Question: Recommendation for mechanical endstops
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Hello,
I am looking for mechanical endstops that are compatible (I have read the specs regarding current, etc.) with the Duet 2 Wifi.
Has anyone got a recommendation by chance?
Thank you / wieman01
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The switching current for an endstop is so small that you can literally use any anything to switch it.
It is generally recommended to use a normally closed switch if it is a single/double pole single throw switch (SPST/DPST) and to wire it normally closed if it is a dual throw switch (SPDT/DPDT).
(edit this may be usefull for more details https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Connecting_endstop_switches)
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optical endstops can provide very high precision...
I have been using these- they work fine powered by the Duet 2 board. -
Thank you both for your input. I will look at both options, mechanical and optical endstops. It appears there is an unlimited amount of options out there, so I'll probably buy two sets and see how far I get.
Thank you. Slowly, but gradually making progress.
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You could always spend more than $50 on a metrol switch and get like 0.003 mm repeatability!
*not actually a robot
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Haha... I probably won't... just yet.
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@wieman01 said in Question: Recommendation for mechanical endstops:
Hello,
I am looking for mechanical endstops that are compatible (I have read the specs regarding current, etc.) with the Duet 2 Wifi.
Has anyone got a recommendation by chance?
Thank you / wieman01
Omron microswitches are good. Ideally they should be low-current ones with gold-plated contacts, but ordinary ones seem to work well.
Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com -
@dc42 said in Question: Recommendation for mechanical endstops:
Omron microswitches are good. Ideally they should be low-current ones with gold-plated contacts, but ordinary ones seem to work well.
Seconded.
Actually, there a tons of snap-action micro-switches out there. They will give you more repeatability than the rest of your printer (unless you are using fancy ballscrews I guess...) and they don't need a flag, you can just run the gantry into them.
Plus I've never heard of anyone having micro-switches effected by sunlight
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@theruttmeister said in Question: Recommendation for mechanical endstops:
Plus I've never heard of anyone having micro-switches effected by sunlight
definitively not in the UK! (not that I'm any better off).
I take it optical switches don't have modulation and/or filtering to help with sunlight?
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@bearer
Early gen3 electronics for reprap/makerbot seemed to have issues homing if they were in direct sunlight...Who knows if that was real. Its not like they were reliable at the best of times!
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@bot which exact one do you recommend for $50?
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@Baenwort a bit more than I remembered, but I believe this is the one I use, but I bought it under this listing which is more expensive. I guess Misumi charges you more if you don't know the brand name. (It's literally the same metrol switch with the metrol P/N on it, listed under an obfuscated Misumi P/N.)
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I have now ordered mechanical and optical end-stops. I need a lot of them anyway, so I'll see how it goes and report back. It's crazy, but I have 7 motors just for the XYZ movements, but I could not do it with fewer. Consequently I upgraded my Duet 2 with an Duex5 extension board.
Thank you for your input. I am learning, but I am very excited about my project (clay printer).
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I prefer the contactless approach and just wire in (directly with no extras has worked fine for me) A3144 digital hall effect sensors (~$1 ea.) for my endstops and slap a magnet on the moving part. You can home fast and do a slow back and return and the repeatability has been hands down better over time than contact switches I've tried.
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Maybe another question for the pros... I will have 4 motors for the z-axis (Duet 2 & Duex5).
Will I install 1 stop-end per motor to make sure they stay in sync? Or should I use only 1 stop-end and do a z-calibration once in a while to ensure all 4 motors are in the same position?
I suspect the latter as I have not seen an option in the reprap configuration tool to add more than 3 stop-ends.
I am learning... bear with me.
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@wieman01 said in Question: Recommendation for mechanical endstops:
Will I install 1 stop-end per motor to make sure they stay in sync? Or should I use only 1 stop-end and do a z-calibration once in a while to ensure all 4 motors are in the same position?
If you are going to have a Z probe (which you should) you can make use of the auto bed leveling feature that can be used with a multi-motor setup like you are going to have.
And a Z probe will work as an "end stop" as well.
Frederick
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