Need help - Tablet for CNC using DWC/Duet2 Ethernet
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Hi,
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could help me out with this.
I have a Workbee CNC from Ooznest with Duet 2 Ethernet. I use their version of the DWC. Despite good dust collection I still find it too dusty in my shop for the basically still new laptop that I bought just for this, so I would like to do my programming indoors and then use a tablet to run the machine during cutting. Having touch buttons for jogging and such vs mouse control is also a big factor for wanting a tablet.
But for the life of me I simply cannot figure out how to connect a tablet to a CNC equipped with the Ethernet Duet. While I generally do ok, ultimately I'm a woodworker not a tech guy. This has me stumped. What i have found only confused me further.
Can anyone please tell me how to do this? What extra hardware I might need, etc...? And explain it like you would to a 5 year old? lol.
Oh, and in case it's important, my home wifi signal is very weak in my shop and drops regularly, hence buying the Ethernet model. Also, i havent bought the tablet yet until i know it's possible and know what i need.
Thanks for your time.
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You're probably going to need a wireless access point.
These usually have Ethernet ports you can attach the duet to and you can connect via wifi with the tablet.
To connect to your home you may need to run a cable from your router to the access point. -
I'm not sure if following my setup would help, but here goes...
My CNC machine uses the MB6HC control board, and is located in my garden shed. I use an old Microsoft Surface Pro tablet with their keyboard (you can pick these or similar Windows machines up from CEX or similar secondhand retailers) connected to the control board using ethernet cables and powerline adapters. The adapter has three outlets, so I effectively use the adapter as a hub.
I have my main computer (an iMac) in the house, which has a hardwired network, and I connect the Surface Pro and the Duet to that network using the powerline adapter. I also have the facility to turn on/off my CNC machine using a WiFi-controlled power plug.
With this setup, I can use the 27" screen of my iMac to run the design software (Cut2D, at the moment) and access the control board's configuration files using Microsoft Remote Desktop.
Note, I do not run my machine remotely!
Hope this helps, but I'd be happy to provide photos and/or any guidance you may need.
