Support for RS485 on Duet 6XD and 6HC

developeralgo222

Re: Does Duet 6XD support RS485 communication

Currently RRF version 3.5.2 does not directly support RS485 Serial Data communications ( or RS485 MODBUS RTU ) . It supports UART type serial communications

@dc42 , did mention that support was coming soon in RRF 3.6.0 but that seems to have been revised to "After 3.6.0 ".

Since Duet dev is not delivering on this RS485 support , i am currently looking for alternatives on how to accomplish the bidirectional communications between Duet 6XD and a Mitsubishi PLC with RS485 Adapter(FX3u-485ADP-MB) which has 60+ SMT PnP Electric Feeders connected to it

Duet 6XD ( Port IO0 -- UART ) <===> RS485 Adapter on PLC ( FX3u-485-MB) <===> Controlling SMT PnP Electric Feeders

Do i need a UART TTL to RS485 Two-Way Converter to accomplish this Since there is no direct support for RS485 in RRF ?

dc42

@developeralgo222 Modbus RTU support will require both hardware and software support. Future revisions of some Duet 3 boards will include RS485 interfaces. Other Duet 3 boards will need an external 3.3V to RS485 converter and probably a spare IO_OUT pin to control the transmission direction. Software support for Duet 3 boards will be added to RRF either in version 3.6 or shortly afterwards.

developeralgo222

@dc42 is there any Alternative while i wait for a stable solution. I have 60+ Electric feeders that i need working in 4 days for a client production job ? Any suggestions on a RS485 converter to get if required and the wiring connections that for the time being can accomplish this

My Older discussion is here : https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/35524/does-duet-6xd-support-rs485-communication/5?_=1719243430041

Since there is no specific timeline for RS485 Support in RRF at the moment

developeralgo222

@dc42
Currently with existing boards Would such a TTL (UART) to RS485 Converter Compatible with 3.3V and 5.0V signals work plus Spare IO (IO0 or IO1 ) port on Duet 6XD ?

Below is Option 2: Using already existing RRF 3.5.2 CAN support by utilizing CAN0 AUX Port i.e Duet 6XD CAN0 AUX Port <==> CAN-RS485 MODBUS Converter <==> FX3U-485ADP-MB

Below are the links to the adapters or converters for the 2 options:

CAN-to-RS485 Converter:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CSFH8QTN/?coliid=I35EGBMWD8HST8&colid=2QAEOOXW12HBB&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

UART(TTL) To RS485 (B) Converter
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0BQFB7JCK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

dc42

@developeralgo222 yes that board looks good, although it's more complicated than RS485 boards that I have used before.

developeralgo222

@dc42 As for communications commands from Duet 6XD to the electric feeder using the above setup ( RS485 Converter + IO0 Port ) . Can you please elaborate using RRF 3.5.2 commands with an example of a simple communication ?

developeralgo222

@dc42, @T3P3Tony ,@droftarts Also what is the Maximum UART Port Speed that IO0 or IO1 can handle on Duet 6XD since i think default UART clock is 3MHz but Apparently UART CLOCK can go as high as 100MHZ. The maximum baud rate is clock/16.

So what is the Maximum Speed of UART Port on Duet 6XD without corruption of data ? 115200 bps ?

dc42

@developeralgo222 maximum transmission speed is much higher than that. However, it you try to receive data above about 57600 baud then you may suffer character loss because of interrupt latency.

developeralgo222

@dc42 so what would be the recommended fastest baud rate to use with Duet 6XD?

developeralgo222

@developeralgo222 also is it possible for one of your devs to add the support for RS485 MODBUS RTU to the unofficial dev version of RRF 3.5.2+ or 3.6 dev and I will act as tester for it because I really have an urgent huge need for RS485 MODBUS RTU for Duet 6XD or if one of your devs can provide the code , I can try and compile a dev version to use while waiting for the support to be included in official “After” RRF 3.6 version. I am really desperate to get this done , I need to control and communicate to over 60+ Electric SMT feeders using RS485 MODBUS RTU. This is really , really urgent , time is not on my side

dc42

@developeralgo222 I have just returned from holiday. My immediate priority this week is to fix bugs in 3.6 that our alpha testers have reported. When that's done I may get time to implement Modbus support in 3.6.

developeralgo222

@dc42 , Thanks , i hope you got well needed rest on your vacation and you can get time to work on this. I understand the priority but our very Large project is now at a standstill, We are a large project completely based on Duet 6XD & 3HC products with our Total cost into Tens of thousands of $$$$$. we can't get it working without RS485 MODBUS RTU communications from Duet 6XD being supported. I am willing at moment to be one of the Alpha testers for 3.6.x with this RS485 MODBUS RU enabled.

dc42

@developeralgo222 I've put a preliminary build of RRF 3.6.0 for the 6XD with experimental Modbus RTU support at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/868isq8kjcmgy1k7z7b3g/ADwxJUoidmE1XRYFZWMdCWk?rlkey=w8imtto9wirwitm5ac2xamxap&dl=0. I've only tested reading input registers, and only from one Modbus device. However as I won't be able to work on this again until next week, I'm making it available in case it is of any use to you.

To use Modbus:

Connect a UART to RS485 converter to IO0 or IO1 of the 6XD
Use the new S7 parameter and optionally the new C parameter of the M575 command to set the chosen port to Modbus mode, set the baud rate, and set the port to drive the Tx/!Rx input of the RS485 transceiver if required (that can be any other io#.out port)
Use the new M260.1 command to write Modbus registers and/or the new M261.1 command to read Modbus input registers. Note, the M261.1 command V parameter is not implemented yet.

gloomyandy

@dc42 Do you have a recommendation for a suitable converter? Most of the ones on Amazon seem to use automatic switching. This one seems to have enable pins: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WINGONEER-MAX485-Module-RS-485-Development/dp/B06XHHWLMW

developeralgo222

@dc42 i will continue testing

dc42

@developeralgo222 latest binaries are at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yc7mnauicu5vqw6yegeq7/AKnV4j8k1MCADG4VE4EIG6Y?rlkey=skjxh23i9c953yvxm2tb8qr36&dl=0.

developeralgo222

@dc42

i am testing with the following GCODE. Can you review to see if i am doing it correctly

M575 P1 B115200 S7  ; Set Serial comms parameters TX & RX
M260.1 P1 A1 R42 B1 ; Modbus Write to registers / Coils 
M261.1 P1 A1 R42 B2 ; Modbus Read from Holding or Input registers / Coils

Below is:

RS485 Serial Connections Configurations on the PLC MODBUS RTU Side:

Modbus Slave Address (PLC):  1 

Comm Mode :   RS485  Modbus RTU 

Parameters:   115200, 8Bit, None, 1Bit

i.e 

Baudrate : 115200
Length: 8 
Parity : None
Stop Bits: 1

Hardware Control:
Flow Control Mode: No 
DTR: Enable
RTS: Enable

dc42

@developeralgo222 you only need one M575 P1 command, and the C parameter should only be used if your RS485 adapter has a Tx/Rx control input.

The V parameter of M261.1 is not yet implemented.

developeralgo222

@dc42 as edited above ?

dc42

@developeralgo222 yes, if your RS485 adapter does automatic Tx/Rx switching, and you want to write 1 word with value 1 to register 42 and then read registers 42 and 43.

It might be a good idea to try with a lower baud fate initially e.g. 19200. The automatic Tx/Rx switching will probably only work over a range of baud rates. 9600 and 19200 are commonly used for Modbus RTU.