The EXP1HCL board provides a high current Stepper motor driver, combined with multiple interfaces for position feedback and firmware to implement closed loop position control. In addition it has a number of peripheral inputs and outputs for functions such as sensing motor temperature, controlling a brake and axis endstop. It connects to the Duet 3 CAN-FD bus using RJ11 connectors (same as the Duet 3 Mainboard 6HC, Duet 3 expansion boards, and the tool distribution board). Multiple EXP1HCL boards can be daisy chained on the bus, with power (up to 48V) provided locally. This allows for very large machines to be constructed without a significant wiring burden and signal integrity issues.
Processor | Atmel ATSAME51G |
Prosessor features | 120MHz ARM Cortex-M4F, 512Kb flash, 384Kb RAM |
Networking/Comms | CAN-FD BUS for connection to the Duet 3 Mainboard. Optional on-board CAN bus termination. |
On-board stepper driver | 1 x TMC2160A |
Stepper driver features | SPI controlled, can be run in open loop or closed loop mode. Maximum motor current 6.3A peak per phase (4.45A RMS). |
Encoder Inputs | Quadrature or SPI bus |
Thermistor/PT1000 inputs | 2 x thermistor/PT1000 inputs. This is intended to allow for motor temperature monitoring, potentially coupled with a cooling system controlled by one of the outputs. |
Medium current outputs | 2 x medium-current (2.5A max recommended) outputs at V_FUSED or V_BRAKE voltage, with PWM capability and built-in flyback diodes. Optionally provide V_BRAKE at a different voltage from V_FUSED, to allow (for example) running the stepper motor at 48V and the brake at 24V. |
Inputs/Outputs | 2 x 3.3V-level PWM capable output (3mA max), 2 x digital inputs, protected against over-voltage. Example use: endstop switches. |
Input voltage | 12V to 48V |
VIN connector rated current | 25A maximum, or fused limit (whichever is lower) |
Fuses | 5A for V_FUSED (max 10A), 5A for V_BRAKE |
Stepper driver | Up to 6.3A peak current per phase (4.45A RMS) |
Medium current outputs | OUT0/1 up to 2.5A each |
Inputs/Outputs | Inputs are 30V-tolerant |
12V current limit | 200mA |
5V and 3.3V current limit | 100mA total on 5V and 3.3V |
Importantly Duets are Open:
A STEP 3D model of the Duet 3 Expansion 1HCL is available on github.
The 1HCL supports a quadrature encoder connected to the Quadrature Input interface. This works with common 5V, 1000CPR-2500CPR optical encoders that are frequently supplied with closed loop stepper motors. (One example is the 17E1K-05), however there are many other examples).
Quadrature encoders have either a differential output (often shown as A+,A-, B+,B-,N+,N- or as A,A',B,B',N,N') or a single ended output.
note the index signal is not currently used
If the encoder has a single ended output the signal lines connect to the 1HCL input. A to A_INPUT, B to B_INPUT . 5V or VCC to the +5V and ground to ground. The Z or N can be left disconnected.
If the encoder has a differential output then connect the A+, B+ to the signal inputs on the 1HCL. 5V/VCC to 5V and ground to ground. The A-,B- and Z+Z-/N+N- can be left disconnected.
Here is a picture (courtesy of LDO motors) which shows a single ended and differential encoder output:
This support is still experimental in RRF 3.4
The 1HCL supports SPI connected encoders (initially just the AS5047D sensing an on motor shaft magnet will be supported). Duet3D will supply this encoder on a Nema17 form factor PCB, designed to sense a diametrically magnetised magnet glued to the back of the motor shaft.
More details to follow, including mounting pictures once further testing is completed
All boards in the system must have different CAN addresses. 1HCL boards are shipped set to a default CAN address of 123. They will also revert to 123 if you use the jumper to force the bootloader to request new firmware. Therefore, if you have more than one new 1HCL board, only one of them must be powered up and connected to the CAN bus. So disconnect power to all but one of them (you can leave the CAN bus connected if it's easier). When you have changed the CAN address of that board, you can connect the next one; and so on.
Check that you can communicate with the 1HCL board, by sending:
M115 B123
If that fails try placing a jumper on the CAN_RST pins and powering up, then power down and remove the jumper before powering up again, this will reset the CAN-FD bus settings to the default (address 123, bus speed 1Mbps)
The 1HCL board will be shipped with firmware loaded during production. You can check the version loaded by sending
M115 B123
(or B## where ## is the new CAN address of the board if you have changed it already)
To update the firmware get the latest version from the RepRapFirmware github. It is recommended to upgrade all the firmware in your Duet 3 system together so that the versions do not get out of sync.
Send M997 B## to carry out a firmware update, the bootloader will request the Duet3Firmware_EXP1HCL.bin from the Duet 3 main board, it needs to be in the /firmware folder.
The default CAN address is 123. It can be changed as described above.
Please see the current RepRapFirmware limitations, especially Z probing with drivers drivers on external boards:
Duet 3 firmware with CAN expansion configuration limitations
It is recommended to add the following to config.g, before any commands that reference any CAN bus connected expansion boards
G4 S1 ;wait for expansion boards to start
While in closed loop mode step pulses are not sent to the stepper motor driver in the same manner as an open loop driver, however the firmware still uses microsteps internally to represent moves.
To that end the microstep setting for the 1HCL should be high enough to use the full encoder CPR. e.g. if the encoder is 1000 PPR (so 4000 CPR) and the full steps/rev of a 1.8 degree/step motor is 200, then the microstepping needs to be at least 4000/200 = 20 to make use of the full resolution of the encoder.
Microsteps must be set in powers of 2, in the same manner as open loop drivers (1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256)
So in the case of a 4000CPR encoder on a 1.8 degree/step motor microstepping should be set to 32. Note steps/mm should be adjusted to match the microstep setting chosen.
CAUTION before using these examples check the datasheet and user manual of the motor, encoder (and optionally brake) you are using. Especially: check compatibility of signal voltages.
M569.1 is used to configure the closed loop driver.
Two general types of encoder can be used for feedback:
Here's an sample excerpt from a config.g file to drive the X and Y motors from 1HCL boards configured at CAN addresses 50 and 51, with quadrature encoders.
M569.1 P50.0 T2 C20 R100 I0 D0 ; Configure the 1HCL board at CAN address 50 with a quadrature encoder on the motor shaft that has 20 steps per motor full step.
M569.1 P51.0 T2 C20 R100 I0 D0 ; Configure the 1HCL board at CAN address 51 with a quadrature encoder on the motor shaft that has 20 steps per motor full step.
M569 P50.0 D4 S1 ; Configure the motor on the 1HCL at can address 50 as being in closed-loop drive mode (D4) and not reversed (S1)
M569 P51.0 D4 S1 ; Configure the motor on the 1HCL at can address 51 as being in closed-loop drive mode (D4) and not reversed (S1)
M584 X50.0 Y51.0 ; set X and Y drivers
M917 X0 Y0 ; Set the closed loop axes to have a holding current of zero
M350 X32 Y32 ; set steps/mm to 32 to make sull use of the encoder resolution
M92 X160 Y160 ; steps/mm for a 20 tooth gt2 pulley
Note the initial PID values show will need to be tuned to the particular motor.
In contrast to usual drivers, the closed loop axes can have their holding current set to zero using M917, with negligible detrimental effect. Whilst a normal driver may slip if it's holding current is set to zero, a closed loop driver will notice that it has slipped an apply a current to return the drive to it's intended position. Setting a holding current of zero will also mean less current is used, so the motor runs cooler. However, a holding current can still be set using M917 if desired.
See Tuning the Duet 3 Expansion 1HCL for details on tuning.
The following code could be used in config.g to set the sensor as a thermistor:
M308 S3 P"50.temp0" Y"thermistor" T100000 B3950 A"X Motor Temp" ;Setup temp 0 on 1HCL at CAN address 50 as sensor 3 - sensing X motor temperature
M308 S4 P"51.temp0" Y"thermistor" T100000 B3950 A"Y Motor Temp" ;Setup temp 0 on 1HCL at CAN address 51 as sensor 4 - sensing Y motor temperature
These sensors would be displayed in the "extras" tab in DWC and available in the object model to query and potentially take action on for example the following could be inserted into daemon.g to check the motor temperature every second and raise the alarm if they are higher than a set value of 70C
if sensors.analog[3].lastReading >70
echo "X MOTOR Temp Alarm: ", sensors.analog[3].lastReading
M98 P"motorovertemp.g"
if sensors.analog[4].lastReading >70
echo "Y MOTOR Temp Alarm: ", sensors.analog[4].lastReading
M98 P"motorovertemp.g"
G4 P1000
Where the "motorovertemp.g" macro can have whatever actions are appropriate. This logic can be extended to take different actions at different temperatures ( e.g. log at 70, sound alarm at 80, pause print at 100)
Some motors have a motor brake fitted for an holding brake solenoid. As long as the solenoid max current draw is <2.5A it can be directly controlled by out 0 or out 1. If the Brake needs a different voltage from the VIN voltage used for the motor then that can supplied on the VBRAKE connector.
This example sets out0 to control the brake using the M569.7 command
M569.7 P50.0 C"out0"
NOTE proceed with caution, always test these examples with low motor current and slow speeds first
When the motor driver is enabled, the specified output port will be turned on at the same time to release the brake. When the motor driver is disabled, the output port will be turned off. Idle current mode does not count as disabled.
After M569.7 is executed, the port will be initially off. Therefore, M569.7 should be executed before the motor is first enabled.