Control Larger Motor with classic 3D printer Electronic

[reFlexlab]

Hello Everyone,
I'm not sure that this is the best place to talk about this subject but I know that there is some relay knowledgable people here so I didn't hesitate.

My interogation is the following :

Is there a possibility to "extract" the step/dir signal from a standard 3D printer electronic board like (MKS Gen for exemple) and use this signal to control a larger driver powered by an external power source. (Nema 34 for exemple)

This question also apply to DUET3D electronic.

Thanks in advance.

I've heard about this piece of hardware, maybe that's the thing that i'm looking for but i'm not sure how to use it.

=> https://forum.makerforums.info/t/im-looking-for-information-on-the-mks-adapter/48580

And sorry if this topic is not appropriate.

Tom

[deckingman]

@reflexlab Duet currently off two boards which do exactly that - i.e. "extract the step/dir signals and provide provision for connecting external drivers. Check out the Duet 3 Main board 6 XD and the Duet 3 expansion board 1XD https://www.duet3d.com/products

[dc42]

@reflexlab it depends on your board:

• If the board uses plug-in drivers then you can usually unplug the driver and connect an external driver to the step, direction and either 5V or ground pins of the driver socket.
• If it doesn't use plug-in drivers, and doesn't provide access to the step and direction outputs, then you would need a specialise driver that decodes the phase outputs of on-board driver to extract step and direction information from them. I have never come across such a driver, however in this thread https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/28887/weird-signal-from-duet-to-motor it became apparent that the person posting has such a driver.

The Duet3D MB6HC main board and the EXP3HC and EXP1HCL expansion boards can drive some types of Nema 34 motor directly at up to 6A peak current.