Ethernet Duet 3 Mini Mainboard 5+ is a cost-effective motion controller in the Duet3D range, designed for aluminium extrusion systems and other advanced motion control applications. Offering many of the same features as the flagship 6HC but with smaller drivers and fewer outputs, it provides an excellent balance of performance and value.
The board includes 5 stepper motor drivers, 3 high-current outputs, multiple PWM outputs, and a range of I/O connections. Like the 6HC, the Mini 5+ can be expanded via the CAN-FD bus with the same expansion boards, allowing for additional drivers, external driver support, closed-loop steppers, and extended I/O. This means the Mini retains the flexibility and scalability of the larger board while offering a more accessible entry point.
The Mini 5+ 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 Mini 5+ is highly adaptable, making it suitable for any application requiring precise and reliable motion control.
Key Features
- Powerful Processing: ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller for fast, reliable performance.
- Flexible Connectivity: Dedicated SPI bus for SBC connection, plus Ethernet.
- High-Performance Drivers: 5x TMC2209 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.
Michael Maciocia
Bought this to replace my Duet 2 WiFi, the wifi bit of which stopped working and the ESP 8266 resisted every attempt I made at removing it – gave up!
This board was easy enough to install given it was replacing a Duet board. It has a great performance.
Only complaint, the SD card that shipped with the board had a factory test macro left installed that deleted your config.g – NOT CLEVER!