Duet 3 Mainboard 6HC

Duet 3 Mainboard 6HC is the flagship controller in the Duet3D range. It is a fully featured, high-power motion controller designed for aluminium extrusion systems and other advanced motion control applications. Capable of controlling multi-axis machines, CNC systems, and 3D printers, it offers both power and flexibility.

The board includes 6 high-current stepper motor drivers, 4 high-current outputs, multiple PWM outputs, and extensive I/O options. Expansion is built in through the CAN-FD bus, enabling connection of expansion boards that add extra functionality, including up to 24 additional stepper driver outputs and 15 axes, support for external drivers, closed-loop steppers, and further I/O. 

The 6HC can operate as a standalone controller or connect via SPI to a single-board computer (such as a Raspberry Pi). In SBC mode, it provides flexibility in how the user interfaces with the system, opening up a wide range of software and integration possibilities.

Although originally developed with 3D printing in mind, the Duet 3 Mainboard 6HC is highly adaptable, making it suitable for any application requiring precise and reliable motion control.

Key Features

• Powerful Processing: ARM Cortex-M7 microcontroller for fast, reliable performance.
• Flexible Connectivity: Dedicated SPI bus for SBC connection, plus Ethernet (WiFi via module).
• High-Current Drivers: 6x TMC2160/5160 stepper drivers with advanced motion control features.
• Expandable System: CAN-FD bus supports expansion boards with additional drivers and up to 15 axes in total.
• Comprehensive I/O: Multiple PWM outputs and configurable I/O pins for wide application use.

RepRapFirmware

RepRapFirmware is a powerful and flexible firmware designed to run on 32-bit ARM controllers. Configuration is handled entirely through human-readable G-code files stored on the SD card, no recompilation required. The firmware supports hundreds of G-code commands, detailed here: https://docs.duet3d.com/User_manual/Reference/Gcodes

Key capabilities include:

• An object model of machine configuration and state, enabling dynamic access to a wide variety of values.
• Conditional and looping G-code for advanced automation.
• Compatibility with all common kinematics, plus the ability to define custom kinematics.

RepRapFirmware is paired with Duet Web Control (DWC), a full-featured, browser-based interface for configuration and machine management. DWC adapts to your machine setup, providing intuitive access to controls, monitoring, and job management. Users can also extend functionality with custom third-party plugins, making it easy to tailor the interface to specific requirements.