Duex4!? usefulness
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@dc42 Is there any documentation on the Duex4 available?
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Schematics are in here: https://github.com/T3P3/Duet/tree/master/Archive_Files
Should have the PDF available with the pinout of the connector:
https://github.com/T3P3/Duet/blob/master/Archive_Files/Duex4v0.2a/Duetx4_v2a_Schematic.pdf
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@Nxt-1 said in Duex4!? usefulness:
what are the current ratings on all the chips
Google for the win:
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@EasyTarget said in Duex4!? usefulness:
@Nxt-1 said in Duex4!? usefulness:
what are the current ratings on all the chips
Google for the win:
I did see the datasheet, but datasheet level performance is not always achieved. Especially when thermals are involved.
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@Nxt-1 said in Duex4!? usefulness:
level performance is not always achieved
Fair enough though I'd take it as a good starting point in the absence of hunting down and reading the docs. DC tends to design boards that can use the full power of the chips.
Speaking of docs; I came across this (possibly not as easy to hunt down):
http://blog.think3dprint3d.com/2015/04/duex4-v02a-minor-updates.html
I think that addresses your 'differences' question. -
Apropos to nothing (tl:dr)
Having just skimmed the schematics; If I had one of these lying around I'd be VERY tempted to hook it up to a ESP32-DEV board and my in-progress MPCNC inspired laserEngraver.
With grbl-esp32, an SD card shield, and some dupont Jumpers this could make a superb controller for such a machine. I'm already using a similar setup on my 1610 CNC and like it a lot.
- For an industrial CNC a Duet would make far more sense, and offer far more features. But a home CNC with just 3 axes, two mosfets (enable , fans) and a pin for the laser PWM makes the esp32 route very appealing.
- Plus, dare I say it, I think grbl-esp32 is a better firmware for such application than RRF. In particular it's laser mode is superb; when enabled the firmware will not allow the laser to remain on when stationary. period. It scales the laser power as a function of actual vs. set speed; making it very hard to over-burn line ends and corners, or start fires if the job halts unexpectedly.
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@EasyTarget said in Duex4!? usefulness:
Plus, dare I say it, I think grbl-esp32 is a better firmware for such application than RRF. In particular it's laser mode is superb; when enabled the firmware will not allow the laser to remain on when stationary. period. It scales the laser power as a function of actual vs. set speed; making it very hard to over-burn line ends and corners, or start fires if the job halts unexpectedly.
I'd say you're not wrong at the time of writing; but I suspect it will become less correct in the near future, some improvements have already been made and I suspect it'll receive more attention as the current tradeshow and duet 3 release become a thing of the past. As the firm-/soft-ware matures for non FDM printing modes; exciting times ahead.
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@bearer said in Duex4!? usefulness:
As the firm-/soft-ware matures for non FDM printing modes
Yes, I agree; it's something I've been waiting to appear; lack of a safe lasermode is the only thing that would put me off a Duet for laser use.
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That is running the same drivers as v0.6 / v0.8.5 which had an advised 1.5A current limit with cooling.
This driver does 16 microsteps, bit no driver interpolation to 256 steps.
I had a layer shift on a print when running at 1450mA which I think was the drivers dropping into thermal protection. The board was mounted vertically.