Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options

Phaedrux

@Niko-Hogh Yes they both work. They each have pros and cons. Would need to do some research and see which may work best for you. The laser sensor can be sensitive to filament type, but there are mod options that use a rotating bearing as the sensed surface rather than the filament directly.

razrudy

Anyone know where we can get the expansion board in Uk please? None of the big reseller have this on stock , not even listed.

Phaedrux

@razrudy From what I understand there is more stock on the way

tenaja

@zapta said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

I started recently using these $4 ARM F4 modules which come with a USB C connector and it's definitely an improvement.

https://github.com/WeActTC/MiniSTM32F4x1

$4 is very expensive compared to a micro-USB socket... the prices of those are measured in nickels.

DIY-O-Sphere

@dc42 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

we hope to provide the option of using a second Mini 5+ as an expansion board

Could it also be an option to use the Mini as an extension for a 6HC?
The reason I ask is that I assumed that pairing 2 minis would be the perfect solution for my new printer.
But currently I have the impression that the trent is going to larger motors for X and Y axis with a tool changer.
If I understand correctly, there will be no reasonable option for connecting external drivers on the Mini.

Phaedrux

@DIY-O-Sphere said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

Could it also be an option to use the Mini as an extension for a 6HC?

I think that's been hinted at but I don't think anything has been tested for certain yet.

dc42

@DIY-O-Sphere said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

Could it also be an option to use the Mini as an extension for a 6HC?

Yes there could be. It should work partially already in the latest source code, however we don't expect to make it fully working until release 3.4 at the earliest.

@DIY-O-Sphere said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

If I understand correctly, there will be no reasonable option for connecting external drivers on the Mini.

It would be possible to make a daughter board to connect two external drivers instead of the Mini2+ board, step and direction only (no enable signal).

DIY-O-Sphere

@dc42 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

step and direction only

Thank you for the quick reply. I would prefer a spi solution....
I will start with 2 minis first. Until I have the machine mechanically ready there will be a solution with the 6HC. And I'll probably only need the large drivers if I want to print extremely fast. That is beyond my competence so far....

Diamondback

@dc42 Any updated timeline for a more complete "Mini 5 as an expansion board" featureset? I'm planning to use a combination of 6HC and Mini in the future to replace my Duet Wifi + Duex 5 combination on a toolchanger. For me, that would be the most space efficient way of doing things since my toolheads are a little too small to nicely fit toolboards and I don't really mind the large-ish cabling loom.

dc42

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 Any updated timeline for a more complete "Mini 5 as an expansion board" featureset? I'm planning to use a combination of 6HC and Mini in the future to replace my Duet Wifi + Duex 5 combination on a toolchanger. For me, that would be the most space efficient way of doing things since my toolheads are a little too small to nicely fit toolboards and I don't really mind the large-ish cabling loom.

Possibly in RRF 3.4, but definitely in RRF 3.5.

I presume you need support for heaters and fans on the Mini5+. Do you also need to support filament monitors?

Diamondback

@dc42 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 Any updated timeline for a more complete "Mini 5 as an expansion board" featureset? I'm planning to use a combination of 6HC and Mini in the future to replace my Duet Wifi + Duex 5 combination on a toolchanger. For me, that would be the most space efficient way of doing things since my toolheads are a little too small to nicely fit toolboards and I don't really mind the large-ish cabling loom.

Possibly in RRF 3.4, but definitely in RRF 3.5.

I presume you need support for heaters and fans on the Mini5+. Do you also need to support filament monitors?

Lovely

Current plan is to connect XY and all 4 extruders to the 6HC, coupler and 3xZ goes to the Mini. The heaters/thermistors need to be shared across them of course. (pending actual research about whether or not it's smart to split up extruders and heaters across different boards and such)

I'm currently not running filament sensors, however, still undecided how useful a magnetic sensor would be long ways away from the DD extruder (again, not enough space on my toolhead to place it there directly...)

But yea, I will have sensors of some sort in the future again, even if only microswitches.

dc42

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

Current plan is to connect XY and all 4 extruders to the 6HC, coupler and 3xZ goes to the Mini.

There is currently a limitation on the connection of Z motors when a Z probe is used. So it would be better to connect the Z motors to the 6HC and the extruders to the 3 Mini.

Diamondback

@dc42 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

Current plan is to connect XY and all 4 extruders to the 6HC, coupler and 3xZ goes to the Mini.

There is currently a limitation on the connection of Z motors when a Z probe is used. So it would be better to connect the Z motors to the 6HC and the extruders to the 3 Mini.

Is that something that you plan to fix along with the heaters and other missing things? I'm not overly concerned with how long it takes, my upgrade plans are for like in half a year to a full year or so.
But even if not, not really a big problem.

dc42

@diamondback yes it's scheduled to be implemented, but probably not until RRF 3.5 now.

peter247

@dc42 at this time you just can't get the Mini 2+ in the UK , will you be ever selling them direct .
At this time you can get From Filafarm Germany https://www.filafarm.de/collections/elektronik/products/duet-3-mini-2-dual-stepper-expansion-board
But the postage is as most as the board !!!

Diamondback

@dc42 Thanks, that's perfectly fine for me then!

dc42

@peter247 said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 at this time you just can't get the Mini 2+ in the UK , will you be ever selling them direct .
At this time you can get From Filafarm Germany https://www.filafarm.de/collections/elektronik/products/duet-3-mini-2-dual-stepper-expansion-board
But the postage is as most as the board !!!

Please send an email to info@duet3d.com explaining your predicament. For Duet3D parts that are not stocked by UK-based resellers, we are shipping limited quantities to UK-based users.

peter247

@dc42 E-mail sent !!!!

Diamondback

@dc42 Nice to see further work on this happening! What's the current state of things? Have any of the mentioned things above implemented by now? Do you think Mini5 as an expansion board is usable as a daily yet?

dc42

@diamondback said in Duet 3 Mini 5+ Future Expansion Options:

@dc42 Nice to see further work on this happening! What's the current state of things? Have any of the mentioned things above implemented by now? Do you think Mini5 as an expansion board is usable as a daily yet?

I've recently fixed a number of issues with using Duet 3 MB6HC boards as expansion boards. These fixes apply to Duet 3 Mini used as an expansion board too. They will be included in the next RRF 3.4.2rc build of RRF. So I think we are very close now.

The limitation on the connection of Z motors to expansion boards when a Z probe is used was fixed in RRF 3.4.0.