

Having said that, I'm thinking that common bed temperatures, 80, 90, things like that, are extremely unlikely to be a problem along that heat path. No math or engineering behind that thought, just gut feel.

If the printer were to end up in a heated enclosure, I'd print the parts out of something, perhaps Polycarbonate, that is better than PLA.

Red Sand Robot

@Danal I only bring that up because on my custom Prusa style machine, my Y carriage plate is aluminum and does get noticeably hot when printing around 80-90, and since the heat transfer through air is basically non existent it must therefore be transferring from the screws attaching the heated bed to the Y carriage.

When I saw that the heated bed was placed directly on top of a PLA part that was my first concern. An easy fix would definitely be reprinting in polycarbonate, ABS/ASA, or maybe even SLS printed from nylon.

Danal

First prints. Single tool. The bed is still not really coupled into its kinematic coupling properly. Still, pretty good results.

Experimenting with mounting expansion boards on the sides. CAN bus is a huge enabler for this. Forgive the dangling wires; I will clean them up if this turns out to be a good place for the expander.

Movement and toolchange steppers on base board, limit switches on base, bed heater and temp on base; all fans, heaters, extruder motors, etc, etc, for the tool are on expansion board 1. Board 1 will soon get the second tool.

Danal

I ran with the expansion board on the side for quite some time... and... it is finally time to put the boards where they belong, and re-wire the tools. This will help the multiple tools wiring bundles not drag each other around.

Overall layout.

Mounted on the back of the printer. Main board is wired, expansions not yet.

tobias_munich

thanks for sharing!
I like this project and I guess this could be my next project too!

dc42

Thanks for sharing! How may tools do you intend to use eventually?

Danal

@dc42 said in Duet 3 6HC + Expanders in multi tool printer.:

Thanks for sharing! How may tools do you intend to use eventually?

Four will fit nicely in this chassis. Since the 6HC is fully occupied with no tools, I'm putting two tools on each expansion, just for symmetry.

At some point, I may rebuild and go a touch larger. With the base and two expansions, six tools would make a lot of sense.

jay_s_uk

I'm planning on 6 tools on my build once I get round to ordering a second 3HC

dc42

@jay_s_uk said in Duet 3 6HC + Expanders in multi tool printer.:

I'm planning on 6 tools on my build once I get round to ordering a second 3HC

Don't forget that we have tool boards in the pipeline, which will be available to order very soon! Perfect for Hemera direct drive extruders.

jay_s_uk

@dc42 said in Duet 3 6HC + Expanders in multi tool printer.:

Don't forget that we have tool boards in the pipeline, which will be available to order very soon! Perfect for Hemera direct drive extruders.

I haven't forgotten. I was very impressed by them at TCT when I saw them.
My long term goal is all Hemeras with toolboards but that will take time