Duet 2 vs Duet 3?

Edgar7

@o_lampe Thank you for your reply. Similar to above let me ask you: If the Duet 2 on your CNC would fail and if you don't care about paying more: Would you replace it with a Duet 3? And would that be a lot of work?
Or just replacing the board, doing some settings (maybe a few hours) and then you could continue like before?

I know little about the Duet controllers. Maybe as an example: If I have a PC and the graphic card does not work anymore. I would buy a new card, maybe from the same manufacturer, install a new driver, and then the PC would work just like before. Is that similar with the Duet 2 and 3?

dc42

@edgar7 here are some things to consider:

Duet 3 Mini has the least powerful stepper drivers (TMC2209), Duet 2 is in the middle (TMC2660), and Duet 3 MB6HC has the most powerful ones (TMC5160 or TMC2160).
Both Duet 3 boards are expandable via CAN. Duet 2 WiFi/Ethernet is only expandable using the DueX expansion boards, or external drivers (which usually need the expansion breakout board).
Duet 3 series has more flash memory and RAM. RRF for Duet 2 is getting close to using up all the flash memory. Therefore, there will at some point in the future be features that we implement on Duet 3 series boards, but not on Duet 3.

My general advice is to use Duet 3 Mini for typical small/medium 3D printers that don't need very powerful stepper motors, and Duet 3 MB6HC if you need more powerful stepper drivers but don't want to use external ones.

o_lampe

@Edgar7 config-wise there are only minor differences in naming the endstops and numbering of the drivers. No big deal, when you've used the same Firmware for Duet 2.

@dc42
can you reply on that:
@o_lampe said in Duet 2 vs Duet 3?:

I'm also not sure, if input shaping works with external drivers?

THX

fcwilt

@edgar7 said in Duet 2 vs Duet 3?:

@fcwilt Thanks for your reply.
If one of those Duet 2 controllers in one of your printers would fail, would you replace it with a Duet 3 and would you be able to continue without major changes? Or would there be a lot of work involved if you would change to Duet 3?

I have two spare sets of Duet 2 WiFi/Duex 5 boards to serve as replacements.

And about the Mini 5+: I don't care if I pay 100 GBP more. My concern it more that there is a lot more information out there about people who use the Duet 2 with their CNC compared to the Duet 3. This is why I consider the Duet 2.

Since both Duet 2 and Duet 3 boards currently run the same firmware I don't see any advantage to using Duet 2.

But at some point the Duet 2 line may be discontinued or firmware development may cease. Only time will tell.

Edgar7

@dc42 Thanks for your information. I see ADMINISTRATORS near your name. Maybe this is "only" about this forum or maybe the whole Duet3D website.

You compared the stepper drivers of the different boards in your post and that is very helpful. I wonder if a comparison of the different Duet boards exists somewhere on this website.
Sure, I could go to each individual product and look at the details but a comparison of all of them side by side would be a great help - and I am sure not only for me.

Phaedrux

@edgar7 said in Duet 2 vs Duet 3?:

I wonder if a comparison of the different Duet boards exists somewhere on this website.

https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/The_Duet_family_of_motion_control_electronics

Edgar7

@phaedrux Thanks, that is exactly what I was looking for. It seems to be difficult to find...

baird1fa

I’m also looking for a control board for a CNC build and because of the familiarity with the Duet hardware in lean to using one. My only hang up is I need external driver because of the use of nema 34 and nema 24 stepper with 48V power supplies. So from what I can tell the duet 2 has header pins that can drive external steppers whereas the duet 3 need the can bus expansion board which only give one driver per board. At 70$ CAD per board it becomes a very expensive control board for a 4 stepper system.

Or am I missing something about the duet 3? But im leaning to using the duet 2 even though I need to build an amplifier circuit to step up the 3.3V signals to 5V for my drivers.

dc42

@baird1fa currently the only supported way to run external drivers from Duet 3 is to use the external driver boards. We have some developments under way that may be of interest, if you can wait long enough:

We have a version of Duet 3 under development designed for use with external drivers
We are also looking at ways to provide a separate 48V motor power input to a future version of the MB6HC
The firmware for the closed loop board is coming on well, and the board supports 48V VIN.

o_lampe

@baird1fa said in Duet 2 vs Duet 3?:

im leaning to using the duet 2 even though I need to build an amplifier circuit to step up the 3.3V signals to 5V for my drivers.

Since you already have external drivers, you should look for a Duet 2 with expansion board. I suggest using 'TB6612' driver boards as level shifter (amplifier). They can handle 4 signals per 1.5$ board and have reverse protection diodes to cover your bases.

Nxt-1

@dc42 said in Duet 2 vs Duet 3?:

@baird1fa currently the only supported way to run external drivers from Duet 3 is to use the external driver boards. We have some developments under way that may be of interest, if you can wait long enough:

We are also looking and ways to provide a separate 48V motor power input to a future version of the MB6HC

I have seen this pop up on the forums sporadically for a while now. Is there any indicative timeline for the 48V version?