two z axis motors
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just found out we will have two z axis motors. Is it pretty straight forward to set up and both motors run identical?
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Yes, there are several ways to do this:
- The Duets provide 2 Z motor outputs, wired in series. As shipped, there are 2 jumper sin one of the Z motor connectors, to allow you to use a single motor. You can remove those jumpers and connect one Z motor to each connector.
This method is not recommended if your printer uses low current/high inductance motors, especially if you are using 12V power not 24V.
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You can connect the two motors in parallel instead. Works well on the Duet WiFi/Ethernet for the types of motors that don't work well when connected in series. Not recommended on the Duet Maestro unless the motors are very low current (e.g. up to 700mA rated current).
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If you will not otherwise be using the E1 extruder motor output, you can connect one Z motor to that and the other to the Z motor output. Then put command "M584 Z2:4 E3" in config.g (before any M906 or M350 commands) to configure the firmware to drive both together. If your printer has a Z probe, you can have the firmware adjust the two motors independently to do side-to-side bed levelling too.
HTH David
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dc42 - David.
I am new to the forum, and did not see a spot where someone has asked, this may be an assumed question, but here goes.
When you say,
"If you will not otherwise be using the E1 extruder motor output, you can connect one Z motor to that and the other to the Z motor output. Then put command "M584 Z2:4 E3" in config.g (before any M906 or M350 commands) to configure the firmware to drive both together. If your printer has a Z probe, you can have the firmware adjust the two motors independently to do side-to-side bed levelling too."
Does this apply only to Duet 2 WIFI and Ethernet boards, or can I use this method on the Maestro board as well?
If so, can I use 3 channels to support 3 independent motors on Z using a Maestro board if I add the Maestro 2 driver expansion board?
Thank you for your support and feel free to redirect me if I missed this being answered somewhere else. I look forward to spending lots of time in the community.
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@heathharper said in two z axis motors:
Does this apply only to Duet 2 WIFI and Ethernet boards, or can I use this method on the Maestro board as well?
If so, can I use 3 channels to support 3 independent motors on Z using a Maestro board if I add the Maestro 2 driver expansion board?Yes, you can do that with the maestro and the expansion board.
https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Bed_levelling_using_multiple_independent_Z_motors
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Thank you @Phaedrux ! I will read up on it! I guess the reason that I wondered was that it says "Each Z motor must be driven from a separate stepper motor output on the Duet + optional DueX expansion board".
I took that to mean literally the Duex2 or Duex5 expansions, not just the added 2 stepper expansion for the Maestro.
If the 2 stepper Maestro expansion fits the "DueX" description, then this answers my question.
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I've edited the documentation to include the maestro + expansion board.
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@Phaedrux Wow! Thanks! Amazing support!
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@heathharper Make sure you use RepRapFirmware version 2.01 or later, when support for the Maestro expansion board was added to the firmware. No reason not to use the latest 2.05.1 though! See https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/14425/extruder-motor-3-and-4-no-power-to-extrude
Ian
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It should be pointed out that the motors will "run identically" until power is cycled a few times. There will need to be some means of resynchronizing them from time to time to prevent the X axis from tilting so badly that the machine can't print.
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@mrehorstdmd True. @heathharper see this guide: https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Bed_levelling_using_multiple_independent_Z_motors
This recent thread also covers it: https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/14486/independted-dual-z-manual-bed-leveling-assistant-question specifically my post here: https://forum.duet3d.com/post/133994
Ian
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I'm going to upgrade a Cube Pro printer that has dual y-axis motors. Should i connect the 2 motors to use with 1 driver on the board, or is it better to use separate drivers? I read that the board features 2 Z motor outputs, so could i use these ports and switch z with y in the config? Appreciate any help
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@stefancvij said in two z axis motors:
I'm going to upgrade a Cube Pro printer that has dual y-axis motors. Should i connect the 2 motors to use with 1 driver on the board, or is it better to use separate drivers? I read that the board features 2 Z motor outputs, so could i use these ports and switch z with y in the config? Appreciate any help
Did you read any of the replies in this thread?
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@stefancvij said in two z axis motors:
I'm going to upgrade a Cube Pro printer that has dual y-axis motors. Should i connect the 2 motors to use with 1 driver on the board, or is it better to use separate drivers?
it depends. if you have spare drivers on the board you intend to use then using two allows you to individually tram the two Y axis motors
I read that the board features 2 Z motor outputs, so could i use these ports and switch z with y in the config?
yes you can change the drivers to use any axis in the config.
